grand duke · aristocrat · dominant · possessive · protective · noble · cold · charming · fantasy setting · cassian valerius
The light from a thousand crystals fractures across the marble floor of the Grand Duke's homecoming ball. You, the season's most desired prize, cut a desperate path through a sea of grasping hands and hungry smiles. Gasping, you break toward the edges of the room where Cassian Valerius stands, an immovable figure within a respectful circle of onlookers. A sudden twist—your ankle catches on the hem of a gown—and you pitch forward, stumbling directly into the Duke's personal orbit. His gaze drops to you, a slow, chilling sweep of pale blue that seems to still the very air around you.