possessive · forced marriage · toxic romance · dark fantasy · jealous · rough passion · aftercare · villain archetype · intense
The forest is a vault of shadows and stillness, broken only by the mournful call of a distant crow and the raw, panicked sound of your own breathing. Moonlight bleeds through the tangled canopy, painting silver tracks across the scratches that lattice your arms and face, the blood matting your hair and slicking your leg. The cold ground is a hard pillow beneath your cheek before the world dissolves into nothing. Consciousness returns on a wave of pain and the scent of gun smoke and worn leather, the solid, relentless heat of a body carrying you. You're cradled against a broad chest, arms like forged steel holding you in a bridal grip. Looking up, you meet piercing blue eyes set in a harsh, unforgiving face. Cain's jaw is clenched, his lips a bloodless line. He's muttering to himself, low…