Supreme Spouse System.

The Night Before the Plan

"Yes… tomorrow."

Her voice grew weak, delicate—a dying flame in the candle before its final breath. The connection was lost, warmth seeping out to leave silence in its wake within Leon's mind.

For a moment, he was frozen, golden eyes far away, the reverberation of Cassidy's voice in his chest. He took in a great breath, the pressure of air packing him, then let it out slow and heavy. When his vision cleared, he saw that his steps had already taken him beyond the underground chamber.

The change was disorienting. Behind him, the weighty stone hallways of the basement still held on to the smell of wet soil and chill air, a world shut in, dark and airless. Now, he was in the wide, lamp-lit hallway of the Blackthorne house, walls smooth and highly polished, lined with tall windows.

By his side, Alpha's quiet form brooded. His shadow cast across the floor like a second guardian. The man did not require words—his very stillness was stabilizing, a reminder of steadiness in a world that continued to change.

Leon's eyes wandered over to one of the high windows. His steps began to slow until he halted. He stared out, golden eyes absorbing the horizon beyond the window.

The sky blazed. The sun had fallen low, pouring fire on the clouds. Red and gold mixed like the sky itself had been sliced open. The fading light colored the earth in blood.

Something in his chest constricted, an empty pinch of time escaping. His lips parted. Words poured out, unconsidered, raw.

"Fuck… I spent the entire day down there."

It wasn't anger—it was the biting silence of frustration, tempered with tiredness.

Alpha's deep voice cut through the silence behind him. Steady. Respected. "My Lord?"

Leon shook his head, his eyes slanting towards the horizon as though the sun itself taunted him with its slow dying. He shifted his weight, cloak rustling against his knees, and gave his guardian a look.

"Alpha." His voice was stern but softened by a hint of something more intimate. "Go where you wish. I shall walk alone from here."

A flicker of revolt crossed Alpha's still face. For an instant, protest smoldered silently in the air. But duty prevailed, ponderous and absolute. The man inclined his head, voice deep and unshakeable.

"As you bid me, my Lord."

He stood up once, shadows falling long behind him in the fading light. Then, silently, his figure became blurred. Cloak rippled, his form fading like smoke, until nothing was left. The spot where he had been seemed a little emptier for it.

Leon faced the window again. The blaze in the sky reflected the blaze within his chest—burning, devouring, unforgiving. Another day was gone, taken from him. Tomorrow would arrive, and with it the start of what he intended. But for tonight… tonight was his.

He stood wordlessly as the sun dipped lower, red bleeding into purple darkness. His golden eyes held firm, fixed on the receding light as if daring it.

A low growl escaped his lips, almost a promise to himself. "Tomorrow… my plan starts."

The words hung in the hallway, heavy and definitive. His face tightened. He already knew what he had decided—he would go alone. None of his wives, not even his most trusted shadows, would accompany him. The way he went was one he would have to go alone.

But he didn't know how long it would take. Days? Weeks? Months? Maybe longer. That doubt ate at him. Which meant tonight… tonight had to count.

His jaw clenched, then loosened. The thought struck clear and sharp: he would spend this night with all of them, his wives, his family. One last night, whole, together.

He nodded faintly, a smile tugging at his lips. "Yes… a good plan."

But just as the thought settled, another voice stirred inside him. A familiar weight, one he could never ignore.

[System: Bro.]

Leon blinked, tilting his head slightly. "Yes?" His answer came low, only in his mind.

[System: Your plan is great. But it is flawed.]

His steps stopped mid-corridor. His eyebrows furrowed, a small crease between them. His golden eyes tightened. "What do you mean?"

[System: You yourself told me—you don't know how long your plan will take. And you've already made the decision not to take even one of your wives.]

Confusion remained, but he nodded very slightly. "Right."

[System: So then let me propose this. Tonight, rather than staying over with everyone, you must spend the night with one wife. Specifically, Cassidy. By herself. Alone. Whole. To cure her poison fully.]

Leon froze, chest constricting. "…Cassidy?" His voice went softer, unsure.

[System: Yes. Last night's union with her—your closeness—assisted. Her poison wore off. But it wasn't sufficient. She requires more. An evening of your complete, uninterrupted focus. Your contact, your being. Only then will she heal completely. If you depart tomorrow without making sure of this… she could fall back. Everything she went through could come back. Everything you provided for her could be reversed.]

Leon's golden eyes clouded, mind racing. The silence stretched, strained. The possibility pierced him with acute certainty. If he went. if Cassidy's pain came back when he was away. all she had endured, all she had survived—lost.

His jaw tightened, but slowly he nodded. "You're right."

[System: That's why I told you. I am your brother. I care. It is no burden to give you advice.]

Leon blinked, a look of real surprise crossing his face. Concern… from the system? Then a small smile pulled his lips. "Heh. A brother, is it? …Fine. Thank you."

[System: Always.]

Leon took a slow breath, his eyes relaxing. He shook his head softly on an inner laugh. Even now, in the most peculiar way, he wasn't alone.

He left the window, golden eyes aglow with renewed determination. His lips twisted into a sly, silent grin. In a low whisper, he murmured to himself.

"My new wifey… be ready. Tonight will burn."

His strides recommenced, steady and confident, cloak flowing with each step. The hallway lay before him, leading to the bed where Cassidy slept.

Tonight was not for battle.

Tonight was not for plans.

Tonight was for her.

And Leon's smile grew more keen, golden eyes smoldering with purpose as he strode into the thickening shadows of the manor.