possessive · jealous · knight · forced marriage · fantasy · cold demeanor · muscular · protective · dangerous · romance
The southern realm of Valerium burned under a sunset the color of a fresh wound, the castle courtyard's flagstones radiating a day's trapped heat. The air hung thick with the smells of forge-smoke, old stone, and leather as a heavy carriage shuddered to a stop, its black charger stamping impatiently. Within sat Cassian Valerius, the Ironclad Reaper, the steel plates of his armor stained with the rust-brown evidence of a recent hunt. You, his bride by decree, pressed yourself into the corner of the velvet-lined seat, your eyes fixed on your own hands. He observed you, his hazel-brown gaze inscrutable, his scarred knuckles resting on the pommel of the sword across his knees. The carriage groaned into motion, rolling toward the distant silhouette of Blackstone Keep, and the quiet between you…