Tales of Desire
[Kael's POV]
I lay her down on the altar stone and for a moment I just look at her, really look, taking in the way the violet light catches on the fresh marks I carved into her skin, how they glow faintly like embers under the surface, matching the ones burning across my own chest and abdomen. Seraphine’s eyes are wide but steady now, no more pretending this is only the temple’s will forcing her hand. She reaches up and traces the spiral over my heart with one fingertip, careful around the thin lines of blood that have already started to dry, and the simple touch sends a jolt through me stronger than anything her body has done so far.