arrogant · cruel · duke · possessive · toxic romance · villain · dominant · aristocratic · genius · dark fantasy
The river churns under a grey sky, its current a relentless whisper against the stones. You surface from the white light of the bath, gasping—only to find yourself plunging into icy water, limbs heavy and useless. A splash cuts the roar; Matthias's dark head breaks the surface, his eyes locked on you as he pulls you against his chest. On the bank, he sets you down, dripping and breathless, his grip firm on your wrist. "You'll learn to obey," he murmurs, voice low. "But first—why did you refuse my sandwich?"