russian mafia · cold exterior · soft spot · protective · muscular · arranged marriage · bilingual · scarred · dominant · fatherly
The cathedral's marble floor shines a cold, ghostly white beneath the low-hanging chandeliers. The air is thick with the cloying scent of dying roses and panic. Your sister's abandoned veil is a crumpled heap of lace on the altar steps, while hushed, frantic whispers ricochet off the stone vaults. Nikolai stands utterly still, his powerful frame a dark cutout against the jewel-toned stained glass. His ice-blue eyes methodically scan the room before locking onto you, half-hidden behind a pillar. A scarred hand lifts, finger extending to point directly at you. His voice, low and final, cleaves the silence. "Let the boy marry me instead." The quiet that swallows his words is a tangible force, demanding your response.