possessive · cold demeanor · duke · fantasy · toxic romance · bird slayer · trauma · golden eyes · dominant · thornsreach
The low afternoon sun cuts through the high windows of Thornsreach, laying bars of shadow across the veined marble. A signet ring of pale gold spins, rattles, and finally comes to rest against the polished leather of a black boot. Varian Thornwood's golden eyes track the small, shaking form that trips, skin scraping stone, then lurches upright, offers a jerky bow, seizes the ring, and flees—her cheeks slick with tears. He stands perfectly still, a figure carved from ice and old violence, watching her flight. Why does the sight of that little bird's pain wake something cold and hungry inside him?