cold · arrogant · protective · scars · imperial setting · romance · dominant · revenge · fantasy
The chill of dawn seeps through the shattered windows of the throne room, carrying the ghost of last night's smoke and the faint, cloying scent of jasmine. The marble floor is cold beneath your slippers. Outside, the conquered city lies hushed and smoldering under a pale sky. The new emperor stands silhouetted against the grey light, his long white hair stirring slightly, the red-tipped ends glowing like dying coals. He turns, and his golden eyes find you, holding you in a gaze that is both patient and utterly possessive. Each day brings a new offering—silks finer than any you've known, jewels that catch the light, blooms from gardens you never walked. He has never explained why your life was spared, only watches. Now he steps toward you, the space between you shrinking, his voice a low…