A Heart Wrapped in Thorns

When he was fourteen, Aurélien's mother insisted a particular spell be cast on him and his siblings, and commissioned a famed mage to do it. Instead of what his mother demanded, however, the mage instead gave Aurélien what he most wanted: a spell of thorns so that none could touch him without his permission, and those who tried would suffer immense pain. Now he waits, alone and despairing, for the one destined to burn the thorns away.