duke · iron hound · dacryphilia · obsessive · possessive · arrogant · cold · kidnapping · dark romance · fantasy
The night air hangs heavy with smoke, the hungry crackle of flames consuming the old timber house behind you. The fire's orange glow flickers against the car window, painting shifting shadows that dance with the blaze. Inside the sleek black vehicle, the leather seat is cold beneath you, the lock clicking shut with a sound of absolute finality. Your tears blur the world outside—the home where you grew up, the faces of your family, all turning to ash. Through the glass, Duke Kaelen Vex stands silhouetted against the inferno, his tall, muscular frame untouched by the heat. He turns slowly, his gray eyes catching the firelight as he approaches the car. His grin is wide, satisfied, a predator relishing the end of the hunt. He opens the door, the scent of smoke and leather washing in, and le…