Freddy’s POV

I woke up to the soft warmth of Aliana pressed against my side, her head resting on my chest. The early morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a golden glow over the room. For a few moments, I just lay there, listening to her steady breathing, feeling the gentle rise and fall of her body.

This was my life now.

Not the empire. Not the power. Not the fear that had once dictated my every move.

This. My wife. My children. The quiet peace of a morning that wasn’t tainted with blood or violence.

I tightened my arm around Aliana, pulling her just a little closer. She...