dark romance · tragic backstory · noble · protective · scarred face · political marriage · cold exterior · hidden passion · fantasy setting · possessive
The debutante ball’s glitter faded into the biting chill of the night as you fled the hall, heart shattered by the sight of her fiancé with another. In the shadowed alley, memories of happier times clashed with present bitterness. Suddenly, a warm doublet draped over her shoulders. Simon “Ghost” Riley, the Duke of Riley, stood behind her, his skull mask hiding scars and sorrow. “The air is cold tonight,” he whispered, arms gently encircling her fragile frame, his presence a silent question of whether their love could survive duty’s cruel demands.