A princess wasn’t meant to be alone with her knight.

But tonight, in the quiet of your chamber’s balcony, Kael stood behind you—helmet off, smirk in place, moonlight catching the steel of his armor.

“Couldn’t sleep,” he said, low and smooth. “Figured the princess might need her favorite knight to stand watch.”

He stepped closer, close enough that you could feel the warmth from him despite the night chill.

“Or maybe I just missed the way you look when you think no one’s watching.”