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Before I can respond, he lets me go. “I have to go get my wound cleaned up before I get an infection.”

I nod quickly, hating the ache that settles in my chest when he lets me go and returns to the dais. The crowd swarms aroundhim, their admiration palpable as dozens of hands reach out for his attention, their voices overlapping with congratulations.

“That was…” Halle’s voice comes up next to me. “Wild. The Head of The Snake just bowed to you, Alex. You are probably the most powerful man in Senna now.”

I wince, the weight of her words unsettling.

“She’s right,” Hayden says. “Congratulations, Alex.”

I can’t tell if he means it, but there’s no time to dwell on it because people have begun to descend upon us, introducing themselves, asking for my name and who I am.

They come in waves, each more eager than the last. Faces blur as I shake hands and offer polite smiles, deflecting their probing questions about who I am and what I mean to Rowan. I give vague answers, my mind stuck on the man at the centre of it all.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity, Rowan’s hand slips around mine again, grounding me. His touch is firm, reassuring as he pulls me gently toward a quieter alcove near the side of the hall, away from the prying eyes and insistent voices.

“You didn’t have to do that,” I murmur, my fingers still entwined with his.

He leans in, his lips brushing against my temple. “Yes, I did. You needed to know—everyone needed to know—how much you mean to me.”

I’m convinced I might be dreaming. I shake my head, giving him another kiss. “I imagine a few people won’t be thrilled,” I murmur.

“Fuck them,” he says with a casual shrug, his confidence as effortless as ever.

I snort, meeting his eyes. “Congratulations, Rowan.”

“Thank you, Lexie,” he says and kisses me again.

I grin so wide my face might tear.

The rest of the evening passes in a blur of warm congratulations, whispered speculation, and stolen moments with Rowan. By the time it’s one in the morning, exhaustion settles into my bones. The party shows no signs of slowing down, but I’ve had enough for one night.

Rowan seems to sense it before I say a word. He appears at my side, slipping an arm around my waist. “Ready to go home?”

Home.

Our home.

I nod, letting him guide me outside to the sleek black car waiting at the curb. The driver tips his head in a quiet greeting, holding the door open for us.

When we step into the townhouse, the expansive space already so familiar. Rowan heads to the kitchen first, reappearing in the living room with two glasses of whiskey in hand. He hands one to me before sinking onto the couch, his movements unhurried, his expression thoughtful.

I join him, the plush cushions enveloping me as I take a sip of the smoky liquid. The weight of the evening finally catches up with me, but it’s a good kind of tired—a satisfying ache that comes from knowing we’ve made it through. “You were incredible tonight,” I say softly, taking a sip of my drink.

Rowan smirks, his gaze warm as he looks at me. “So were you.”

I shake my head, laughing lightly. “I didn’t do anything.”

“You stood by me,” he says, his tone turning serious. “That’s everything.”

For a while, we sit in comfortable silence, the hum of the city below fading into the background. My head rests against his shoulder, and for the first time in what feels like forever, I feel … at peace.

Tomorrow, the challenges will come—the weight of his position, the scrutiny of The Snake, the inevitable dangers. But tonight, in his arms, all of that feels distant and manageable.

He tilts his head down, his eyes locking onto mine. A slow, genuine smile spreads across his face, and he leans in, pressing a tender kiss to my lips. In that moment, surrounded by the quiet stillness of the house and the gentle rhythm of his heartbeat against mine, I realize that this is where I’m meant to be.

I stand, my legs feeling unsteady beneath me. I look down at him, liking the way he looks at me. “Can we pick up where we left off earlier?” I ask.

He lifts an eyebrow and desire spreads through me, warm and urgent. I sink to my knees, kneeling before him. “You bowed to me and now I bow to you. I belong to you, Rowan.”