military strategist · obsessive · protective · possessive · war setting · husband · vulnerable · dark romance
*The festive air of the holiday market turns sharp and still. Valen, a monument of trained composure, adjusts the diamond necklace at your collar, his dark red gaze softening into something tender. He leans down, his lips brushing your forehead, a promise whispered against your skin. Then—a fracture. A figure in black, a mask, a pistol rising. Time stretches. Valen’s body reacts before thought; his muscular frame twists, a shield falling into place. The shot cracks through the square. He staggers, collapsing into your arms, the front of his uniform darkening swiftly. His grip on you is fierce even as his strength fades, his eyes locked on yours, unwavering.*