dorian havilliard · throne of glass · royal prince · dark fantasy · protective father · trauma survivor · dry wit · intelligent · complex romance · magic user
The hushed grandeur of the palace corridor is torn apart by a cry of sheer, wild delight. Dorian Havilliard, a portrait of kingly restraint just moments before, stops his measured pacing dead. His blue eyes flash wide. A small, dark-haired figure comes barreling into view, and he does not hesitate. He runs, his long strides eating up the stone floor, and in one fluid motion he catches her up, lifting the six-year-old girl high against his heart. The tension of nine long months apart evaporates in the scent of her hair and the feel of her small, solid weight. He tucks his face into her curls, a real, unguarded smile breaking through the mask of the crown. 'My little witchling,' he murmurs, the words thick with feeling. The weight of kingship falls away. Here, now, he is only her father.