There are moments in life when a man realises he has made several terrible decisions.
Standing in my living room, with Valeria Draven still dangerously close, my family staring like witnesses to a crime, and Seraphina's message glowing on my phone—
This was definitely one of those moments.
I looked at the screen.
Who is the redhead in your house?
Short.
Calm.
Terrifying.
The kind of message that usually came before emotional destruction.
I sighed.
Valeria noticed immediately.
She leaned closer, reading the message without permission because boundaries were clearly optional for her.
Her smile widened.
"Oh."
She said it like she had discovered a new favourite hobby.
"This should be fun."
No.
It absolutely should not.
Before I could answer, another message arrived.
From Selene.
I assume this is related to the sudden blood resonance I felt.
Wonderful.
Moonlight had entered the war, too.
Then—
a third message.
Lilith.
If you caused political chaos in one evening, I expect details.
Amazing.
I had somehow collected the most dangerous women in the city, and all of them had excellent timing.
Kavya leaned over my shoulder.
She read the messages.
Then looked at me with deep respect.
"Honestly, I think this counts as a superpower."
Traitor.
Riya nodded.
"I would simply pass away."
Reasonable.
Ananya rubbed her forehead.
"I am updating my legal defence strategy."
Mother whispered a prayer for my soul.
Father drank tea.
Legend.
Valeria crossed her arms and looked entirely too pleased.
"Well?"
I looked at her.
"Well, what?"
She tilted her head.
"Are you going to introduce me properly, or should I just move in and let everyone figure it out naturally?"
I considered exile.
Far away.
Somewhere without vampire women.
Unfortunately, I suspected they would still find me.
Before I could answer—
The doorbell rang.
Silence.
Again.
Every person in the room froze.
Kavya whispered,
"No way."
Riya whispered louder,
"There is absolutely a way."
I already knew.
Of course, I knew.
Only fate hated me this consistently.
I walked to the door like a man approaching his own execution.
I opened it.
Seraphina stood there.
Black dress.
Crimson eyes.
Perfect posture.
Beautiful enough to start wars.
And judging by the look in her eyes—
She was considering it.
Beside her stood Selene.
Silver hair.
Calm expression.
Moonlight wrapped around danger.
She looked far too peaceful.
Which was worse?
Much worse.
Seraphina looked at me.
Then past me.
Straight toward Valeria.
Her voice was smooth.
Cold.
Elegant.
"Open the door wider."
That was not a request.
I stepped aside.
Because survival instincts matter.
They entered.
The air in the house changed instantly.
Even the walls were nervous.
Valeria stood in the living room like a queen waiting for challengers.
She smiled brightly.
"Perfect. Everyone is here."
Seraphina stopped in front of her.
Silence.
No one moved.
No one breathed.
Even Father lowered the newspaper slightly.
Rare event.
Seraphina's voice was calm.
"You kissed him in his family home."
Valeria nodded proudly.
"Yes."
Selene stood beside her, arms crossed.
"That was unnecessarily dramatic."
Valeria smiled.
"I have standards."
Lilith chose that exact moment to walk through the still-open door.
Because apparently, destiny wanted full disaster.
Silver-golden hair.
Black dress.
Royal calm.
She looked at everyone.
Then at me.
Then sighed.
"I leave you alone for one evening."
Perfect.
Now all four were here.
Seraphina.
Selene.
Lilith.
Valeria.
Four vampire women.
One living room.
One deeply unfortunate man.
Kavya whispered,
"This is the best day of my life."
Ananya whispered back,
"This is how civilisations collapse."
Also reasonable.
Lilith stepped forward and looked at Valeria.
"Draven."
Valeria smiled.
"Celestine."
It sounded less like a greeting and more like a declaration of war.
Seraphina crossed her arms.
"Let us simplify this."
Excellent.
I appreciated efficiency.
She pointed at me.
"He is mine."
Valeria laughed.
"Adorable."
Selene calmly added,
"Temporary ownership claims are inefficient."
Lilith adjusted her sleeve.
"I prefer the phrase pending royal decision."
I stared at the ceiling.
Perhaps if I pretended to be furniture, this would resolve itself.
It did not.
Valeria walked toward me and stood at my side.
Possessive.
Bold.
Fire.
Seraphina moved to the other side.
Cold.
Dangerous.
Territorial.
Selene remained calm, which meant she was planning something far worse.
Lilith simply watched like a queen evaluating battlefield strategy.
I was beginning to miss vampire hunters.
At least they were straightforward.
Then—
The blood bond marks are burnt.
All at once.
Pain.
Heat.
Resonance.
The room went still.
All four women felt it.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Even Lilith's expression changed.
She stepped closer.
"The throne is reacting."
Seraphina touched the mark on my neck.
Her cold fingers were against burning skin.
"Too many bloodlines in one place."
Selene's voice remained calm.
"But also…"
Her crimson eyes narrowed.
"Recognition."
Valeria smiled slowly.
"There it is."
She looked at me like she had found treasure.
"The king's blood is choosing."
That sentence made the room colder.
I took a slow breath.
Mistake.
Every scent.
Every heartbeat.
Every bond.
Too much.
The vampire king's bloodline inside me responded with ancient certainty.
Mine.
Dangerous thought.
Worse when true.
I looked at the four women surrounding me.
Beautiful.
Powerful.
Terrifying.
And all tied to the same throne war.
I smiled faintly.
"Well."
Everyone looked at me.
I adjusted my collar.
"If we are destroying my peaceful life…"
I looked at each of them in turn.
"…at least let's do it honestly."
Valeria smirked.
Seraphina narrowed her eyes.
Selene looked amused.
Lilith looked like she already approved.
I continued.
"No lies. No pretending."
My voice lowered.
"Stay because you choose to."
Silence.
Heavy.
Real.
Because beneath power and politics—
That was the truth that mattered.
Not blood.
Choice.
Seraphina was the first to speak.
Softly.
"I stayed."
Selene followed.
"I did not leave."
Lilith smiled faintly.
"I returned."
Valeria stepped even closer.
"I never intended to ask permission."
Honestly?
That tracked.
I laughed.
For the first time that night, genuinely.
Because somehow—
This absurd, dangerous chaos felt real.
Felt alive.
Felt like the beginning of something far bigger than politics.
And then Father stood.
Everyone looked at him.
Even ancient vampire women.
He adjusted his sleeves calmly.
And said the most powerful sentence of the night.
"As long as you are all here…"
A pause.
Deadly.
Perfect.
"…someone is helping me pay for dinner."
Silence.
Then—
Kavya started laughing.
Riya followed.
Even Lilith smiled.
And somehow—
The war in my living room turned into dinner.
Not peace.
Never peace.
But something close enough to survive.
For now.
Because tomorrow—
The throne war would continue.
But tonight—
I had four dangerous women, one terrifying family, and absolutely no chance of a normal life.
Honestly?
I was starting to like it.
A little too much.