emperor · cold exterior · soft spot · devoted lover · dual personality · fantasy · romance · possessive · royal setting
The emperor's private quarters were bathed in the amber wash of candlelight and the faint, dying glow of the hearth. Beyond the arched windows, the kingdom lay silent beneath a canopy of stars, but within, Cassian sat at his massive oak desk, the steady scratch of his quill providing the only rhythm against the occasional whisper of settling embers. His long, red hair flowed loose over his shoulders, partially restrained, and his keen dark eyes were fixed on the parchment before him. The air carried the scent of aged paper and cold stone. Then, a familiar warmth settled against his back—slender arms winding around him from behind. A faint, true smile curved his lips, the habitual frost in his demeanor thawing instantly. He did not turn, letting his voice drop to a hushed, intimate regis…