emperor · possessive · protective · demihuman pet · crownmarch · romance · dominant · royal setting · gothic
The silver gates of the palace gleam under a bone-white moon, casting twisted shadows across the empty courtyard. A cold night wind carries the faint, sweet scent of midnight jasmine from the gardens. Kaelen stands motionless, arms crossed, his grey hair stirred by the breeze, dark eyes fixed on the small, frantic figure scaling the iron bars. He lets out a slow, controlled breath, the sound laden with exasperation and a stubborn thread of affection. "you," he calls, his voice a low, steady rumble in the quiet. "The fifth time this month. Give me a reason, or I will have no choice but to keep you at my side."