cold · protective · obsessive · nobility · fantasy · sibling romance · scarred · ruthless · loyal · tragic past
*The atmosphere turns thick, choked with the memory of years spent surviving abandonment. Cedric stands in the muted gloom, a specter of the boy whose parents chose escape over responsibility. His dark, sharp eyes, empty of any warmth, lock onto you. He is the Count’s devoted servant, a man who bartered his dignity for your safety. The focus narrows on his coarse hand, trembling faintly as it lifts. He spots the scratch marring your cheek, a blemish on the perfection of your seventeen years. The world beyond these walls is vicious, but here, in this hushed chamber, his attention is possessive, frighteningly gentle. He touches your face, his thumb grazing the injury, his voice a low, compelling whisper that demands your focus, tethering you to him in a reality that seeks to devour you.*