As they drove through the quiet, almost eerie night streets, Selene's voice broke the silence, calm but firm. "There's going to be a big banquet tonight—a formal welcome for Vampire Elder Amelia," she explained, eyes fixed on the road ahead.
"The Coven will be packed with vampires from all over. Security will be lighter than usual because everyone's distracted by the party. That's why no one will bat an eye if I bring you along."
Luke listened, nodding as she spoke. "We just walk straight into the chamber where Viktor is resting and wake him up. That's the plan."
A small, almost teasing chuckle escaped Luke. "Hehe? Amelia? She won't be making it to the Coven. She's going to die on the train before she even gets there."
Luke was almost certain—by now, Amelia was long dead, trapped in the Lycans' grasp. They wouldn't just keep her alive; they'd be draining her blood, using her as nothing more than a resource for the hybrid plan.
Suddenly, Selene slammed on the brakes without any warning. Luke was caught completely off guard. His body lurched forward violently, and before he could react, his face smashed hard against the windshield.
Of course, he hadn't bothered to put on his seatbelt — why would he expect a sudden stop in the middle of this tense ride?
"Ouch! Selene! Don't just slam on the brakes like that!" Luke groaned, his hand immediately going up to rub his aching nose where it had collided with the glass.
Selene shot him a sharp, almost annoyed look from the driver's seat. Her eyes narrowed as if to say, Maybe think before you blurt out nonsense next time, and maybe wear a seatbelt.
Still focused on the road ahead, Selene's voice held a steady seriousness. "Elder Amelia is surrounded by more guards than you could count, and even the Coven's own men went to meet her at the station. With that kind of heavy protection, how could she just die? It doesn't add up."
She glanced sideways at Luke, her expression skeptical. One eyebrow lifted in question, her eyes narrowing slightly. Can this guy really predict the future? she wondered, a mix of disbelief and genuine curiosity flickering behind her gaze.
Luke met her look, considering for a moment before speaking. "Remind me—what were the names of the Lycan leader who started the rebellion and the one who now oversees everything in the Coven?" His brow furrowed as he struggled to pull the names from memory, a faint frustration flickering across his face.
Without missing a beat, Selene replied confidently, "Lucian and Kraven."
Luke nodded slowly. "Well, those two are in cahoots. And that guy we saw in the corridor? That was Lucian himself."
Selene's eyes widened in shock. "But that's not possible. He died."
"Nope," Luke said firmly. "He's very much alive. The whole vampire society believes Lucian is dead because Kraven said he killed him. But what if, from the beginning, it was all a plan?"
Selene was silent, her mind racing to put the pieces together.
"Those two joined forces," Luke continued, eyes fixed on the road ahead.
"They both get something out of it. Lucian disappears, free to operate however he wants without worrying about vampire laws or enemies. Meanwhile, Kraven gets credit for 'killing' Lucian, which boosts his standing and helps him climb the power ladder inside the Coven."
"Remember, Kraven told you to stop investigating the Lycans' increased activity, right? Told you to just shut up about it?" Luke asked, raising an eyebrow as he glanced over.
Selene's mind instantly went back to the moments before she came here—the sharp words from Kraven, the cold dismissal of her concerns. Yes, he did order her to drop what he called 'meaningless investigations.'
That's when it hit her. Kraven wasn't just protecting the Coven; he was hiding something. A traitor.
A slow, dark weight settled over her chest. How many more secrets was this night going to unravel? How many more betrayals would she uncover? And who the hell is this guy?
The car jolted as Selene pressed the accelerator, and they moved forward again, slicing through the quiet streets.
Then they arrived at the Coven. Selene stepped out of the car first, her confident stride leading the way. Luke followed, his eyes instantly catching the imposing castle-like building ahead.
It was definitely built for vampires—the dark stone walls, tall spires reaching into the sky, and that unmistakable gloomy vibe that screamed centuries of dark secrets.
"Come with me," Selene said, grabbing Luke's arm and practically dragging him inside.
She couldn't just let this guy wander freely through the Coven—who knew what kind of chaos a human like him might cause in a place full of powerful vampires?
As they stepped into the grand corridors, the scene was surprisingly lively. Vampires lounged in elegant suits, and beautiful dresses, sipping dark drinks and chatting like it was just another night out.
The air buzzed with an unsettling mix of decadence and danger, fitting perfectly with the Vampire aesthetic—the kind of place where centuries-old grudges and power plays danced beneath the surface of casual smiles.
But the moment Selene walked in with a human at her side, the room shifted. Conversations stopped mid-sentence. Glasses hovered just short of lips.
For one frozen heartbeat, every gaze was locked onto Luke with a mix of disbelief and thinly veiled hostility.
Bringing a human here—into one of the most guarded halls of the Coven—wasn't just unusual, it was reckless. And tonight of all nights, when the sacred Elder Awakening ritual was about to take place, it was practically a declaration of war on tradition. Especially since this part of the Coven was now under Kraven's control.
Kraven—self-serving, scheming, and as slimy as a snake in the shadows—had spent years trying to get into Selene's good graces.
Not because he respected her as a warrior, but because he wanted her in his bed. Now, seeing her walk in with another man? That was going to drive him insane.
He was the kind of vampire who thrived on manipulation, whispering lies to climb the hierarchy while stabbing allies in the back.
And if there was one thing Kraven couldn't stand, it was jealousy. Even the thought of Selene giving her attention to someone else would burn through him like sunlight on bare skin.
But Selene didn't care about the jealous stares or the whispers. She ignored every single gaze, every single judgment. This wasn't about petty vampire politics or who was looking at her. She had bigger things to worry about.