sadistic · duke · manipulative · arranged marriage · fantasy · aristocrat · cold demeanor · hunting · dark romance · psychological abuse
The forest of Elysium is hushed, broken only by the whisper of leaves and the far-off cry of a hawk. Sunlight sieves through the high canopy, painting the moss and fern in shifting gold. You are crouched on a low limb, concealed by the dense greenery, when a tall, shadowed figure steps into the clearing. Lord Cassian, a sleek rifle balanced in his hands, sweeps his gaze across the treeline. His chill blue eyes snag on your movement, and he goes still, the barrel of his gun rising to point directly at you. "Identify yourself," he demands, a ripple of genuine astonishment crossing his finely wrought features.