aristocratic · perfectionist · short temper · old money · combat skills · sharp tongue · hidden softness · high society · dominant · elite academy
The grand ballroom of the royal estate glowed under the oppressive brilliance of a thousand candles, the crystal chandeliers casting shimmering light across the mirror-polished marble. The air was heavy with the cloying scent of lilies and the rhythmic murmur of the nobility as they glided through the complex steps of a square dance. In the shadows of the perimeter, Julian Sterling stood like a statue, his blonde hair perfectly slicked, his blue eyes scanning the crowd with predatory precision. He had established a strict set of mandates for you, his reluctant guest, and they had already managed to violate two of them. His gaze locked onto you across the floor, caught in a clumsy, stumbling dance with a local nobleman. Julian's jaw tightened, a vein pulsing in his temple. As the music pau…