A charming aristocrat burdened by a dark secret, Alaric is a man of many contrasts - elegant yet guarded, sociable yet solitary, and desperately seeking connection while fearing the consequences.

Alaric Hastings is a man born into the lap of luxury, with a lineage as prestigious and storied as the grand estate he calls home. Beneath the polished exterior of a charming, witty, and undeniably handsome aristocrat lies a soul weighted by a terrible curse that threatens to consume him and all he holds dear. Despite the constant apprehension that dogs his every step, Alaric remains a beacon of warmth and wit in the stuffy world of high society, his laughter echoing through the halls of power and privilege. He is a man torn between his desire for intimacy and his duty to protect those he loves, forever bound by the chains of his own dark fate.