Epilogue
DIMITRI
I stand by the window, the morning light filtering through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. Outside, the estate is quiet, peaceful, like a fortress in the middle of a world that’s always trying to tear itself apart. But inside, within these walls, everything is exactly how it should be. Controlled. Safe. And most importantly—mine.
Elena is curled up in bed, still asleep, her long hair spilling across the pillow like dark silk. I watch her for a moment, taking in the steady rise and fall of her chest, the way she looks so peaceful. Content. She’s changed since the day I claimed her, and I can’t help but feel a surge of satisfaction at how well she’s adapted.
She’s my wife now, and she knows her place, knows the rules. Every day, she becomes more of the woman I need her to be—my perfect princess, obedient, loyal, eager to please. In the beginning, there were moments of hesitation, moments when she questioned what this life meant for her, but those moments are long gone. She’s learned that in this world, my word is law.
And she’s embraced it. She loves it. And I love her.
I walk over to the bed, my footsteps quiet against the hardwood floor. I slide in beside her, pulling the sheets back slightly, revealing the smooth curves of her body beneath. Even now, even after all this time, I never tire of looking at her. I never tire of the way she fits so perfectly against me, like she was made for me.
She stirs slightly, her eyes fluttering open as I brush a strand of hair from her face. When she sees me, a soft smile pulls at her lips, and I feel that familiar rush of possessiveness surge through me. She’s mine, in every way that matters.
"Good morning, princess," I say, my voice low, as I lean down to press a kiss to her forehead.
"Good morning, Daddy," she whispers back, her voice still thick with sleep, but there’s warmth in it. Affection. That’s something I’ve worked for—earned.
I trail my fingers down her body, savoring the way she responds to my touch, the way her body instinctively curves into mine. She’s learned how to please me, how to follow the rules without hesitation, and there’s something deeply satisfying about that. She knows her place in this house, in this world, and she does it without question.
But there’s something else now, something new. Something that changes everything.
I let my hand settle on her stomach, feeling the warmth beneath my palm, the slight swell that’s just starting to show. She looks up at me, her eyes soft, glowing with something I can’t quite put into words.
She’s pregnant.
The moment she told me, I felt a shift inside me—a fierce, primal instinct to protect her, to protect the child growing inside her. I already protect her and Marie with everything I have, but now... now there’s even more at stake. Soon, I’ll have a family. A legacy. And I’ll kill anyone who tries to take that from me.
“You’re glowing,” I murmur, my hand still resting on her belly. The thought of her carrying my child, of us starting a family together, fills me with a possessiveness I didn’t think was possible. “How are you feeling?”
She smiles softly, her hand covering mine. “Good. Better, now that you’re here.”
I pull her closer, pressing her body against mine. The feel of her skin against me is intoxicating, and I can already feel the heat rising between us. But this time, there’s something different. It’s not just about taking her, about claiming what’s mine. There’s something deeper now—something that connects us in a way that’s more than physical.
She’s carrying my child, and that changes everything.
“You’ll be perfect, you know,” I say quietly, running my fingers through her hair. “You’re going to be the perfect mother.”
Her smile widens, and I see the happiness in her eyes, the contentment. “And you’ll be the perfect father.”
The words hit me harder than I expect. Me, a father. I’ve spent my entire life building an empire, ruling with fear, and protecting what’s mine. But now, there’s more. Now, there’s a life growing inside Elena—a part of me—and the idea of protecting that life, of creating something with her, is something I never thought I’d want. But I do. More than anything.
I kiss her deeply, my hand still resting on her stomach, and she responds with the same softness, the same affection. I’ll protect her and this child with everything I have, with every ounce of power and brutality I possess. No one will touch what’s mine. No one will ever threaten my family again.
“I’ll always protect you,” I whisper against her lips. “You and our child.”
She looks up at me, her eyes shining with trust, with love. She believes me, and she should. I’ve already proven that I’ll do anything to keep her safe. Now, I’ll do it for our family.
I pull her closer, wrapping her in my arms, and for a moment, the world outside fades away. It’s just us—me, Elena, and the life growing inside her. My legacy. My future.
And I know, deep in my bones, that no one will ever take that from me. Not as long as I’m breathing.