By lunchtime, the entire college had decided my life was public property.
Every hallway conversation stopped when I walked past.
Every group chat probably had my name in it.
Every student looked at me like I had either become famous or started a war.
Technically, both were true.
The morning scene with Seraphina and Selene had spread through campus faster than a virus.
Apparently, kissing two impossibly beautiful girls in the middle of a hallway attracted attention.
Who could have predicted that?
I sat in the library, pretending to read while actually planning escape routes.
Old habits.
Always know the exits.
The library still carried the strongest memories of Aarav's old life.
Quiet.
Books.
Safety.
This was where he used to hide from people like Armaan Khanna.
That thought annoyed me.
No one should have to survive by becoming invisible.
Especially not because of someone like him.
As if summoned by my irritation—
I heard him before I saw him.
Expensive shoes.
Loud footsteps.
An even louder ego.
Armaan entered the library with two of his usual followers behind him.
Rich heir.
Campus tyrant.
Professional waste of good oxygen.
The moment he saw me, his expression changed.
Good.
Fear was educational.
He walked to my table and placed both hands on it.
Too dramatic.
Very predictable.
"Enjoying your new popularity?"
I turned a page calmly.
"Not as much as you enjoy disappointing your bloodline."
His friends almost laughed.
Almost.
Armaan's jaw tightened.
He leaned closer.
"You think because two girls looked at you, you suddenly matter?"
I slowly closed the book.
Then looked up.
"I think the fact that you came here proves I already do."
Silence.
Even the librarian was pretending not to listen.
Armaan smiled.
That was never a good sign.
"Oh, I'm not here to argue."
He pulled out an envelope and placed it on the table.
Heavy.
Luxury paper.
Expensive revenge.
"An invitation."
I didn't touch it.
"To what?"
"My father is hosting a private gathering tonight."
His smile widened.
"Business families. Investors. Important people."
His voice dropped.
"And Seraphina Noir will be there."
That got my attention.
He noticed.
Of course he did.
"She belongs to a world far above yours."
His eyes sharpened.
"You embarrassed me today."
"So tonight, I'll remind you where you belong."
There it was.
The truth.
Public humiliation.
Elegant.
Expensive.
Pathetic.
I picked up the envelope and opened it.
Luxury hotel.
Private event.
Formal.
The kind of place where rich men smiled while planning how to ruin you.
Comforting.
I stood.
Armaan smirked.
"Good. Wear something expensive."
I stepped closer.
Close enough that his confidence cracked.
My voice stayed low.
Which made it worse.
"If tonight is your revenge…"
I adjusted his collar like a friend fixing a mistake.
"Make sure you survive it."
Then I walked past him.
Behind me, his breathing changed.
Fear again.
He was learning.
Outside the library, the afternoon sunlight felt warmer.
But the hidden world beneath it moved like always.
This invitation was not just about Armaan.
If Seraphina was attending—
Then vampires were involved.
Politics.
Power.
Probably a trap.
Definitely a trap.
Perfect.
As I turned the empty corridor near the west staircase, I found Seraphina waiting there.
Black hair.
Crimson eyes.
Elegant danger.
She crossed her arms.
"You accepted."
I held up the invitation.
"You knew."
"Of course."
I sighed.
"Do any of you ever believe in normal communication?"
"No."
Fair.
She stepped closer.
"The Khanna family serves old blood."
There it was again.
Old blood.
Not full vampires.
Families tied to the hidden world.
Useful.
Disposable.
Dangerous.
She continued.
"Tonight, someone important will be watching."
A second voice came from behind.
"Very important."
I turned.
Selene.
Silver hair catching the afternoon light.
Cold beauty wrapped in moonlight.
Of course.
Both wives.
Again.
At this point, fate had fully committed to entertaining itself.
Selene walked toward us.
"The Khanna family does not host events."
She said calmly.
"They host auditions."
I frowned.
"For what?"
Both women answered together.
"The throne."
Wonderful.
Apparently, my former bully had invited me to a royal interview.
I almost respected the effort.
Seraphina looked directly into my eyes.
"Tonight, powerful families will test you."
Selene added softly,
"And some will try to buy you."
I smiled faintly.
"And if I refuse?"
Seraphina's crimson eyes darkened.
"Then they will try to break you."
That sounded far more honest.
Far more familiar.
But before I could answer—
pain.
Sharp.
Sudden.
The crescent mark on my neck burned.
I grabbed the wall beside me.
My breathing slowed.
Too sharp.
Too hot.
Both women noticed instantly.
Seraphina stepped forward.
"The bond…"
Selene's expression changed.
"It is destabilising."
The blood inside me turned violent.
Hungry.
The scent of both of them became overwhelming.
Dark roses.
Moonlight.
Blood.
The vampire king's bloodline inside me was no longer asking.
It was demanding.
Mine.
The instinct was primal.
Ancient.
Possessive.
It wanted closeness.
Contact.
Blood.
I took a slow breath.
Mistake.
That only made it worse.
I looked at both of them.
And for once—
I stopped pretending control.
I grabbed Seraphina's wrist.
Then Selene's.
Both of them stilled.
I pulled them toward the quiet corner near the empty stairwell where no students passed.
Selene raised one elegant brow.
"Bold."
Seraphina's eyes narrowed.
"What are you doing?"
I looked at both of them.
My voice came out lower.
Colder.
The assassin king and the vampire king are speaking together.
"Enough politics."
I stepped closer.
"Right now…"
The marks on my neck burned like fire.
"I need both of you."
For the first time—
Both of them looked surprised.
Good.
Seraphina moved first.
Of course she did.
Her fingers touched my jaw lightly.
"The bloodlust is stronger than expected."
Selene stepped closer too.
"The second bond accelerated it."
I gave a faint smile.
"The king's bloodline does not ask."
My hand moved to Seraphina's waist.
"It claims."
Then I kissed her.
Warm.
Sharp.
Dangerous.
Her body pressed against mine as the bond mark pulsed violently.
She gripped my collar.
Not resisting.
Never resisting.
When I pulled back, I lowered my lips to the side of her neck.
A soft breath.
Then—
I bit.
Her blood touched my tongue.
Power exploded through me.
Shadow.
Heat.
Strength.
The chaos inside me steadied.
But not enough.
Not yet.
I turned.
Selene was already watching.
Calm.
But her breathing had changed.
Interesting.
I stepped closer.
She whispered,
"So impatient."
I placed one hand at her waist.
"And you dislike waiting."
Then I kissed her.
Cooler.
Softer.
Like moonlight hiding fangs.
When I pulled back, I tilted her head slightly and kissed the side of her throat.
Then drank.
Silver moonlight rushed through my veins.
Speed.
Control.
Cold clarity.
The bloodlust settled.
Finally.
Silence filled the stairwell.
Seraphina stood close.
Selene is even closer.
Both are watching me differently now.
Not politics.
Not a strategy.
Something deeper.
Something far more dangerous.
Then—
A slow clap echoed from the corridor entrance.
We all turned.
Armaan Khanna stood there.
Frozen smile.
Shattered confidence.
Absolute disbelief.
He had clearly come looking for revenge.
Instead—
He had found this.
I straightened slowly.
Cold calm returning.
Armaan looked like reality had personally attacked him.
I smiled faintly.
"Careful."
My voice was quiet.
"You keep witnessing things above your pay grade."
He said nothing.
Couldn't.
Good.
Because tonight—
His revenge would become much worse.