She felt his presence before she saw him. The air crackled with a raw energy that made her skin prickle. She turned to find Kaelen standing a few feet away, his eyes burning into hers.
"Elara," he said, his voice a low rumble that vibrated through her. Just her name, but it held a wealth of unspoken emotion.
She swallowed, her heart hammering against her ribs. "Prince Kaelen," she managed, the title sounding foreign on her tongue.
He took a step closer. "Please, call me Kaelen."
The pull was irresistible. She wanted to run, to hide, to escape the impossible situation she found herself in. But she also wanted to stay, to drown in the depths of his stormy eyes, to feel the warmth of his presence.
"You shouldn't be talking to me," she whispered, knowing how scandalous even this brief exc
