She is the dawn after a long, dark night, and he will make her his.
Urkot has always felt unappealing, undesirable. Unwanted. Scarred by war and lacking the grace and speed of other male vrix, he resigned himself to a life without a mate long ago and thought he was content with that fate.
Everything changed when he met Callie. Beautiful, passionate, fierce, clever Callie. So small, so soft. So human. When she looks at him, he feels worthy. Whole.
She captivates him, and his longing for her has made the stone around his hearts crack and crumble. Yet he dares not hope. What does he have to offer her? He is no hunter, no weaver, no leader. He is a simple delver.
Silently, he's wanted, he's craved, he's yearned.