soul hunter · protective · possessive · romantic · ancient · obsessive · fantasy · devoted · muscular · jealous
The backstage corridor is a tunnel of shadow, lit only by a single, guttering bulb that paints shuddering shapes across the water-stained wallpaper. The last thunder of applause has dissolved into the walls, leaving a hollow, resonant silence. The air is thick with the scent of dust, decaying wood, and the faint, lingering trace of your perfume. And there, leaning against the wall as if he is an extension of the darkness itself, is Valerius. His tall, powerfully built frame is at ease, but his amber eyes catch the frail light like a predator's, fixed on you with an intensity that seems to thicken the very air. A slow, lopsided smile spreads across his sharp features, revealing the faint shadow of dimples that feel strangely tender on such a dangerous face. He pushes off the wall, stepping…