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The Reestablishment was Aaron Warner's empire. His emerald eyes were a symbol of power and fear, and his mere presence commanded absolute obedience. His subordinates knew better than to cross him—or to call him by his first name. "Aaron" was reserved for one person only: Juliette.
To everyone else, he was Warner. To her, he was everything.
Juliette, with her mesmerizing blue-green orbs, sat on their bed, her thoughts swirling. The bruise on her cheek was a reminder of the soldiers who'd dared to hurt her. She could have killed them with a touch, but she hadn't. Not because she was weak—because she was strong enough to rise above it.
When the door opened, Aaron stepped in, his sharp gaze scanning her. The moment he saw the mark on her face, his emerald eyes darkened, and his jaw clenched.
"What happened?" he asked, his voice cold and deadly.
She didn't flinch, meeting his gaze with calm defiance. "Your men didn't know who I was," she said simply.
His expression hardened, and he crossed the room in two swift steps, kneeling before her. His hands cupped her face with surprising gentleness, his thumb brushing over the bruise. "They touched you?" His voice was barely a whisper, but it was filled with unrestrained fury.
"They didn't know," she repeated. "And I didn't hurt them. I didn't want to."
Aaron's emerald eyes burned with a fire she knew all too well. "You shouldn't have to hold back, love," he said, his voice softening when he used the name only she heard from him.
"I like that you protect me," Juliette admitted, her voice steady. "But I'm not fragile, Aaron." She said his name deliberately, knowing it would calm him.
The corners of his lips twitched, a rare smile threatening to surface. "You're the only one who gets to call me that," he murmured.
"I know." She smiled back, her blue-green eyes softening as she reached up to touch his face. "And I love that it's mine."
His gaze flickered with emotion as he leaned in, pressing a kiss to her forehead, then to the bruise on her cheek, as if he could erase the pain with his touch. "You're mine, Juliette," he whispered against her skin.
"And you're mine," she replied.
But the softness vanished as he straightened, his expression turning cold once more. "Stay here, love. I won't be long."
"Aaron," she said, her voice steady but pleading, "don't do anything reckless."
His lips curved into a smirk. "I only live for you, Juliette. Everything I do is for you."
In the barracks, the soldiers who had hurt her stood stiffly as Aaron approached. They knew immediately that they were in trouble, but they didn't understand the gravity of their mistake until his emerald eyes landed on them.
"You dared to lay a hand on her?" he said, his voice a low growl.
"Sir, we didn't know—" one stammered.
"That's no excuse." His gaze was cold, his fury palpable. "You touched her. My love."
The punishment was swift and brutal, Aaron ensuring that no one would ever think of harming Juliette again. When he returned to their quarters, Juliette was waiting for him, her blue-green eyes scanning him worriedly.
"They won't touch you again," he said, his voice softer now.
"Aaron," she said, standing to meet him, "you don't have to go to such extremes for me."
He stepped closer, tilting her chin up so she would look into his eyes. "You're my world, Juliette. There's nothing I wouldn't do to keep you safe."
"And you're mine," she whispered, smiling as she leaned into his touch.
"Always, love," he murmured before pressing a kiss to her lips, sealing his vow to protect her no matter what.
