The moon was high when I woke.
At first, I thought it was just a dream — the soft creak of my dorm door opening, the faint rustle of fabric.
Then I saw her.
A pale silhouette in the silver light, moving silently toward my bed.
Tsukiko.
Her white hair shimmered as she stepped closer, eyes locked not on me… but on the charm at my throat.
> "I'm sorry, Airi," she whispered. "It's safer with me."
My pulse spiked. "Tsukiko, wait—"
Before I could finish, she reached down, fingers brushing the chain.
The charm flared, pulsing with warmth, and something in the air shifted — a thrum like distant thunder.
The next second, the window slammed open with a gust of cold air, and Lys was there, cloak billowing, her crimson eyes burning.
> "Get away from her."
Tsukiko froze, expression unreadable. "You don't understand—"
> "I understand enough," Lys cut in sharply. "You think you can just take what's not yours?"
The tension was suffocating, magic thick in the air.
Before I could plead for calm, a third presence entered — Rena, leaning casually against the doorframe, though her eyes were sharp as knives.
> "Wow. I thought I was the only one planning a midnight visit," she said with a smirk, though her hand rested on the hilt of her silver dagger.
My bed felt like the center of a battlefield.
Tsukiko's cool hand still hovered near my neck, Lys stood like a shield in front of me, and Rena looked ready to jump in at the slightest move.
> "All of you should leave," Lys said, voice like ice.
> "And leave her alone with you?" Rena countered. "I don't think so."
Tsukiko sighed, her voice soft but firm.
> "The charm's power is growing. Soon, it will draw not just vampires — but worse. If it stays with Airi, she'll be a beacon for every predator within miles."
Lys's eyes flickered briefly, but her stance didn't waver.
> "Then I'll be the predator that tears them apart."
Before anyone could answer, another figure emerged from the shadows by my wardrobe — Celene, smiling like she'd been watching the whole time.
> "My, my. This is even better than I imagined," she purred. "Four beautiful girls in one bedroom, fighting over our sweet little Airi. I should have brought wine."
> "Celene, you—" Lys began, but Celene held up a hand.
> "Relax. I'm not here to steal. But I do think we should consider… sharing."
> "Sharing?!" Rena barked a laugh. "What, you think we're going to take turns like she's—"
> "Enough!" I blurted, clutching the charm.
The sudden authority in my voice startled even me.
"I… I don't know what this thing is doing, but I'm not letting anyone take it. Not tonight."
The charm pulsed again, brighter this time, and the faint whisper in my mind grew louder — still too soft to understand, but insistent, pulling at my thoughts.
For a moment, all four of them froze, their gazes locked on the glow.
And then… they looked at me.
Not with the playful rivalry I'd seen before — but with something hungrier.
I shivered.
The charm was changing things between us.
And deep down, I feared it was changing me too.
> "Very well," Tsukiko said at last, stepping back. "But Airi… when the time comes, you'll see I was right."
Rena gave me a long, unreadable look before turning on her heel.
Lys lingered, her hand brushing mine briefly — protective, possessive.
Celene, of course, left last, her smile lingering in the air even after she was gone.
When the room was finally empty, I touched the charm again.
Its heartbeat matched my own.
Somehow, I knew this wouldn't be the last night someone tried to claim me.