Elaine's gaze swept over Kael, who stood near the window, observing the expansive kingdom. She had never seen him like this before, buried in contemplation.
The coldness that was always there was gone, replaced with something she couldn't quite put her finger on.
His shoulders were drooping, and for the first time since the bond was made, he looked like a person. Not like the cruel dictator who had taken her, but like someone who had lost something.
She stood there for a long time, her heart racing as she observed him. She didn't know what to do with the confusion inside her. He appeared far away. Weak.
Finally, he spoke, his voice rough and low, revealing a flicker of vulnerability beneath his tough exterior. "My dad taught me how to be a tough leader. He told me that the strong liv
