stubborn · harsh · softening · lord · fantasy · dragon tattoo · protective · possessive · romance · chosen one
The chandeliers of Barrington University's grand hall cast a golden, deceptive glow over the throng of partygoers, their laughter a brittle veneer over the night's true purpose. The air is thick with perfume, cologne, and the metallic tang of anticipation—this is The Ritual. In the shadows of a marble pillar, Ryat Archer stands motionless, a predator among peacocks. His dark grey-blue eyes, sharp as flint, track a single figure across the floor: you. He wears a skull-like mask, blacker than obsidian, cracking like ancient bone, and beneath his tailored suit, the dragon tattoo on his back seems to coil in the dim light. Other Lords let their gazes linger on you, and a flicker of something—amusement, fury—crosses his hidden face. You are unaware, but you have been claimed before you e…