Morning sunlight slipped through the curtains like a quiet intruder.
For the first time in years, I woke up in a real bed.
Not on a rooftop.
Not in a safe house.
Not with a gun beneath my pillow.
A real bed.
Soft sheets.
Warm sunlight.
And the faint smell of breakfast drifting from downstairs.
For a moment, I simply stared at the ceiling.
Silence.
Peace.
It felt unfamiliar.
Dangerously unfamiliar.
Then my body reminded me of last night.
The bite mark on my neck pulsed faintly.
The blood bond with Seraphina.
The hunters.
Selene's arrival.
The awakening of something ancient inside me.
None of it had been a dream.
I slowly sat up.
Even that simple movement felt different.
Stronger.
Cleaner.
The constant weakness this body used to carry was gone.
No heaviness in the chest.
No dizziness.
No fragile bones threatening to crack.
Instead—
power.
Quiet.
Controlled.
Waiting.
I stood and walked toward the mirror.
For a moment, I stared at the reflection.
This was still Aarav's face.
But not the same boy.
The frail student was disappearing.
His shoulders looked broader.
His posture is straighter.
His jaw sharper.
And his eyes—
For a split second, crimson flashed in the reflection.
Then vanished.
I touched the mark near my neck.
A crescent-shaped bite mark.
Still faintly glowing beneath the skin.
Proof.
Proof that the nightmare had become reality.
A soft knock interrupted my thoughts.
Before I could answer, the door opened.
Riya stepped inside carrying a glass of water.
The moment she saw me standing there, she froze.
Her eyes widened.
Then narrowed.
She walked closer.
Very slowly.
Like she was inspecting a criminal.
I raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
She placed the glass on the table and folded her arms.
"You look suspicious."
I almost smiled.
"That's not very specific."
She pointed directly at my face.
"You."
"Your face."
"Your shoulders."
"Your… everything."
She narrowed her eyes further.
"You look hotter."
I coughed.
That one caught me off guard.
Before I could respond, Kavya's voice came from outside.
"I told you!"
She pushed the door open dramatically and entered.
Coffee mug in hand.
Sleepy but dangerous.
She looked me up and down.
Then nodded seriously.
"Confirmed."
Ananya entered right behind her.
Unlike the other two, she simply stood there in silence.
Observing.
That was somehow worse.
Finally, she spoke.
"You came home late."
"You apologised."
"You woke up looking like a main character."
She crossed her arms.
"Explain."
I stared at all three of them.
This was more terrifying than vampire hunters.
In my old life, I had infiltrated military compounds with less pressure.
Kavya smirked.
"Did some rich girl secretly adopt you?"
Riya gasped.
"Wait, is he dating someone?"
Ananya rubbed her forehead.
"Please tell me you didn't join a cult."
I sighed.
If only it were that simple.
Before I could invent a believable lie, Mother's voice came from downstairs.
"Breakfast!"
All three sisters immediately shifted focus.
Saved by breakfast.
A miracle.
As we walked downstairs, I noticed another thing.
The smell.
Toast.
Tea.
Eggs.
Fresh fruit.
Every scent was sharper.
More vivid.
Even the heartbeat of everyone in the house felt distinct.
Mother's warm and quick.
Riya's softer.
Kavya's energetic.
Ananya's steady.
And Father's—
I slowed my steps.
His heartbeat was strange.
Calm.
Too calm.
Measured like a trained soldier.
Not a normal office worker.
Not a normal father.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
When I entered the dining room, Father was already seated, reading the newspaper like nothing in the world could surprise him.
Rajveer Malhotra.
Cool-headed.
Relaxed.
Dangerously observant.
He lowered the newspaper slightly as I sat down.
His eyes met mine.
And for one second—
It felt like he was measuring me.
Not like a father.
Like a man assessing another man.
Then he smiled.
"Good morning."
I returned the look.
"Morning."
Mother placed breakfast on the table and immediately touched my forehead.
"No fever."
She sighed in relief.
"Good."
Then she frowned.
"But why does your neck look like that?"
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Every sister turned toward me.
Slowly.
Father lowered the newspaper completely.
The bite mark.
Of course.
I had forgotten the bite mark.
Kavya leaned forward like a detective.
"Oh?"
Riya blinked.
"Wait…"
Ananya narrowed her eyes.
"No."
Mother looked confused.
"Did an insect bite you?"
I opened my mouth.
Nothing came out.
What exactly was the correct family-friendly explanation for a vampire wife's ritual marks?
Before I could answer—
The doorbell rang.
Everyone paused.
Mother looked toward the entrance.
"Who comes this early?"
Kavya smirked.
"Maybe the insect."
I stood up immediately.
Too fast.
Too suspicious.
Father noticed.
Of course he did.
He folded the newspaper neatly.
"I'll get it."
"No."
I said quickly.
Too quickly.
The entire table stared at me.
I forced a calm expression.
"I mean… I'll go."
Father held my gaze for a second.
Then smiled faintly.
"Of course."
That smile said he understood far more than he showed.
I walked toward the door.
Every instinct in my body already knew who it was.
Only one person would come this early after last night.
I opened the door.
And there she stood.
Seraphina Noir.
Black hair.
Crimson eyes.
Elegant black dress.
Beautiful enough to ruin peace itself.
She looked past me into the house.
Then back at me.
A small smile touched her lips.
"Good morning."
Her voice was smooth.
Dangerous.
And perfectly timed for maximum family destruction.
Behind me, I could already feel my sisters approaching.
I closed my eyes for half a second.
This morning was about to become much worse.