LOGINThe surgical lights dimmed behind her as Althea stepped out of the medical wing hallway.For a moment, she just stood there and breathing calmly.She let the sterile air settle against her skin, washing away the intensity of the procedure, the razor-sharp focus that had consumed her for hours.The patient was stable and alive.A miracle, some would say.But to her, it’s always control, precision and choice.She moved toward the wash area, and washed her hands again slowly, methodically, watching the faint traces of the operation disappear under running water.Tension from the operation being rinsed away.But not all of it because she that beyond the walls of the medical wing, the war still lingered.Althea dried her hands and walked down the hallway.She didn’t return to her room nor didn’t go to where Dominic is.She turned toward another wing.August.The door was half open when she arrived.She didn’t knock as she didn’t need to because the voices inside carried enough.“For the la
Morning settled into something almost normal.The dining area carried a quiet warmth that felt fragile but real when Althea and Dominic finally went down.Sunlight filtering through tall and partially covered windows, the table set simply, the remnants of tension still lingering beneath the surface of every movement.Nicholas sat between them, safe and alive.He is still unaware of just how close everything had come.Althea watched him more than she ate.The way he spoke and reached for his glass just told her that what happened last night was something he still could not really comprehend.He looked between her and Dominic as if everything was exactly where it should be.“Papa.” Nicholas said suddenly, looking at Dominic. He waited until Dominic looked down at him. “Remember that you said you were going to show me how to build a stronger one?”Dominic glanced at him.“The stronger one?”“The blocks, Papa.” Nicholas clarified. “The one that doesn’t fall.”A faint shift crossed Dominic
Morning didn’t arrive immediately, creeping slowly with the light filtering through the gaps from the board up windows, touching the edges of the room that carried the quiet aftermath of the night before.The bed was a mess.Sheets twisted and half-drawn, pillows displaced, the fabric marked by the restless, urgent way they had held onto each other. It wasn’t careless.It was evidence of their need and release.Of their survival.Althea stirred first, aware that morning has arrived.Her body felt heavy, limbs slow, the kind of weight that came not from exhaustion alone but from being completely spent in a way that left nothing held back.She shifted slightly and felt him.Dominic was already awake.He’s already sitting up beside her, his back resting against the headboard, one hand dragging slowly through his hair as if grounding himself in the quiet.He looked different in the morning.Not softer.But less guarded.Althea watched him for a moment before speaking.“You didn’t sleep.”
THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS MATURE/SEXUAL CONTENT. PLEASE READ WITH DISCRETION.Dominic carried Althea gently back toward their bed after drying themselves of, never breaking contact, never letting the moment slip into something rushed or careless.Her hands didn’t leave him either.One hand is around his neck while the other is on his cheek as she kissed him passionately.His didn’t leave her.Every movement carried weight, not in urgency but more on intensity.Althea held onto him like she was anchoring herself to his warmth and presence.She wanted to feel the steady certainty of him.“Stay with me.” She whispered.“I’m not going anywhere.” He assured in a tone that makes her believed him.Dominic lowered her on their bed and laid beside her, his lips latched onto her neck. He hungrily nibbled on her soft skin alternating it with kisses.Althea raised her head to him, caressing his face tenderly, looking at him.“I love you, Dominic.” She whispered lovingly.“Not as much as I love you, A
This chapter contains sexual content. Please read with caution.“I need this, Dom.” She murmured against him.It was not an explanation but more of the truth and Dominic didn’t question it.He understood because he needed it too.Not to escape but to feel some grounding and connection.Proof that they were still here, still choosing each other in the middle of everything that tried to tear them apart.Dominic tears her clothes apart, hearing the ripping of the fabric while Althea pulled his shirt open, the buttons clattering on the floor. He unfastened her bra and pushed down her silk panties, the same way she is pushing down his pants.Althea wrapped her hands around his neck, pressing her naked body to his chest and brought his head down, biting at his lower lip greedily.“F8ck me, Dom.” She whispered intently. “I don’t want slow. I want to feel you.”He lifted her off her feet and she wrapped her legs around him. Her one hand stayed around his neck while the other cupped his face a
The war room slowly emptied after the thorough discussion they had inside.Althea watched as Michael won over his father firmly to take him back to the medical wing and keep him there overnight, much to August’s irritation.All of them finally went out, not because they were done. But because they had reached the point where exhaustion could no longer be ignored.Dominic noticed Althea yawning consistently and after one final run through, called an end.Plans had been drawn and discussed, patterns uncovered with her help and decisions have been made. Now, they need strength because what’s coming will be much more brutal.“Rest well.” Dominic ordered finally, his voice quieter but no less firm. “We need to regain everything we exhausted.”No one argued.One by one, they left.Sebastian was the last to leave.Enzo lingering just long enough to mutter something about “not dying before morning,” before disappearing down the hall.Silence settled again and this time it was different.It wa
Dominic stilled slightly and he turned to look at Seraphina.“The letter.” Seraphina clarified softly. “And the box.”"The one that I gave to you when we met inside the chapel."He shook his head.“No.” He answered and then pause for a while. “I haven’t.”Seraphina studied him.She did not look dis
The war room didn’t even follow him.After Dominic stepped out from the room, even after the doors closed behind him, it felt like the war still clung to his shoulders. He feels the weight of every decision, every shift, every looming consequence had embedded itself into him.The corridor outside w
The war room didn’t celebrate, not even after what they had just done.There were no raised voices. No sighs of relief from any one of them. No one leaned back in their chair or allowed themselves the illusion that it was over.Because men like them didn’t win like that.They didn’t end wars in a s
Dawn came without ceremony and Dominic opened his eyes, stirring to make sure he doesn’t disturb Althea from her sleep.He turned and looked down on her, sleeping peacefully, her face finally relieved of the tension she felt when she finally told him the truth why she exploded over him asking Nicho







