LOGINIDRA POV,All I want after tonight is to return to my chambers and feed.The celebration exhausted me.The endless greetings.The nobles.The fake smiles.And worst of allWatching Kiana dance with Carter.The image keeps replaying in my mind no matter how much I try to ignore it.Her smile.Her laughter.The way she looked relaxed around him.It irritates me more than it should.I enter my chambers and loosen the collar around my neck. Hunger burns through me sharply now. I have ignored it for too long.I signal one of the guards outside.“Send one of the maidens.”The guard bows immediately.It does not take long before a young maiden enters my chambers nervously. She lowers her gaze the moment she steps inside.“My king,” she says softly. “You sent for me?”I barely look at her.“Yes.”My hunger has already become unbearable.I walk toward her slowly.“Prepare yourself.”The girl stiffens instantly.Fear flashes through her eyes the moment my fangs begin to grow.She swallows hard
KIANA POV,Idra starts to walk toward us.I feel it before I fully see it.His gaze.Sharp.Burning.It moves between me and Carter like a blade.Cutting.Silent.Deadly.Carter notices too.Of course he does.His posture shifts slightly, more alert now, though his expression remains calm.Idra stops in front of us.Close.Too close.“Can I have my friend back?” he asks.His voice is controlled.But it carries the weight of a command.Unyielding.Dangerous.“Yes… sure,” I reply quickly.I turn to Carter, but he does not look pleased.Not at all.“Can we have a moment?” I ask Idra quietly.His eyes lock onto mine.The look he gives meIt could kill.But thenHe smiles.A slow, controlled smile that never reaches his eyes.“Of course,” he says.I turn back to Carter.“I wanted to thank you,” I say softly. “I really enjoyed tonight.”And I mean it.For a moment, everything felt normal.Light.“It was my pleasure,” Carter replies. “It was nice meeting you, Kiana.”His gaze lingers.Then h
QUEEN KIANA POV 👑 👑 , “Yes,” Idra says, his voice calm as ever. “Meet Queen Kiana.” His hand gestures toward the man beside him. “This is General Carter. One of the most trusted generals in this kingdom. And my friend.” I nod politely. General Carter steps closer without hesitation. His presence is different from the others. Less rigid. Less guarded. He takes my hand. And before I can react, he lifts it and presses a kiss to the back of it. The gesture is smooth. Confident. I blink in slight surprise but say nothing. When I look up, I notice movement. Lila. She has appeared. Idra’s gaze shifts instantly to her. And just like that He leaves. Without another word. Without a glance back. Leaving me alone with Carter. “Well,” Carter says after a moment, watching Idra walk away. “That is strange.” I look at him. “What is?” He turns to me, a faint smile playing on his lips. “He left you with me,” he says. “He does not even do that with his concubines.” I freeze. T
King Idra pov 👑👑👑 I return to Lila. Not immediately. Not recklessly. I take my time. Enough to ensure no one notices the shift in my movements. Enough to make it seem as though nothing has changed. Because nothing should. Nothing must. When I step into her chambers again, she is exactly where I expect her to be. Composed. Waiting. Her eyes lift the moment she sees me, and a slow smile forms on her lips. “My king,” she says softly. There is something knowing in her tone. Something that tells me she understands more than she should. I walk toward her, my expression unreadable. “You did well,” I say. The words are measured. Carefully chosen. Her smile deepens. “I always do,” she replies. There is pride in her voice. Satisfaction. She steps closer, searching my face as if trying to read what lies beneath. “You came back,” she adds. “That means you were pleased.” I hold her gaze. “I am.” The answer is simple. Clean. Exactly what she expects. But that is not
IDRA POVI return to Lila.Not immediately.Not recklessly.I take my time.Enough to ensure no one notices the shift in my movements. Enough to make it seem as though nothing has changed.Because nothing should.Nothing must.When I step into her chambers again, she is exactly where I expect her to be.Composed.Waiting.Her eyes lift the moment she sees me, and a slow smile forms on her lips.“My king,” she says softly.There is something knowing in her tone.Something that tells me she understands more than she should.I walk toward her, my expression unreadable.“You did well,” I say.The words are measured.Carefully chosen.Her smile deepens.“I always do,” she replies.There is pride in her voice.Satisfaction.She steps closer, searching my face as if trying to read what lies beneath.“You came back,” she adds. “That means you were pleased.”I hold her gaze.“I am.”The answer is simple.Clean.Exactly what she expects.But that is not why I am here.My expression shifts sligh
KIANA POVI do not move.The sound is faint.Almost nothing.But I hear it.I am awake now.Completely.My breathing slows as I keep my eyes closed, pretending. Listening.There it is again.A shift.A presence.Not imagination.Not a dream.Someone is in my room.My heart begins to beat faster, but I force my body to remain still. The blankets rise and fall with my controlled breaths.Think.If I react too quickly, I lose whatever advantage I have.The air feels different.Heavier.Colder.I slowly open my eyes.Just a fraction.Enough to see.A shadow moves near the window.Tall.Still.Watching.My breath catches.Vampire.I know it instantly.The way it moves.The way it stands.Silent.Unnatural.I push myself up suddenly.“Who is there?” I demand, my voice sharper than I feel.The figure does not answer.InsteadIt steps forward.Slowly.Deliberately.Moonlight touches its face.Pale.Cold.Unfamiliar.But the eyesThe eyes are what freeze me.Empty.Lifeless.As if there is not







