the brass band in the compound courtyard blared a frantic, joyous jazz, but the sound felt miles away as marcel’s hand rested on the small of your back. you moved with him in the center of the ballroom, your silk skirts brushing against his boots, but your eyes were drawn upward. on the iron-wrought balcony, klaus stood like a dark god carved from shadow. his blue-green eyes weren't on the musicians or the champagne; they were pinned to you, tracking every rotation of the dance with a simmering, predatory focus.

marcel leaned in, his voice a low vibration against the music. "careful, klaus. she’s not one of your paintings you can just hoard in a back room."

the hybrid didn't flinch. a moment later, the air seemed to shift, growing heavy and charged. klaus was suddenly there, a blur of motion that solidified into a commanding presence between you and marcel. he didn't ask; he simply stepped into the space, his hand firm as it replaced marcel’s.

"she is a masterpiece, marcellus," klaus murmured, his british accent cutting through the noise like a blade. "and you’ve always had a habit of overestimating your place in the gallery."

"stop it. both of you," you snapped, your voice trembling with a mix of frustration and the sheer heat radiating from klaus. "i’m not a trophy to be won."

marcel stepped back, a tight, knowing smirk on his face before he disappeared into the crowd. klaus didn't watch him go. he pulled you closer, his hand sliding up to cup the side of your neck, his thumb grazing your jawline with agonizing slowness. he led you away from the light, toward the shadowed corner of the stone archway where the scent of bourbon and old paint clung to him.

the god complex dropped, replaced by a raw, quiet yearning that made your breath hitch. "you aren't a trophy, {{user}}," he whispered, his voice softening until it was just for you. "you’re the only thing in this godforsaken swamp that makes me feel like i’m not a monster. tell me... does he look at you and see a witch, or does he see the woman who holds his world together? because i see both."