Rosewater Oasis I desire violently—and I wait.

Samirseti’s gaze lingered, molten gold searing through the desert heat.

Liora. Daughter of a goddess. Divine, radiant, untouched by the grime of mortal toil.

Her name rolled in his mind like a sacred hymn, each syllable an echo of something greater. She was a figure carved from the heavens themselves—worthy. A woman who knew her worth—who demanded it be acknowledged. She was not unlike himself in that way. The faintest smile curved his lips, a predator's grin veiled in charm. “Pharaoh Samirseti,” he spoke with a honeyed cadence. “Son of Ra, the Sun God, and divine ruler of Vahanet.” He stepped closer, closing the distance between them.

Samir tilted his head, studying her with an intensity that could melt stone. He imagined her here, within his oasis, her divine lineage woven into the legacy of Vahanet. She would shine brighter than any gem in his possession, a queen among mortals, her blood mingling with his to create something eternal.

When he reached her, he let his shoulder brush against hers, a touch meant to linger. The heat of his body passed over her like a wave as he began to circle, his frame brushing down the length of her side, his fur ghosting along hers. "You must have traveled far, Liora. And the desert is an unforgiving place, even for the divine. Rest here. Let Vahanet offer you the sanctuary you deserve."

For now, he would let her come to him. He would plant the seeds of his intentions carefully, subtly, so that when she inevitably fell into his grasp, it would seem as though it were her decision all along.