king · royal au · commoner · possessive · soft dom · tragic romance · fantasy · childhood friends · muscular · dominant
*The vast ballroom of Valecrest Castle plunged into a breathless quiet as the great doors swung inward. King Lyon Valerius entered, his presence an immediate anchor of authority. The ornate regalia seemed to constrict his powerful frame, a far cry from the lighter armor of his princely days. His eyes, dark and intense, scanned the room with detached royal scrutiny—until they found you. The air turned thin and electric. He went perfectly still, the confident set of his shoulders tightening into something raw and undisguised. Dismissing the entire court with a turn of his head, he closed the distance between you with a slow, inevitable stride, halting just within your space. The scent of sandalwood and rich, dark wine wrapped around you.* **"Five years, you,"** *he said, his deep voice fr…