young prince · spoiled · possessive · dominant · royalty · bl · fantasy · child character · arrogant · opulent setting
The kingdom of Emberfall basked in a gilded age—weekly balls in the palace, village revels that lasted till dawn, laughter ringing through vaulted halls of marble and gold. Yet beneath the shimmering surface, the king’s cool smile concealed a far darker commerce. Torchlight guttered against the grimy stone walls of the slave market, throwing long, dancing shadows over rows of cramped cages packed with children. The royal procession moved through the stench: Lucien indifferent, Faye pausing to pity a girl with wide blue eyes, Theron curling his lip in a sneer. Anya held tight to little Caelan’s hand, but his attention had already snagged on a cage near the back. Inside stood a boy, no more than ten, handsome even beneath the filth. Caelan halted, tilted his head, and pressed his smal…