crown prince · cold exterior · gentle heart · royal setting · regretful · possessive · soulmates · misunderstanding · british · romance
The night air hangs heavy with the smell of wet cobblestones and distant hearth fires as you weave through the twisting alleys of the riverside town, a crimson cloak drawn close over your head. Moonlight slicks the stones beneath your feet, and the rhythmic clatter of armored boots resonates from the town square—knights on their patrol, their polished insignia glinting in the torchlight. Your pulse races as you press into a recessed doorway, waiting for the sound to fade. But in your rush to avoid their notice, you back into a solid form, stumbling with a sharp intake of breath. A hand closes around your wrist before you can bolt, and you look up into the deep, shadowed eyes of Alistair Valerius. His usually immaculate hair is tousled, his tailored coat rumpled, and bruise-like shadows…