The rooftop door clicked shut behind us.
For a moment, only the wind moved.
The city stretched beyond the college building—cars like crawling lights, distant horns, the low hum of morning traffic.
But none of it mattered.
My senses were locked onto the woman standing near the water tank.
Silver hair.
Golden eyes.
A smile that belonged to someone who enjoyed watching the world burn.
She stood with one hand resting lightly on the concrete wall, as if this entire rooftop belonged to her.
No.
As if the entire city did.
The scent around her was intoxicating.
Roses.
Rain.
And blood.
Different from Seraphina's cold, moonlit fragrance.
This one was warm.
Dangerously alluring.
Her gaze moved slowly over me.
Judging.
Measuring.
Then the smile on her lips deepened.
"So this is the one?"
Her voice was smooth.
Elegant.
Mocking.
Golden eyes shifted toward Seraphina.
"I expected something more… regal."
Seraphina's crimson gaze sharpened.
"Watch your words, Liliana."
So.
A name.
Liliana.
The silver-haired woman laughed softly.
"Oh?"
She tilted her head.
"Did House Noir already forget that the king was meant to belong to all ten houses?"
The air between them changed instantly.
Tension.
Old rivalry.
Political weight.
Interesting.
I stepped forward.
The wind brushed past my collar as I met Liliana's gaze.
"And you are?"
Her eyes slid back to me.
For a second, something flickered there.
Surprise.
Then amusement.
She walked closer.
Every step elegant.
Every movement is deliberate.
She stopped an arm's length away.
Close enough for me to see the faint shimmer of gold in her irises.
"Liliana Celestine."
Her smile curved.
"Heiress of House Celestine."
The name hit differently.
Seraphina's expression hardened even more.
That confirmed it.
This was not just another wife.
This was someone important.
Very important.
Liliana seemed to enjoy the silence.
Then she leaned slightly closer.
Golden eyes locking onto mine.
"And one of your ten destined wives."
The words carried no warmth.
No affection.
Only cold purpose.
Exactly as expected.
They did not want a husband.
They wanted power.
A king to control.
A throne to use.
Good.
That made things simpler.
I smiled faintly.
Her eyes narrowed.
Interesting.
She had expected nervousness.
Submission.
The weak bookworm from Aarav's memories.
Instead, she found me.
Liliana's gaze flickered toward the mark on my neck.
Then something changed.
Her playful expression froze.
Her golden eyes widened slightly.
"That…"
Her voice dropped.
"You completed the first bond."
Seraphina crossed her arms.
"Obviously."
Liliana looked back at her.
Then at me.
Then slowly smiled again.
Only this time—
The smile was sharper.
More dangerous.
"So House Noir moved faster than expected."
There was something beneath her tone.
Not anger.
Possessiveness.
Competition.
Perfect.
The ten houses were already playing their game.
And I was the prize.
Or so they thought.
I took another step closer.
Liliana did not move back.
Good.
She had confidence.
I liked that.
"You came all the way here just to confirm the first bond?"
Her lips curved.
"No."
Her voice lowered.
"I came because the second bond belongs to me."
The rooftop fell silent.
Even the wind seemed to pause.
Seraphina immediately stepped forward.
"No."
Her tone was ice.
"The king needs stabilisation first."
Liliana's smile turned mocking.
"Or are you afraid House Celestine will claim more influence?"
Ah.
There it was.
Politics.
Territory.
Power.
I almost laughed.
These women weren't lovers.
They were heirs.
Princesses of powerful bloodlines.
And every one of them wanted the throne tilted toward their family.
Liliana's gaze returned to me.
"The second blood bond will unlock the Celestine bloodline."
Her voice softened.
Almost seductive.
"Dominion."
Interesting.
Seraphina's bond had awakened shadow blood.
Stealth.
Speed.
Predator instinct.
What would dominion grant?
Mind control?
Aura suppression?
Leadership enhancement?
Potentially dangerous.
Potentially useful.
Liliana stepped even closer.
Now only inches separated us.
The scent of roses and blood grew stronger.
Her fingers gently touched the collar of my shirt.
The moment her skin brushed the mark on my neck—
heat pulsed through my body.
The crescent sigil glowed faintly.
So the resonance was real.
Her golden eyes darkened.
"You truly are him."
For the first time, her voice held something beyond calculation.
Curiosity.
Maybe even fascination.
I placed my hand over hers.
She froze.
A deliberate move.
Testing.
Her pulse quickened slightly.
Interesting.
"You came here to make me submit, didn't you?"
The question was quiet.
Sharp.
Direct.
Liliana's gaze met mine.
For a second—
silence.
Then she smiled.
Honest, this time.
"Of course."
Seraphina muttered something under her breath.
Liliana ignored her.
She tilted her head.
"You are the bloodline key."
"The throne."
"The source."
"The ten houses need you."
Her smile sharpened.
"And House Celestine intends to stand above the others."
So honest.
I liked that too.
No lies.
No fake affection.
Pure ambition.
Perfect.
I leaned slightly closer.
Close enough that our breaths mingled.
Golden eyes widened just a fraction.
Then I smiled.
"Then let me make this clear."
My voice dropped.
Cold.
Kingly.
"I do not belong to your house."
The rooftop temperature seemed to drop.
Liliana's expression changed.
Not anger.
Excitement.
Her smile slowly deepened.
Then—
She laughed.
A rich, delighted sound.
"Oh."
Her golden eyes gleamed.
"So that's the kind of king you are."
For the first time, genuine interest burned in her gaze.
Good.
That was step one.
They wanted a puppet.
Instead, they had awakened a ruler.
6
Then—
Her phone vibrated.
Liliana glanced at the screen.
Her playful expression vanished instantly.
Serious.
Dangerously serious.
She looked at me.
"The hunters moved again."
Seraphina's crimson eyes narrowed.
"How many?"
Liliana locked the phone.
"Not hunters."
She looked directly into my eyes.
"One of the outer clans."
"The Crimson Fang family."
The name carried weight.
Even Seraphina's expression shifted.
"They're already here?"
Liliana nodded.
"They've entered the city."
Then her golden gaze sharpened.
"And they're coming for your human family first."
The words struck like a blade.
For a moment—
The assassin king inside me awakened completely.
Cold.
Silent.
Lethal.
Family.
Mine.
No one touched what was mine.
I turned toward the rooftop door.
The city below suddenly felt too slow.
Too far.
Liliana's voice followed me.
"Now tell me, my king."
Her smile returned.
Dangerously beautiful.
"Will you still refuse House Celestine's bond?"
I looked over my shoulder.
A faint smile touched my lips.
"Protect my family first."
"Then we'll talk about your bond."
For the first time—
Both wives looked at me not as a vessel.
But as a king.
And the war had officially begun.