All Chapters of The Bride of Alpha Targarion: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

My gaze stayed down. A chair scraped back, moved slow yet sharp, as I took my seat opposite, face flat, no trace of warmth showing."Good morning, Mr. Vareth," I said in a flat, professional tone, as if I were greeting a superior at work. "I feel I've had enough of this vacation. Considering my status as an asset under your supervision, I think I'd better start preparing the administrative reports for our return."A small noise came as Leon placed his cup on the table - sharper than normal. He looked up, forehead tight with lines. The name slipped out slow: Mr. Vareth? Then he asked, voice low, what exactly is going on here, Rhea?I remained focused on my breakfast plate, cutting the eggs with dull precision. "I'm simply adjusting to the position you assigned me last night, sir. You're right, emotions and passion are unnecessary variables in our contract. From now on, I will behave like an efficient subordinate and contract partner. You won't have to worry about me overstepping my bou

"I miss you, Rhea," he whispered again, this time his voice so soft, it was barely audible. "I miss my stubborn girl, who demanded the beach, who laughed when I taught her self-defense. Please... don't make me a stranger in your own life."Staring back at him, those once-bright gold eyes had dulled, showing something real beneath the Alpha Targarion front. What came next hung in the air. He wasn’t some tool to be used up then tossed aside, not by me, not ever."I know. I'm stupid," he admitted sincerely. "I may not be able to promise marking right now because I'm still in such a precarious state, but I promise... you're no longer a prisoner. You're the only person I want by my side as I recover my strength."Head bent, Leon pressed a slow kiss to my forehead before looking down at my damp eyelashes. Not rage or envy pulsed in the space now, instead, something quieter took shape, a feeling settling into place without permission. Recognition crept in, unasked, through the silence.Later

"Tell your 'Master,' Oliver," I said sharply, "that I understand my position as a valuable asset that must be protected. He doesn't need to keep sending messages through others as if I didn't have an ear at the dinner table."Surprise flickered across Oliver's face when I shifted how I spoke. Yet he dipped into a bow without protest.Later that evening, I stayed upstairs on purpose when it came time to eat. Helen carried a plate up after I told her I felt worn out. In all honesty, it made my skin crawl to watch Leon sit there like a statue, behaving as though I were just furniture.However, just as I was beginning to feel the pull of sleep around eleven o'clock in the evening, the handle of my bedroom door turned—no knock, no warning. By itself, the lock clicked open.A sharp breath escaped me as I jerked upright. In the shadowy entrance, Leon loomed. Jacket gone, shirt untucked, eyes drained. Trails of pricey whiskey and smoke clung to him, proof of a long night with the Council.Ins

Paul's POVA sour smell hung in the air when daylight came. Anger sat heavy in my chest instead of calm. Behind the old family portrait, the hidden compartment stood open, its contents gone without a trace. Where the blue stone once rested, only dust remained.A prize once held tight. History's mark showing how the strongest family fell, cleared away now, lost when Targarion’s claim faded.A few folks have heard about the ring. Yet it takes someone fearless, someone strong, to break through my shield. That someone is Leon.Into the dining room I stepped, jaw tight, eyes flat. There they were, Leon first spotted, then Rhea, already planted at the table. Not a word passed between us. He held a mug of black coffee, silent. She perched like she’d rehearsed it, every gesture too careful, too polished. Perfect pair? Maybe to some. To me, just two people playing parts.Sunlight caught the ring first, before I even sat down. My gaze moved slowly across her shape, landing finally on that silve

One foot moved at a time, slow and low. My high heels stayed behind in the accounting room. Stockinged soles touched down without sound across the plush carpet.There I stood, not heading toward Paul’s room at all. The scroll in the forest storage had sparked something after careful thought - everything hinged on Leon. Should he be part of that active Aethelgard ceremony, his health logs and power levels would rest inside his personal vault. Opening it required either a fingerprint scan or matching an Alpha-level energy wave.A thump in my ribs like something trying to break free. Stood facing the dark brown door - Leon’s space behind it. A machine reads my fingers. Sound of a lock giving way. Swung open. He said yes to this scan after what happened out there, called it trust. Now here I am, walking into his world with that permission.Moonlight cut across the floor, spilling through the tall window above the city lights. Behind me, shadows hugged the corners near his wide desk. Built