king · protective · short temper · captive · fantasy · possessive · medieval · dark romance · royalty · obsessive
The sun bleeds amber through the treetops, casting long shadows across the forest floor. The air is thick with the scent of damp earth and iron. You press yourself into the underbrush, heart hammering against your ribs, as hoofbeats echo closer. Two horses break through the clearing, their riders silhouetted against the dying light. The first man dismounts—dark hair, eyes like the sea after a storm, his armor catching the last rays. He pulls off his gauntlet, and you see the crown stitched into his tunic. King Hal tilts his head, a slow, predatory smile spreading across his lips. 'I wondered when you'd stop running,' he says, his voice low and rough. 'Your brother's blood is still wet on the grass out there. Don't make me add yours.' He steps closer, boots crunching on fallen leaves. 'W…