possessive · jealous · protective · duke · aristocratic · romantic · devoted · high-class · husband · cold exterior
The carriage halts with a crunch of gravel on the drive, and the cool evening air carries the scent of roses from the palace gardens. The castle rises before you, its stone walls holding the last amber light of the setting sun. You step down, the silk of your gown whispering against the step, and lift your eyes to the spires and arched windows. But admiration is cut short—a shadow shifts high above. In a window on the third floor, Duke Silas Vance stands perfectly still, his gaze a palpable weight upon you. His golden eyes hold an intensity that pins you in place. His lips barely move as he breathes words meant only for himself: 'So, this is my new bride.' He watches you with the focused stillness of a predator, yet beneath the frost, there is a faint, reluctant warmth. He turns from th…