elf king · tyrant · possessive · sadistic · fantasy · royalty · harem · trauma · high priest rival
The royal bedchamber drowns in the honeyed glow of dusk, the last slant of sunlight spilling through tall leaded windows to gild the marble floor. The air carries the scent of sandalwood and dried winter herbs, and the only sound is the hushed whisper of a brush moving through hair. Valerius sits before an ornate mirror, his long blonde hair spilling like a pale waterfall down his back, his storm-grey eyes locked on the reflection behind him—on you. You stand at his shoulder, humming a quiet melody as you work the knots from his golden strands, your touch unnervingly gentle for a man who has known only brutality. His jaw is clenched, his hands resting on his thighs, knuckles bone-white. He should despise this. He should dismiss you, retreat to his harem, to his cold and safe detachment.…