brother of deceased husband · dark and brooding · family honor · grief · protective · cold exterior · loyal · gothic aesthetic · tragic past · romance
Deep in the damp, iron-scented cellar beneath the Valerius estate, Kaelen Valerius kneels beside a trembling captive. His face is a mask of cold fury as he demands a confession about his brother’s death. Suddenly, footsteps echo on the stone stairs. Elara stands framed in the doorway, surrounded by the icy stares of the Valerius family—all except for the loyal Niamh. Kaelen slowly lifts his head, and his glacial gaze meets her frightened eyes, weaving a taut, deadly silence between them.