Bound to Him by Fate <ongoing>

The faint light of dawn seeped through the thin curtains of the inn, painting the room in muted shades of amber. Seraphina stirred, the dull throb in her shoulder pulling her from the restless haze of sleep.

Memories of the ambush and the sharp glint of steel flashed through her mind, making her inhale sharply.

The soft shuffle of footsteps drew her attention. She turned her head to see Kael entering the room with a small tray. The scent of freshly baked bread and warm stew filled the air, stirring an involuntary growl from her stomach.

"Breakfast," he said, his voice low but steady. He set the tray on the small table beside her, his gaze flicking toward the bandage on her shoulder.

"Thank you," Seraphina replied, her voice still hoarse from the strain of speaking too little the day before. She reached for the spoon and hesitated for a moment, feeling the weight of the silence between them.

Kael stood silently a few steps away, his posture watchful as always. The look in his eyes was unreadable, but his presence felt both comforting and unsettling in equal measure.

"You didn't sleep," Seraphina observed as she took a bite of the stew, its warmth spreading through her chest.

Kael shifted his weight slightly, his gaze moving toward the window. "I had to keep watch," he replied simply, his tone devoid of complaint. "It's my responsibility."

Seraphian let out a sigh. "Did you eat?"

Kael nodded, though she suspected it wasn't the truth. He didn't seem the type to prioritize himself.

Seraphina swallowed her food, her mind racing with thoughts she couldn't quite piece together. "We should leave soon," she said, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. "The longer we stay here, the more danger we invite."

Kael frowned, his jaw tightening. "You're in no condition to travel, and we have no idea if those attackers are still out there."

"I'm fine," she replied, her voice sharper than she intended. She pushed herself up from the bed, feeling the strain in her shoulder as she moved. "I've rested enough."

Kael didn't argue, but he was quick to move to her side as she staggered slightly, clutching the bedpost for support.

-----

The soldiers were already mounted and waiting when Seraphina stepped outside the inn, the crisp morning air biting against her skin. Her cloak was draped carefully over her shoulders, hiding the stiffness in her movements as she approached her horse. The innkeeper gave them a cautious glance before he turned away to attend to his business.

Kael was beside her before she could reach for the reins. "Let me help you," he said, his voice low but steady.

"I can manage," she replied sharply, brushing past him.

She gripped the saddle and attempted to hoist herself up, but the sharp pain in her shoulder made her gasp, her knees buckling slightly.

Kael's hands were there, steady and unyielding as he caught her. His grip was firm but not harsh, and his proximity made her pulse quicken for reasons she couldn't—or wouldn't—name.

"Stubbornness doesn't suit you, Your Highness," he said, his voice laced with quiet reprimand.

Before she could protest, he lifted her with ease, placing her gently on the saddle as though she weighed nothing at all. The closeness of the action—his fingers brushing her waist, the quiet strength in his movements—sent an unwelcome shiver down her spine.

Kael swung up behind her, his presence a solid, unyielding wall at her back. His arms reached past her to take the reins, enclosing her in his space.

"Comfortable?" he asked, his tone neutral.

Seraphina's lips pressed into a thin line. "Just ride."

The group moved cautiously through the forest, the soldiers forming a protective formation around the princess.

Seraphina shifted slightly in the saddle, the motion causing her shoulder to throb. She bit back a wince, unwilling to show weakness.

"Stop fidgeting," Kael murmured behind her.

"I'm not—"

"Your wound will open if you're not careful."

The hours stretched on, the rhythmic clop of hooves the only sound in the quiet forest. Seraphina tried to remain upright, but exhaustion clawed at her. Days of tension and blood loss wore her down until her body betrayed her. Slowly, her head tipped back, coming to rest against Kael's shoulder.

He stiffened briefly. He shouldn't be this close to her, shouldn't be the one she leaned on—not physically, not emotionally. And yet, he found himself riding slower, his movements deliberately careful so she wouldn't stir.

"You can rest, Your Highness."

She wanted to argue, but the steady rise and fall of his chest against her back was oddly reassuring.

Kael glanced down at her, his expression softening as her breathing evened out.

He was nothing but a servant, he reminded himself. But for some reason, his heart refused to accept the simple truth. It defied reason, stirring with emotions he had no right to feel.

Was it their closeness that clouded his thoughts? The way her head rested against his shoulder, her breath soft and steady as she slept, as if trusting him implicitly? Or was it something deeper, something he dared not name?

He wanted to hold her, and the urge was as startling as it was unwelcome.

Stop it, he told himself and kept his focus on the road ahead.