The street was silent again.
Too silent.
Damien Cross knelt on the cold pavement, blood staining his collar, his silver dagger fallen beside him.
The other hunters were either unconscious… or no longer getting back up.
The black SUV stood wrecked against the roadside.
Broken glass glittered beneath the moonlight like scattered ice.
And yet—
None of that mattered.
Because across the street, hidden between shadows and silence…
Someone was watching.
I could feel it.
Not human.
Not weak.
Ancient.
Powerful.
The kind of presence that made even killers breathe more slowly.
Beside me, Seraphina's posture changed instantly.
Her shoulders straightened.
Her crimson eyes sharpened.
Respect.
Even caution.
Interesting.
Whoever stood there—
Even Seraphina took them seriously.
I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth and looked into the darkness.
"Come out."
My voice was calm.
Cold.
The night answered with silence.
Then—
heels.
Soft.
Elegant.
Measured.
Click.
Click.
Click.
From the darkness, a figure slowly emerged.
Silver hair.
Long.
Smooth like moonlight itself.
Pale skin that seemed untouched by the world.
Crimson eyes colder than winter.
She wore a white coat over a black dress, and every step she took felt like she was walking over the world rather than on it.
Beautiful.
Terrifying.
Royal.
She stopped beneath the moonlight.
And suddenly, even the night felt quieter.
7
Seraphina lowered her head slightly.
That alone told me enough.
This woman was important.
Very important.
The silver-haired woman looked at the broken hunters first.
Then saw Damien kneeling on the ground.
Then finally—
at me.
Her gaze lingered.
Not like someone looking at a man.
Like someone examining a throne.
For a long moment, she said nothing.
Then her lips curved into the faintest smile.
"So…"
Her voice was soft.
Elegant.
Dangerously calm.
"This is the man the ten families are willing to start a war for."
I folded my arms.
"And you are?"
She stepped closer.
The moonlight reflected in her crimson eyes.
"Selene Lunaris."
The name struck something in Seraphina immediately.
Moonfang Clan.
One of the ten great vampire houses.
Which meant—
another wife.
Interesting.
Selene tilted her head slightly.
"The second candidate for your Blood Bond."
Straightforward.
I appreciated that.
Seraphina crossed her arms.
"You came earlier than expected."
Selene didn't look at her.
"I dislike waiting."
Then finally, her gaze returned to me.
"And I dislike uncertainty even more."
She circled me once.
Slowly.
Like a predator measuring prey.
Except—
I was not prey.
She stopped in front of me.
"Your aura is wrong."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Wrong?"
She nodded.
"The ritual should have made you obedient."
Her gaze sharpened.
"Bound."
"Controllable."
She looked at the glowing mark on Seraphina's wrist.
"Instead…"
Her voice dropped.
"You reversed it."
Seraphina said nothing.
That silence was enough confirmation.
Selene smiled faintly.
"Fascinating."
I stepped closer.
"And disappointing for your plans?"
For the first time, genuine amusement flickered in her eyes.
"No."
She whispered.
"Much more interesting."
Damien suddenly coughed from the ground.
Blood stained his lips.
He looked at Selene in horror.
"Monster…"
Selene turned her head slowly.
The air itself seemed to freeze.
She looked at him the way a queen might look at dust.
Without emotion.
Without value.
Then—
She lifted one finger.
No spell.
No dramatic movement.
Just a gesture.
Damien's body was suddenly thrown backward like an invisible force had crushed him.
He slammed into the broken SUV and stopped moving.
Silence.
I watched her carefully.
Powerful.
Refined.
Not like brute force.
Absolute control.
She looked back at me as if nothing had happened.
"The Silver Fang Order will send more."
"Hunters."
"Church agents."
"Old blood enemies",
Her voice remained calm.
"And soon, the other wives will come."
I smirked slightly.
"You all really like making dramatic entrances."
For the first time—
Selene laughed.
A soft, dangerous sound.
"I think I'll enjoy you."
Seraphina sighed.
"That sentence sounds worse than it should."
Selene ignored her.
Instead, she reached forward and touched the mark on my neck.
Unlike Seraphina's burning touch—
Hers was cold.
Moonlight is cold.
The moment her fingers brushed the crescent sigil, another mark beneath my skin pulsed.
Silver.
Sharp.
Ancient.
I saw another flash.
A silver moon hanging over a frozen castle.
A throne made of crystal.
A queen standing alone, waiting.
Then it vanished.
Selene stepped back.
"The second bond has already recognised you."
Seraphina's expression darkened.
"That fast?"
Selene smiled slightly.
"I told you."
"I dislike waiting."
I looked between them.
"So let me guess."
"Another ritual."
"Another bite."
"Another political marriage I never asked for."
Selene's crimson eyes glowed.
"Yes."
She stepped closer.
Close enough for only me to hear.
"But unlike Seraphina…"
Her voice dropped into a whisper.
"I do not intend to lose."
Interesting.
Competition.
Tension.
Good.
Much better than blind loyalty.
I leaned slightly closer.
"Careful."
I said softly.
"People who try to control me usually regret it."
For the first time—
The cold moon princess looked genuinely pleased.
"Perfect."
She whispered.
"That is exactly why I came."
Behind us, the first rays of dawn were beginning to touch the horizon.
The night was ending.
But somehow—
It felt like everything was only just beginning.
Because now I knew one thing for certain.
This wasn't just survival.
This was a throne war.
And every woman in it wanted the king.
The only question was—
Who would kneel first?