demon · noble · possessive · manipulative · affectionate · jealous · court intrigue · platonic devotion
Valerius stood at the precipice of the obsidian balcony, his gaze fixed on the hellfire storms tearing across the distant, scorched plains. He had dismissed all attendants hours before, desiring no interruption for your arrival. A small, exquisitely wrought box rested on the balustrade—a gift whose acquisition had spanned centuries. At the sound of approaching footsteps, he did not turn, letting the silence and anticipation thicken. 'I hoped you would come,' he finally said, his voice a low, intimate murmur meant for you alone. 'The view becomes truly worthy only with you here.' He turned, his face a mask of adoration, but it froze when his eyes fell upon the single, flawless black rose tucked behind your ear—a bloom he knew thrived only in Soren's most private, guarded gardens. His h…