Chapter 10 - The Empire We Chose
The spring sun shone brilliantly over the rolling lawns of the Gold Coast estate, warming the stone pathways and casting a golden glow across the churning water of the lake.
In the sunlit courtyard, Matilda stood by the grand stone fountain, wearing an effortless white linen dress, watching the light dance across the sparkling ripples.
Footsteps approached from behind, and a pair of strong, familiar arms wrapped securely around her waist, pulling her back against a warm, solid chest. A chin rested comfortably on her shoulder.
“Penny for your thoughts, my queen,” Gabriel murmured against her neck, pressing a soft kiss to her skin.
Matilda leaned back into him, resting her hands over his arms.
“I was just thinking about that freezing table in the underground wing,” Matilda confessed softly. “And how different everything turned out.”
Gabriel’s arms tightened around her instinctively, his expression darkening for a fraction of a second at the memory before softening into absolute adoration.
“We survived the dark, Matilda,” Gabriel said fiercely, his voice dropping into a low, protective rumble. “And we built a fortress out of the ruins.”
Matilda turned around in his arms, wrapping her hands around his neck, looking up into his deep, slate-gray eyes with a deep, unbreakable devotion.
“We did,” Matilda agreed, a triumphant smile curving her lips. “Because when the world gave up... we held on.”
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Gabriel smiled—a warm, unbreakable expression of pure happiness. He leaned down, capturing her lips in a deep, passionate kiss that sealed the past away forever.
Around them, the empire stood tall, unbreakable, and entirely their own—governed not by fear, but by absolute intellect, unyielding strength, and a love that had literally conquered death itself.
