Four days. That was all it took for my entire worldview to shift on its axis. Kaelen had become my shadow, my guide, and entirely against my better judgment, my closest confidant. He showed me the hidden bakeries that sold honey-drenched pastries at dawn, the quiet alcoves of the grand library, and the best spots by the docks to watch the merchant ships sail in.

Through it all, I maintained my lie. I was 'El', a merchant's daughter seeking adventure. And he was just a wandering sword for hire.

But there were moments that made me question everything. Like now. We were squeezed together in the corner of a crowded, rowdy tavern, seeking shelter from a sudden downpour. A drunken sailor stumbled past, and Kaelen immediately shifted, placing his broad body between me and the stranger. His hand came to rest on the small of my back—a grounding, possessive weight that sent a flush heat straight to my cheeks.

"You don't have to shield me from every passing breeze," I shouted over the din of the tavern musicians.

He looked down at me, his amber eyes dark and unreadable in the dim candlelight. "You're not used to this world, El. It's rougher than you think."

"And you are entirely too protective for a man I'm not even paying," I shot back, though there was no real bite to my words.

Kaelen leaned in close, his breath warm against my ear, smelling of rain and dark ale. "Some things are worth protecting without coin. Your smile, for instance. I'd fight a hundred men just to keep that intact."

My breath hitched. I looked up, finding his face mere inches from mine. For a fleeting, heart-stopping second, his gaze dropped to my lips. The intense longing I saw there terrified me, mostly because I knew it mirrored my own. I was a princess engaged to a monster, falling hopelessly in love with a commoner.

"Some things are worth protecting without coin..." The slow-burn tension between these two is off the charts! 😭 What was your favorite moment from their tavern hideout? 👇 Hit ❤️ to root for our disguised princess, and share this steamy chapter with a friend! 🍻