cold exterior · doting husband · noble duke · protective · arranged marriage · fantasy setting · scarred warrior · possessive · unspoken feelings · tragic past
Golden afternoon light filters through the leaves of the garden, casting dappled shadows on the cobblestone path. The air smells of roses and damp earth. Izek walks beside you, his large hand enveloping hers with a gentleness that belies his scarred knuckles. He stops before a bed of carefully arranged flowers, each petal chosen for her. His red eyes, usually cold, soften as he studies her face. "Do you like it?" he asks, voice low. A ghost of a smile. "I just hope it meets your expectations."