Chapter 10
The doors to the dining gallery opened quietly, and Marcus stepped back into the room. He stopped a respectful distance away, his eyes darting between the boss and the housemaid, recognizing the intimate shift in the atmosphere.
"The estate is fully secure, Boss," Marcus reported, keeping his tone professional. "The guests have departed. The traitors are locked down. The cleanup crews are waiting for your word."
"Let them wait," Lowen commanded without looking away from Merrin. "Have a car brought to the front. We are leaving the estate for the night."
"Where are we going, sir?" Marcus asked.
"The safehouse in the city," Lowen replied, finally dropping his hand from Merrin's face. "The dust needs to settle here before I can properly assess the damage to the staff and the security protocols."
"Understood. I'll prep the convoy," Marcus said, nodding and turning back out the door.
Lowen looked back at Merrin. "Will you come with me, Merrin?" he asked, the question hanging heavily in the bright, cinematic light of the room. It was not an order from a boss to an employee; it was a request from a man asking a woman to step into his world.
Merrin looked at the torn succession papers on the table, the broken crystal on the floor, and then into the deep, observant eyes of the man she had just protected. She knew what saying yes meant. It meant stepping out of the shadows and standing beside the king, making herself a target for every enemy he possessed.
But looking at him, she knew there was no other place she wanted to be.
"I will come with you, Lowen," she answered, using his first name, her voice steady and resolute.
Lowen’s smile widened slightly. He placed his hands on the armrests of the padded chair and, testing the strength of the medical brace Merrin had secured, slowly pushed himself to his feet. He winced slightly as his weight settled on the injured knee, but the brace held firm. He stood tall, his broad shoulders squared, an undeniable force of nature.
He offered her his arm.
Merrin took it, her delicate hands resting against the dark, tailored fabric of his suit. Together, they walked slowly through the debris of the ruined banquet, their footsteps echoing on the polished marble floor.
They exited the gallery and moved through the massive, quiet halls of the estate. The remaining loyal guards stood at attention as they passed, their eyes wide with respect for the young woman who was walking arm-in-arm with the boss.
As they reached the front doors, the cool night air washed over them. A convoy of black, armored SUVs was waiting, engines idling with a low, menacing purr.
"The northern families will know what happened tonight," Lowen said quietly as they stepped out into the night. "Domenica's allies will not take her imprisonment lightly. They will retaliate."
"Are you ready for a war?" Merrin asked, looking up at his handsome, determined profile.
Lowen looked down at her, his dark eyes filled with absolute, uncompromising resolve.
May you like
"Let them come," he whispered, pulling her gently toward the waiting car. "They will learn exactly what happens to those who try to take what is mine."
The car doors shut, sealing them inside as the convoy sped off into the darkness. The battle for the estate was over, but the war for the empire had only just begun.
