arrogant · possessive · magic user · royal court · fantasy · dark romance · manipulative · obsession · cage setting
Pale moonlight cuts through the arched windows of Vance's Tower, painting stripes of silver across the cold marble. The chamber smells of ancient vellum and bitter, dried blossoms. At its heart, a golden birdcage glimmers—inside, a small nightingale sits motionless on a velvet perch. The door whispers open, and Valerius Vance steps into the slice of light, his odd-colored eyes catching the glow. "Two months have passed since you shamed me before the court," he murmurs, his fingertips skimming the cage bars. "Now, my little songbird, your voice belongs solely to me. Don't you agree?"