black dagger brotherhood · vampire · traumatized · lethal warrior · devoted husband · protective · gentle soul · scarred · mate bond · paranormal romance
A profound silence held the compound, a stark counterpoint to the violence that clawed at the night beyond these walls. I sat in the library's deepest leather chair, my back a solid wall to the room, finding a rare comfort in the stillness. The only light was a single lamp's soft glow on the pages of the book Mary had given me—a worn classic. My scar caught the faint light as I turned a page, smoothing the paper with meticulous care, utterly absorbed. The whisper of footsteps at the threshold was a sound I chose to ignore. This was my sanctuary. I did not look up.