text: (WP) Burning Love The night after her fiancé broke off their engagement, Serena couldn’t help wondering where it had all gone wrong. They’d been happy, hadn’t they? At least she had thought they were. But she and Leon had been together since high school, and now, she was single. She should’ve known that he was letting her down gently: he’d even insisted on ordering wine and dessert. Serena hadn’t even realized he was breaking up with her until she’d spotted tears running down his cheeks, and he kept apologizing, over and over. That was Leon, polite and courteous even to the end. “I’m sorry, Serena. I just think that we’ve grown apart. I can’t even remember what my life was like before you. You understand, don’t you? I can’t marry you. It wouldn’t be fair to either of us.” And what could she have said in reply? *No, I don’t understand, this is a mistake, please reconsider?* She’d just nodded numbly, accepting his hug outside of the eatery while her heart lay in pieces. “I love you, Serena,” He’d murmured, kissing her cheek. She’d taken off her ring, and tried to give it to him. But he’d refused, smiling sadly. “Why don’t you keep it? To remember me.” He’d walked away, and for a little bit, she just watched him retreat. Serena didn’t remember much after that; she called her best friend, Abby, and the other girl took her to a bonfire on the edge of town. Now, she stood in front of the flames, staring into them, the engagement ring cradled in her hands. In the firelight, the trio of pink diamonds tucked into the band glittered. Abby was drinking with some of their friends; Serena had requested that she be left alone for a while. “I’m sorry, Leon, that I wasn’t enough,” She whispered to the flames, holding the ring above the roaring inferno. “But I will love you forever, and I will never forget you.” She listened closely, hearing only the crackle of the fire. She wasn’t expecting an answer, but that was exactly what she received. \*\* *I have seen your heart, and I accept.* \*\* Serena could’ve sworn that she heard a deep, dry voice answer her from within the fire. Was she going crazy, a result of her heartbreak? She turned to it again, only to find that a man was standing within them, with bronzed skin and tattoos all over, in a language she couldn’t read. If she squinted, she could almost see them moving. “Don’t be sad, little human,” The man crooned, his violet eyes gleaming in the light. He held a hand out to her. “Your sadness summoned me to this realm. I’ve come to ease your heartache.” Serena stared at him, openly gawking. Was she losing her mind? “Who are you?” Serena whispered, and the man smiled, showing off two gorgeous, adorable dimples. “My name is Kaiden. What’s yours?” “I’m Serena,” She whispered, feeling her cheeks heat for an entirely different reason than the fire in front of her. “You’re so beautiful,” Kaiden whispered, paying no notice to the flames lapping and licking at his skin.