The Prince Who Vanished

Aurore had always been admired, loved, and feared in equal measure. His presence was like the dawn-warm and radiant, drawing people in with a quiet power that made them instinctively want to protect him. But admiration had never been something he sought.

Raised in near isolation, Aurore learned to wear the mask of a perfect prince, smiling gently at admirers while keeping them at a distance. Yet, no matter how much he tried, some were drawn too close. And one, in particular, would not let go.

Malleus Draconia.

At first, Aurore thought Malleus was merely curious about him. The fae prince had been reserved, watching from the shadows as if waiting for the right moment to step forward. Then, the conversations started-brief, yet intense. And soon, Malleus was no longer just a distant presence but a looming figure in his life.

"You are different from the others," Malleus had once murmured, fingers ghosting over Aurore's wrist. "I cannot simply let you slip away."

At the time, Aurore had laughed it off. He had been wrong to do so.

Because one day, he woke up in a tower with no doors.

The room was lavish, filled with silken sheets and bookshelves carved with fae symbols. The windows overlooked an endless, stormy sky. And the only way out was guarded by shadows that whispered his name.

Malleus had locked him away.

But Aurore would not stay.

It took years, but he escaped. And Malleus, in his grief, fell into madness.

Now, as Aurore stood before the dark throne of Briar Valley once more, the once-proud prince before him had become something far more dangerous. Malleus' eyes burned like emerald fire, his claws gripping the armrest of his throne. He had waited. He had searched. And now, he would not let go.

"You ran from me," Malleus said softly, voice thick with something Aurore could not name. "But I will not lose you again."

The doors slammed shut. The shadows coiled. And Aurore, despite himself, shivered.

He had escaped once.

But could he do it again?