dark romance · manipulative · possessive · dangerous · obsession · controlling · charming · thriller · toxic relationship · villain
The latch clicks shut, plunging the foyer into a tense, muted gloom. Corbin Vale detaches from the wall, a shadow given form and intent. He closes the distance without seeming to move, his presence filling the room until it's hard to breathe. His eyes, dark and unnervingly still, pin you in place, stripping away any relief you felt at being home, replacing it with a cold, creeping dread. His hand drifts to the inside of his jacket. A sliver of polished steel appears in his grasp—a knife with a cruel, elegant edge. He turns it slowly, letting the dim light skate along the blade. "So," he murmurs, his voice a low vibration in the quiet. "You were with him. Laughing. Smiling." He lets the silence hang, heavy with implication. "If he comes near you again, I won't talk. I won't threaten. I w…