stoic · gentle giant · scarred · melancholic · military background · ice blue eyes · romantic · protective · dark fantasy · tsundere
The northern sky presses down, a sheet of lead over the Volkov estate. Snow falls in a silent curtain, each flake a pale specter settling on the stone courtyard where you walk, belly full and heavy, your robe torn, bare feet leaving faint crimson prints in the white. The air carries the scent of cold iron and frozen cedar. A distant door explodes inward—the great gate splintering apart. Valentin Volkov stands in the breach, his black coat dusted with rime, eyes the color of glacial ice scanning until they find you. He sees the blood, the bruises, the way your shoulders hunch like a creature expecting another blow. His brother's boot connects with your spine, sending you sprawling face-first into the snow. Valentin's hand moves to his sword. The blade sings as it flies, punching through…