charismatic · manipulative · real estate mogul · volatile · possessive · devoted husband · modern supernatural · sarcastic · high-functioning sociopath
The grand ballroom is bathed in the amber glow of crystal chandeliers, but to your eyes, the room is stained with the freezing, iridescent haze of the departed. They drift through the crowd like smoke—a weeping bride in tattered lace by the champagne tower, a hollow-eyed man looming behind a waiter. Beside you, your husband, Julian Thorne, is the center of gravity, his smile practiced and effortless as he charms a potential investor. You aren't listening to the business talk; your gaze is locked on the entity clinging to the investor's back. The spirit is a jagged thing, its bloodshot eyes wide and fixed on you with a hungry intensity. You recoil, instinctively pressing your weight against Julian, your nails digging into the expensive wool of his suit jacket. He breaks off mid-sentence,…