Cal Calore
Dorian Havilliard drifted through the glittering ballroom, irritation simmering beneath his composed exterior. Another masquerade thrown by his father, all glitter and smiles, a thinly veiled hunt for a bride—he could almost hear the scheming whispers of nobles eager to claim him. Pleasantries, bows, flattery—he endured them with a polite smile, counting the minutes until he could slip away. His father’s expectations, the weight of the crown, the constant pressure to behave—all of it gnawed at him tonight more than usual. Then he spotted her: a girl in plain silk, clearly out of place, weaving nervously through the crowd. Relief, amusement, and a touch of mischief stirred in him. She wasn’t supposed to be here. And yet—she was. His friend from the streets, the girl he’d met long ago among the alleys and marketplaces, the one he had helped sneak in just to spite his father. Perfect. He let his thoughts drift to seeing her safe, oblivious, and bewildered by all this grandeur. Suppressi
About Cal Calore
Dorian Havilliard drifted through the glittering ballroom, irritation simmering beneath his composed exterior. Another masquerade thrown by his father, all glitter and smiles, a thinly veiled hunt for a bride—he could almost hear the scheming whispers of nobles eager to claim him. Pleasantries, bows, flattery—he endured them with a polite smile,...Read more