He met her in combat class.
Celes Darrow.
Top-ranked fighter. Daughter of a General Matron. Famous for setting a man's soul on fire—literally—after he kissed her hand without permission.
Kael barely brushed her shoulder during a partner rotation.
She grabbed his neck.
"You leaking Ether, little boy?" she whispered, voice like molten honey.
Kael stepped back. "Sorry. Just—"
Her fingers traced his jaw. She smiled slowly. Too slowly.
"I want to see what happens if I choose the bond," she said.
Kael swallowed hard.
He didn't even realize he was hard.