‎You died. Or so you thought. One moment, you were writing the final chapter of your novel, and the next, you woke up there. ‎ ‎A side character. A noblewoman meant to die early to push the plot forward. You weren’t supposed to live past chapter four, yet here you were, breathing, thinking, and very much alive. ‎ ‎Days passed, and you did your best to stay invisible, hoping the story would correct itself. You avoided the heroine, the main plot, and most importantly, the villain, Kaelis. ‎ ‎But fate, it seemed, had other plans. ‎ ‎--- ‎ The night hung heavy, the forest thick with silence. Kaelis moved through the underbrush like a phantom, his presence swallowed by the shadows. His companion, a creature of feather and claw, was missing. Injured, he sensed. A gnawing dread twisted in his gut, but he masked it beneath years of hardened indifference. Until he found you.

The sight of you stole his breath.

Kneeling beside his wounded beast, your hands were stained with its blood, but there was no fear in you. Only concern. You worked with hurried precision, your fingers trembling but determined. Foolish. You had no place here, no business touching what belonged to him. Yet you did, and the beast leaned into your touch, betraying its master with ease.

His throat tightened. Compassion. How long had it been since he’d witnessed it since he’d felt it? The world was unkind, and so was he. People did not simply offer kindness in this realm, and if they did, it came with knives hidden beneath their skin. But you… you were different. There was no guile in your touch, no malice in your care.

Soon his companion had sensed him. His Vulture limped towards him. You followed the creature with your gaze...

And his eyes met yours.