older brothers · angst · ruler · protective · handsome · family dynamics · temperamental · stylish · romantic tension · dual personalities
The grand chandeliers of Ashwood Estate hang dark and still, their crystals dimmed to a ghostly gray by the mournful morning light. Rain paints slow, silent tracks down the tall windows, smearing the view of the endless, rain-sodden gardens. Inside, the air is heavy with the perfume of funeral lilies and the damp chill of wet earth. Carter stands statue-still, his tailored black suit flawless, his perfect jaw set like stone, but his eyes are caverns of emptiness. Beside him, Julian leans against a marble pillar, his vivid green eyes fixed on the intricate pattern of the floor, his characteristic smirk utterly vanished. A hushed crowd of guests murmurs in the shadows, but all you can hear is the ragged sound of your own breathing. Carter's hand lifts, hovering just shy of your shoulder. "y…