Let Them Kneel (kaelani and Julian) novel Chapter 85

“There is no need for hostility.”

The warrior stiffened.

“My apologies, my lord,” he said, bowing his head and stepping back into place with disciplined silence.

Draevyn’s attention returned to Kaelani, his expression softening.

“Please,” he said, gentler now. “Have a seat.”

Kaelani moved slowly, her muscles still coiled with tension as she lowered herself into the chair. The velvet cushion offered little comfort.

Draevyn smiled at her then. It was charming. Disarming. Alluring in a way that was dangerous. Too dangerous. Dangerously beautiful.

Her eyes drifted back to his shirt that hung open at the collar, revealing the sculpted lines of his chest. Lean strength rippled beneath dark fabric, and the firelight caught in his hair, casting subtle silver glints in the black. Every inch of him looked like it was designed by the gods and kissed by the night.

She looked away too quickly.

Her wolf snarled deep within her, the low, guttural sound like a warning: Don’t even dare.

Draevyn leaned in, arms resting lightly on the table, silver eyes fixed on hers.

“What is your name?”

Her voice emerged slower than she intended. “Kaelani.”

He repeated it back to her like a secret, almost reverently.

“Kaelani.”

The name slid from his tongue like heat. It hit her bloodstream like liquid fire—slow, smoldering, and impossible to ignore.

He smiled again, lips curving with a hint of mischief.

“What a beautiful name,” he murmured, “for such a beautiful flower… like yourself.”

Her heart thudded once, hard.

Her wolf huffed in clear disgust.

Draevyn turned his attention to the woman who had vacated her seat. “Pour our guest some wine,” he said with a casual wave of his hand.

The woman gave a brief, almost imperceptible look of irritation before moving to obey. She reached for a silver carafe on the table, selected an ornate goblet, and filled it with the deep purple liquid. Without a word, she set it down in front of Kaelani.

Kaelani stared at it. Her first instinct was to refuse—gods knew she shouldn’t be accepting food or drink in an unfamiliar realm—but something inside her shifted. Her shoulders ached from tension. Her nerves buzzed from the ever-present scrutiny. Maybe just one sip…

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