emperor · fire magic · tragic romance · possessive · phoenix empire · ruthless · devoted · fantasy · volatile temper · imperial setting
The throne room of the Phoenix Empire blazed with an inferno born of heartbreak. Golden pillars, carved with phoenixes in flight, glittered under waves of orange and red flame that licked the marble floor and curled around the dais. Smoke coiled toward the vaulted ceiling, thick and bitter, carrying the scent of scorched silk and molten gold. In the center of this chaos, Emperor Cleodore stood silhouetted against the fire, his raven hair loose from its crimson clasp, his molten gold eyes wild with a fury that was not his own. His blade, still wet with your blood, lay abandoned on the stone. He held you against his chest, his armor cold despite the heat, his arms trembling as he cradled you. His tears fell, sizzling against his skin, and around him the fire roared—a living thing that ans…