The ancient palace had never felt this alive.
It wasn't the chatter of nobles or the shuffle of guards echoing through the marbled corridors—it was something else. Something electric. Something divine.
Leon stood completely still in the center of his private office, his hands clenched at his sides as if even his fingers feared betraying his restraint. Damon and Cassandra flanked him like shadows, eyes flickering with confusion as they watched their king wrestle something neither of them could fully grasp.
"She's here," Leon murmured, voice low and reverent. "She's inside these walls."
Cassie raised an eyebrow, folding her arms. "You've said that about twenty times in the last five minutes, your majesty. If we don't see her soon, I might start thinking you're hallucinating."
Damon shot her a look but said nothing. He could feel it too now—something. The shift in the air, like the first breath before a storm breaks. Powerful, pure...and utterly unlike anything they had ever encountered.
Leon turned to face them, and in that moment, the room seemed to darken around his silhouette. Shadows curled at his feet like they were drawn to him. His eyes were brighter than ever—gleaming crimson, focused, hungry.
"I don't know her name," he confessed. "I've never met her. But I'd burn down kingdoms to keep her safe."
Cassie blinked, the usual sass wiped from her face.
Damon whistled softly. "That bad, huh?"
Worse. So much worse.
Just then, a knock came at the door. A young guard peeked in, looking pale and awkward.
"Your Majesty… the two girls who requested a tour? They've entered the eastern wing. Lady Syra offered to guide them herself."
Leon's jaw tensed.
Cassie narrowed her eyes. "Syra? The noble brat who thinks she's better than everyone?"
"She was nearby," the guard stammered. "She insisted."
Leon's voice dropped into something sharp and deadly. "If she so much as breathes wrong near her, I will rip her throat out and drink it as tea."
"Noted," Damon muttered under his breath.
Leon turned away, forcing himself not to storm down the hallway like a feral beast. She doesn't know what this place is. Doesn't know who he is. All she wanted was a tour. And instead, she had walked into a den of monsters.
And one of them—him—was obsessed.
---
Meanwhile…
Malia walked slowly down a gilded hallway, her eyes wide with wonder.
"I feel like I just stepped into a painting," she whispered, fingers brushing the cool stone walls. Every inch of the palace oozed history and majesty. Chandeliers hung like stars frozen in time, tapestries whispered secrets from centuries past, and the air smelled like old books and something sweetly spiced.
Muna snorted beside her. "Girl, this place is ridiculous. I swear one of these walls winked at me."
Malia laughed. "Shut up. Be serious. Can't you feel it? It's like… like this place is alive."
What she didn't know was that it was. And it was watching her just as much as she was watching it.
Lady Syra, tall and beautiful in that arrogant noble way, was trailing ahead of them, speaking in clipped, polished tones that neither girl was really paying attention to.
Then, a loud voice echoed from across the hall.
"Who allowed humans to roam these sacred halls?!"
The girls froze.
Syra stiffened. "Lord Vex," she said through gritted teeth.
A tall vampire noble strode toward them, his cloak billowing like he thought he was in a play. His gaze landed on Malia and Muna, narrowing with contempt.
Muna took a step forward, eyes sharp. "Who the hell are you calling human like it's an insult? You got a problem?"
Malia grabbed her arm gently. "Muna. Chill. We don't want to get kicked out before we steal a few snacks."
Vex signaled Syra with an annoyed wave. She excused herself from Malia and Muna for a moment, slipping around the corner where he waited.
"You're seriously giving a tour to random girls now?" he hissed. "Does the King even know about this?"
"They're just visitors. Harmless. Tourists from the human world," Syra whispered back.
He scowled. "This is still the royal palace. Letting outsiders waltz around isn't just careless—it's dangerous."
Syra rolled her eyes. "Keep your fangs in your mouth, Vex. I'll keep them away from anything suspicious."
Around the corner, Muna squinted suspiciously. "You saw that? They're whispering. Rich-people drama always smells fishy."
Malia just shrugged. "If they don't want to be heard, they should probably stop hissing like cartoon villains."
Back in Leon's office...
Leon heard every word.
He didn't need to be present to know what had just happened. His connection to her was growing, awakening things inside him he didn't know he possessed.
He was about to leave when Cassie stopped him with a hand on his arm.
"You go charging down there and she'll think you're a stalker, not a king."
Leon didn't answer.
Cassie sighed. "She's already here. She's not leaving. You'll get your moment."
Leon looked out the tall window, toward the wing where she stood, his queen. For centuries, he had ruled with ice in his veins. But now, that ice was melting—and he was about to burn.
---