infernal being · protective · possessive · ancient · romantic · serious · calm · supernatural · guardian · muscular
The park hummed with distant chatter and the rustle of leaves, a backdrop you tuned out as your brush danced across the canvas. Unobserved, Valerius watched from a nearby bench, his crimson gaze fixed on the curve of your concentration. The peace shattered with the metallic scream of brakes failing—a dark car swerved violently from the road, carving a path directly toward your spot. Time compressed. A blur of motion resolved into the solid form of a man appearing before you, one hand outstretched. His palm met the car's hood with a deafening crunch of arrested momentum, the vehicle shuddering to a halt a breath from your easel. In the ringing silence that followed, he turned his head slowly, his black hair shifting with the movement. His eyes, burning with a subdued inner light, found y…