The first thing I heard was the sound of utensils clinking.
Metal against ceramic.
A spoon lightly tapping the side of a cup.
Then came the scent.
Fresh chai.
Butter toast.
And something sweet—probably the cardamom tea my mother liked to make in the morning.
For a moment, I didn't move.
The events of last night replayed in fragments.
The blood bond.
Seraphina's bite.
The hunters.
Silver weapons.
The scarred man's warning.
The world will not allow another king to rise.
My eyes slowly opened.
Sunlight filtered through the curtains.
Warm golden light stretched across the room.
This wasn't a safe house.
Not a mission room.
Not a rooftop hideout.
It was a bedroom.
A neat desk stacked with books stood near the window.
College notes.
Reference guides.
A laptop.
A weak boy's life.
No.
My life now.
I sat up slowly.
The first thing I noticed was the difference in my body.
Again.
The transformation had deepened.
My muscles felt tighter.
Denser.
Every movement carried effortless strength.
Even the bedsheet brushing against my arm felt unnaturally clear.
My senses had sharpened overnight.
I could hear voices downstairs.
Three female voices.
One deeper male voice.
My family.
And—
another heartbeat.
Faint.
Outside the window.
Watching.
I turned sharply.
The curtain moved slightly with the morning breeze.
No one visible.
But the heartbeat vanished.
So I hadn't imagined it.
Someone was still observing this house.
I stood up and walked toward the mirror.
The reflection staring back at me no longer resembled the frail boy from the host's memories.
My shoulders were broader.
The sickly paleness had been replaced by a strange, healthy sharpness.
My jawline looked more defined.
But what truly caught my eye—
was the mark.
The crescent sigil on my neck.
It glowed faintly crimson beneath the skin.
And just beneath it—
two tiny bite marks.
Last night had not been a dream.
5
I touched the mark.
The moment my fingers brushed it—
A sharp pulse ran through my body.
Then—
a voice.
Soft.
Familiar.
Do not expose the mark.
Seraphina.
The words echoed directly in my mind.
Telepathic resonance.
Interesting.
I almost smiled.
This world was becoming more entertaining by the hour.
A knock came at the door.
Before I could respond, it opened.
Riya stepped in.
Her soft brown eyes widened the moment she saw me standing near the mirror.
For a second, she just stared.
Then her brows knitted.
"You really do look different."
I turned toward her.
She walked closer.
Too close.
Her gaze lingered on my face.
"You slept?"
I nodded.
Her expression softened with relief.
"Good."
Then she suddenly reached up and touched my cheek.
I froze.
Again.
Human warmth.
Concern.
It still felt foreign.
"You look healthier," she whispered.
Then her expression turned suspicious.
"Wait."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Since when did you become this handsome overnight?"
I blinked.
Then she pouted.
"That's unfair."
A short laugh escaped me before I could stop it.
Her eyes widened.
Then she smiled.
"There it is."
I frowned.
"What?"
She tilted her head.
"You haven't laughed like that in years."
For a moment, silence settled between us.
Then she suddenly grabbed my wrist.
"Come downstairs."
"Everyone's waiting."
I let her pull me toward the dining room.
The moment I entered, the room quieted.
Mother looked up first.
Relief instantly filled her face.
"Finally."
She set down a plate of toast.
"Sit."
Ananya crossed her arms.
"You scared everyone last night."
Kavya leaned back in her chair and smirked.
"Honestly, I still think he got himself a girlfriend."
I sat down.
Father looked up from his newspaper.
His calm eyes studied me.
Longer than the others.
Too observant.
Then he smiled faintly.
"You seem stronger."
The words were simple.
But something in his tone made me pause.
As if he noticed more than he said.
Interesting.
I took the cup of tea.
The warmth against my fingers grounded me.
For a few moments, the room was filled with ordinary family chatter.
Mother is asking about college.
Kavya is teasing.
Riya is insisting I eat more.
It was strangely peaceful.
Dangerously peaceful.
Because I knew last night had changed everything.
Then—
My phone vibrated.
The sound was sharp.
Unexpected.
Aarav's phone.
I picked it up.
Unknown number.
A message.
Only one line.
Come to college. We need to talk. — Seraphina
Below it was another message.
From an unsaved number.
Armaan is waiting for you. Don't run today, bookworm.
The bully.
Perfect.
A slow smile spread across my face.
Kavya noticed immediately.
"Oh?"
She leaned closer.
"That smile means trouble."
I stood up.
"College."
Ananya frowned.
"You're going after what happened yesterday?"
I nodded.
Father folded the newspaper.
His eyes met mine.
Calm.
Steady.
Almost knowing.
"Be careful."
For some reason, those words felt heavier than they should.
I picked up my bag.
As I reached the door, Riya called out.
"Come back early."
I looked over my shoulder.
For a moment, I saw genuine worry in all their eyes.
Family.
A weakness in my previous life.
Now—
a reason.
I stepped outside.
The morning sun felt warmer than it should.
But beneath it—
I could still sense danger.
The city was moving.
The hunters had already made their first move.
And now—
College awaited.
Seraphina.
Armaan.
And perhaps the beginning of the next blood bond.