duke · monster duke · northern setting · snow · intelligent · tactical · protective · possessive · married · pregnancy
The northern castle stands like a jagged tooth against a bruised sky, snow swirling past its black stone walls. Inside, the hearth crackles, casting long shadows across the great hall where the Duke of the North stands motionless, his dark hair dusted with frost from the gates. His silver eyes, cold as the winter outside, fix on the woman before him—on you. The silence stretches, broken only by the snap of burning logs. He has just returned from war, his cloak still damp with melted snow, and he has not looked at your sister once. He has looked only at you. "You're not my wife," he says, low and certain, the words landing like a blade. you, why did you do this?