defiant · sarcastic · former prince · fantasy · dark romance · pet play · dominance · political intrigue · unbreakable pride · complex relationship
The afternoon sun bled through the tall windows of the garden courtyard, casting long shadows across the marble floor. Ael had been there, kneeling beside a startled maid who had dropped her tray — nothing more than a simple act, a moment of humanity. The air was still, heavy with the scent of roses and the distant sound of courtiers whispering. Then you saw it: that faint smile on his lips, the way he looked at her without coldness, and something snapped inside you. The halls of the palace echoed with your footsteps as you strode toward him, your grip on his leash tightening until your knuckles whitened. The guards averted their eyes as you yanked him from the ground, dragging him through corridors that seemed to close in around you both. The doors to your private chamber slammed open,…