Chapter 10 - The Legacy of Amber Eyes
The autumn leaves were turning brilliant shades of gold and crimson by the time Roman’s SUV pulled into the mountain safehouse.
He stepped out of the vehicle, the cold air biting his face.
The heavy wooden door of the lodge swung open. Leo and Mia ran out onto the porch, their little boots thumping against the wood.
"Daddy!" Leo yelled, launching himself off the steps.
Roman caught his son mid-air, ignoring the twinge of pain in his healing shoulder, and buried his face in the boy’s neck. Mia walked up more slowly, but when Roman reached out his free arm, she tucked herself into his side, wrapping her arms around his waist.
"You came back," Mia said softly, her amber eyes looking up at him with absolute trust.
"Always," Roman swore.
Juliet stood in the doorway, wearing one of his oversized flannel shirts, a mug of coffee in her hands. The deep, haunted shadows under her eyes were completely gone. She looked radiant, peaceful, and entirely at home.
Roman carried the children up the steps, setting them down so they could run back inside to finish their cartoons.
He stopped in front of Juliet, taking the coffee mug from her hands and setting it on the railing. He pulled her into his arms, kissing her deeply, tasting the promise of a future they had both thought was lost forever.
"Is it really over?" Juliet asked against his lips.
"The monsters are dead, Juliet," Roman murmured, resting his forehead against hers. "From now on, there are no more secrets. No more running. Only us."
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Inside the lodge, the fire crackled warmly in the hearth. Leo and Mia were laughing at the television, their amber eyes glowing with innocent joy.
Roman Castile had conquered cities. He had built an empire of blood and shadow. But as he stood on the porch with his wife in his arms, listening to the sound of his children's laughter, he knew he had finally found his true kingdom.
