There are many dangerous things in this world.
Hunters.
Ancient clans.
Women with beautiful smiles and territorial instincts.
But none of them compares to emotional honesty forced through supernatural blood bonds.
That was terrifying.
I stood alone on the balcony outside my room, the city asleep beneath the midnight sky.
Cool wind.
Quiet streets.
A moment of peace.
Rare.
Suspicious.
The crescent marks near my neck still pulsed faintly.
Not painful.
Alive.
Like a second heartbeat.
Blood Resonance.
A beautiful name for emotional invasion.
I could still feel the echo of Seraphina's fear.
The hidden loneliness from her memory flash.
Not words.
Truth.
And truth was always heavier.
I leaned against the railing and looked up at the moon.
Three nights before judgement.
Now two.
Time was moving too fast.
Or maybe life had simply become addicted to chaos.
Behind me—
soft footsteps.
No need to turn.
Moonlight always walked quietly.
Selene.
She stepped onto the balcony, wearing silver silk and calm like a weapon.
Beautiful.
Dangerous.
Professionally difficult.
She stood beside me in silence.
Which, for her, was practically conversation.
After a while, she said—
"You are thinking too loudly."
I smiled faintly.
"I wasn't aware thoughts had volume."
Selene looked at the moon.
"With you, they do."
Fair.
Very fair.
I folded my arms.
"You came to insult me under moonlight?"
She tilted her head slightly.
"I came because your emotions are annoying."
Interesting.
I turned toward her.
"My emotions?"
She nodded once.
"The bond."
Her silver eyes met mine.
"You are restless."
There it was again.
The truth.
No hiding.
No pretending.
Because blood never lies.
I exhaled slowly.
"Everyone keeps talking about Heaven like it's inevitable."
Selene's voice remained calm.
"Because it is."
Helpful.
Very comforting.
She stepped closer.
Enough to make the air change.
"But inevitability is not defeat."
That—
I liked.
I studied her for a moment.
Selene Lunaris.
Elegant patience.
Moonlight with fangs.
A woman who pretended distance because closeness felt dangerous.
And now—
I could feel it.
Beneath the calm.
Worry.
Quiet.
Controlled.
But real.
I smiled slightly.
"You're worried too."
A pause.
Tiny.
Important.
She looked away first.
Rare.
Which meant victory.
Small.
But beautiful.
"I prefer preparation."
Lie.
Excellent lie.
I stepped closer.
"Seraphina says the same thing."
That made her narrow her eyes.
Good.
Jealousy was educational.
"Do not compare me to her."
"There it is."
I leaned against the railing again.
"Moonlight jealousy."
She crossed her arms.
"I am not jealous."
Another lie.
This one is almost impressive.
The bond pulsed.
Cold emotion.
Sharp.
Possessive.
Yes.
Definitely not jealous.
I laughed quietly.
And that—
That made her expression soften for a second.
Dangerous moment.
Honest.
She walked closer.
Close enough that distance stopped mattering.
Her fingers touched the mark near my neck.
The bond flared instantly.
Cold silver light beneath skin.
Her voice lowered.
"When you drank my blood…"
Ah.
Interesting territory.
She continued—
"What did you see?"
Direct.
No escape.
Very Selene.
I looked at her.
And answered honestly.
"A girl standing alone on a winter balcony."
Her expression changed.
Tiny.
But real.
Good.
I continued.
"A house full of people."
"A life full of silence."
"And someone who learned very young that being needed was safer than being loved."
Silence.
The city disappeared.
The world narrowed.
Only moonlight remained.
Selene's hand stayed at my neck.
Her breathing changed.
Slightly.
Enough.
She whispered—
"I hate this ability."
I smiled faintly.
"Because I'm right?"
She narrowed her eyes.
"Because now I cannot lie elegantly."
Reasonable complaint.
I respected it.
I reached up and covered her hand with mine.
Warm against cool skin.
The bond pulsed again.
And this time—
another flash.
Her memory.
Snow falling over an ancient estate.
A younger Selene standing alone.
Watching another family laugh through a window she never entered.
Not rejected.
Worse.
Expected to remain outside.
Control.
Distance.
Perfection.
Loneliness dressed as nobility.
Then—
gone.
I inhaled slowly.
That one hurt.
She watched me carefully.
No defences now.
No politics.
Only truth.
I said quietly—
"You deserved better."
And for the first time—
Selene looked fragile.
Only for a second.
But enough to matter.
She whispered—
"That is a dangerous thing to say to someone like me."
I stepped closer.
"Why?"
Her crimson eyes locked onto mine.
"Because I might start believing you."
Silence.
Heavy.
Beautiful.
The kind of silence that changed futures.
I should have said something clever.
Something kingly.
Something emotionally responsible.
Instead—
I kissed her.
5
Slow.
Not fire like Valeria.
Not sharp like Seraphina.
Moonlight.
Quiet.
Certain.
The kind of kiss that felt like a promise whispered too softly for the world to hear.
Her fingers tightened slightly against my shirt.
Not resisting.
Never resisting.
When we pulled apart, the moon felt closer somehow.
Dangerous.
She rested her forehead lightly against mine.
And whispered—
"This is why kings are trouble."
I smiled.
"I thought it was my personality."
"That too."
Fair.
Very fair.
Then—
from the doorway—
a slow clap.
Of course.
Because privacy in my life was a myth.
Valeria leaned against the doorframe, smiling like disaster in red silk.
Behind her—
Seraphina.
Arms crossed.
Elegant judgment.
And Lilith.
Looking far too amused.
Wonderful.
Absolutely wonderful.
Valeria grinned.
"Please continue. I support emotional growth."
Seraphina's voice was calm.
Too calm.
"Should we schedule moonlight confession nights now?"
Lilith adjusted her sleeve.
"I prefer appointments. Royal chaos should remain organised."
I looked at the sky.
Perhaps Heaven would accept me early.
Selene stepped back gracefully, perfect composure returning.
Traitor.
I was left alone with three dangerous women and zero legal defence.
Valeria walked closer.
"So."
She smiled brightly.
"Who are we kissing tomorrow?"
I sighed.
Honestly—
Death by holy trial sounded peaceful.
But beneath the chaos—
beneath jealousy, blood, and impossible women—
Something warm existed.
Real.
And for the first time since rebirth—
I wasn't just building power.
I was building something worth protecting.
Good.
Because if Heaven wanted judgment—
It should first learn what happens
When kings fall in love.