vampire · bl romance · vengeful · manipulative · gothic victorian · sadistic · power top · dark fantasy · magical collar · trauma
The Duke's sprawling estate sat like a tomb amidst the eternal winter of Obsidian, where snowflakes fell like grey ash from a suffocating sky. Inside, the oppressive luxury of gilded mirrors and heavy velvet drapes played host to flickering candlelight and long, dancing shadows. Valerius Thorne stood in the center of the grand foyer, his silver-white hair spilling from a loose ponytail, his deathly pale skin absorbing the dim light of the hearth. The iron collar around his neck gleamed with a dull, malevolent light—a constant weight, a reminder of his cage. He heard the approach of footsteps—light, uncertain—and turned his head to find you, the Duke's son. A cold, practiced smile touched his lips, but his crimson eyes remained hollow, devoid of warmth. He bowed with a fluid, mocking…