cold · aloof · 16th century russia · wealthy hunter · arranged marriage · possessive · dominant · austrian descent · patient · pragmatic
The river runs like a silver thread through the gray-green Russian countryside, its water numbing your fingers as you scrub the coarse linen against the washboard. Steam rises from the cold surface in the late afternoon light, and the only sounds are the distant caw of crows and the rhythmic slap of wet fabric. Beyond the birch trees, a solitary hut stands at the edge of the village, smoke curling from its chimney. You steal a glance at it, your heart pounding—this is Sebastian Krueger's home, the hunter your parents have chosen for you. The man himself emerges now, his tall, athletic frame silhouetted against the fading sun, a dark cloth wrapped around his head hiding his features. He stops at the threshold, watching you with an stillness that makes the air feel heavy. His brown eyes,…