Some warnings arrive like storms.
Loud.
Obvious.
Easy to prepare for.
Others arrive like perfume.
Soft.
Expensive.
And impossible to ignore.
House Draven, apparently, preferred perfume.
I returned home that evening with the distinct feeling that fate had started treating my life like entertainment.
Mother was in the kitchen.
Riya was watching some drama and loudly judging fictional people.
Kavya was pretending not to investigate my entire existence.
Ananya was working and somehow radiating disappointment from another room.
And Father—
Father looked up the moment I entered.
One glance.
That was enough.
He knew something had changed.
He folded the newspaper.
"You look like you've been adopted by royalty."
I loosened my collar.
"Unfortunately, that's not entirely inaccurate."
He nodded.
"Troubling."
Very.
Before I could escape upstairs, the doorbell rang.
Everyone in the house froze.
No one said it, but we all felt it.
That timing.
That silence.
That kind of arrival was never normal.
Mother looked toward the door.
"Who visits at this hour?"
Kavya muttered,
"Either romance or murder."
In this house, both were valid guesses.
I walked to the door.
Every instinct sharpened.
The silver dagger rested hidden at my side.
The vampire blood inside me stirred.
Waiting.
Hungry.
I opened the door.
And for one second—
Even I paused.
She stood there like midnight had decided to wear high heels.
Long crimson hair.
Golden-red eyes.
A black dress with dark red details that looked less like fashion and more like a warning.
Beautiful.
Wild.
Dangerous.
And smiling as she had already won.
She tilted her head.
"So."
Her voice was smooth.
Confident.
Playful.
"This is where they're hiding my future husband."
Wonderful.
Absolutely wonderful.
I stared at her.
"You people are getting far too comfortable with that word."
Her smile widened.
"And you are much prettier in person."
Before I could answer, she stepped forward—
close enough to invade personal space and common sense.
Then she leaned in slightly.
And inhaled.
Like she was tasting the air around me.
Her eyes darkened.
Interesting.
Dangerous.
"Seraphina."
She murmured.
"Selene."
Then her smile turned sharper.
"And Lilith."
She looked directly into my eyes.
"They've all been touching what belongs to me."
Nope.
Absolutely not.
Behind me, I could already hear footsteps.
Too late.
Kavya appeared first.
Of course.
Professional disaster detector.
She looked at the woman.
Then at me.
Then smiled like someone discovering treasure.
"Oh."
No.
Not again.
The red-haired woman turned gracefully and offered her hand.
"Valeria Draven."
There it was.
House Draven.
Problem confirmed.
She smiled at Kavya.
"Third future wife."
Kavya nearly ascended spiritually.
Riya arrived next and whispered,
"Another one?"
Honestly, same.
Ananya entered and immediately looked like she regretted every life choice leading here.
Mother stepped into the hallway.
Saw Valeria.
Paused.
Looked at me.
Then at Valeria.
Then at my soul.
I could feel the judgement.
Valeria, because peace was apparently illegal, smiled sweetly.
"Good evening."
She folded her hands politely.
"I'm here to discuss marriage."
Mother sat down.
Immediately.
Reasonable reaction.
From the living room, Father's voice came—
calm.
Too calm.
"Invite her in."
That was somehow more threatening.
Valeria stepped inside, as she had always belonged there.
Predators adapted quickly.
She walked past my family with perfect confidence, like a queen entering a territory she intended to claim.
I followed.
Mostly to prevent crimes.
Mostly.
In the living room, Father sat with the exact expression of a man preparing for war, but politely.
He looked at Valeria once.
Then nodded.
"Draven."
Not a question.
She smiled.
"Malhotra."
Also, not a question.
Wonderful.
I sat down before someone started a blood ritual in the house.
Valeria crossed her legs elegantly.
She looked at Father.
"I'll be direct."
Please no.
She continued.
"I'm here because your son belongs to a throne, and I dislike waiting for slow people to admit obvious things."
Father nodded like this was a normal sentence.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
"And your interest?"
He asked.
Valeria looked at me.
Not shy.
Not subtle.
Predatory.
"Power first."
Honest.
Good.
Then her voice softened.
"Curiosity second."
Her gaze sharpened.
"And if he survives me…"
A small smile.
"Maybe love."
Well.
That was probably the healthiest answer I'd heard from a vampire so far.
Kavya whispered to Riya,
"I like her."
Traitors.
All of them.
Then Valeria stood.
Walked directly toward me.
And stopped close enough that distance became optional.
She touched the mark near my neck.
The bond reacted instantly.
Pain.
Heat.
Recognition.
Her golden-red eyes glowed.
"There it is."
Her voice dropped.
"The king's blood."
She smiled slowly.
Beautiful.
Dangerous.
Terrible for peace.
Perfect.
Then—
without warning—
She grabbed my tie and pulled me forward—
and kissed me.
Not soft.
Not careful.
Fire.
Possession.
Challenge.
Her lips carried danger and the absolute certainty that she had never been refused in her life.
The room forgot how breathing worked.
When she pulled back, she smiled like a woman signing ownership papers.
"Mine."
Silence.
Absolute.
Catastrophic silence.
Kavya dropped a glass.
Riya forgot to blink.
Ananya was planning a homicide.
Mother looked ready to call every god available.
Father—
Father just took a slow sip of tea.
Legend.
I touched my mouth and looked at Valeria.
"You are insane."
She smiled brighter.
"I know."
Honestly?
That was somehow reassuring.
Then my phone buzzed.
One message.
From Seraphina.
Who is the redhead in your house?
I closed my eyes.
Perfect.
Absolutely perfect.
War.
Beautiful, terrible war.
And somehow—
I was smiling.
Because House Draven had arrived.
And she clearly had no intention of asking twice.