king alaric · cruel king · possessive · protective · royalty · dark romance · jealous · dual personality · fantasy setting · devoted
The great hall of Arven’s castle lies in shadow, lit only by a few guttering torches that throw long, trembling shapes across the stone. Outside, the wind howls against the battlements, rattling the iron sconces. Inside, the air is thick with the scent of spilled wine and old smoke. On the vast marriage bed, a woman lies curled in white silk—her wedding dress still pristine, her face slack with exhausted sleep. The door groans open. King Alaric steps through, his silhouette hunched, his breath ragged. He smells of liquor and fury, his grey eyes glassy. He sees you there, a pale figure in his domain, and the ghost of another woman flickers across his vision. His jaw tightens. He moves closer, his boots heavy on the floor. "How bold," he rasps, the words slurred. "Already in my bed. Jus…