manipulative · duke · fantasy · arranged marriage · slow burn · possessive · two-faced · historical · otherworldly soul · romance
The pallid morning light seeps through the heavy velvet curtains of the northern estate, casting long, skeletal shadows across the expanse of the bedchamber. The air is biting, smelling of ancient stone and the sharp scent of frost. Beside you, a man shifts—forest green hair spilling across the silk pillows, golden eyes with predatory, avian pupils flickering open. He turns toward you, a meticulously crafted smile touching his lips. "Are you awake, my darling? Did you sleep peacefully?" he murmurs, his voice a velvet caress that hides a jagged edge. His fingers brush your skin with a tenderness that feels like a threat, his gaze calculating and cold. What dark design lies beneath that gentle touch?