The emergency meeting was held in a skyscraper that pierced the clouds.
Not a government building.
Not a corporate headquarters.
A neutral ground—where power negotiated power.
Lio stood at the center of a circular table, glass walls revealing the modern city below. Every person seated around him represented something that could rewrite nations overnight.
Arthur Grandula sat at the head.
Silent. Watching.
---
•
A hologram activated.
Documents flooded the air.
Symbols. Legal clauses. Blood seals disguised as biometric authentication.
The woman in white from the tower stepped forward, heels clicking against marble.
“I am Celeste Viremont,” she said smoothly. “Representative of the Viremont Consortium.”
Her eyes lingered on Lio.
Not professionally.
Personally.
“We propose an engagement contract.”
The room stirred.
---
•
Nickolas nearly choked. “ENGAGEMENT?! He’s still in school!”
Celeste smiled. “So is every modern heir.”
She waved her hand.
A name appeared beside Lio’s.
Celeste Viremont — Primary Candidate
“This is not romance,” she continued. “It’s survival. Our bloodlines combined would stabilize his awakening and protect him from elimination.”
Her gaze sharpened.
“And I’m very motivated to protect what belongs to me.”
---
•
The temperature dropped.
Elissa, standing behind Lio, stiffened.
Her fingers dug into his sleeve.
“No,” she said.
Every head turned.
---
•
Arthur raised an eyebrow. “Child, this isn’t—”
“I said no,” Elissa repeated, stepping forward.
Her voice trembled—but she didn’t stop.
“He doesn’t belong to you. Or your contracts. Or your bloodlines.”
Celeste tilted her head, amused. “And you are…?”
Elissa didn’t hesitate.
“His sister.”
A pause.
Then laughter.
---
•
“How touching,” Celeste said softly. “But naive.”
Her eyes glinted. “Blood bonds are the most dangerous kind.”
Lio finally spoke.
“Enough.”
The table cracked slightly beneath his palm.
---
•
The lights flickered.
A new presence entered the room.
Applause echoed slowly.
“Well, well,” a voice drawled. “So this is the famous heir.”
A tall young man stepped out of the shadows, dark hair tied back, eyes sharp and amused. He wore a school uniform—custom, expensive.
“I’m Kael Rosencrest,” he said. “And unfortunately for you…”
His smile widened.
“I already claimed Celeste as my future wife.”
---
•
Celeste didn’t deny it.
She only smiled wider.
“Correction,” she said. “You wanted to.”
Kael’s gaze snapped to Lio.
“Oh?” he said softly. “So the rumors were true. You attract trouble just by breathing.”
The air between them tightened.
Predators recognizing predators.
---
•
Kael leaned closer. “Here’s the problem, Grandula. Your existence destabilizes the balance.”
He glanced at Elissa.
“And your weakness makes you predictable.”
The mark on Lio’s arm flared.
---
•
Arthur slammed his cane down.
“Enough.”
The room froze.
“The engagement contracts will be postponed,” he declared. “Any faction that moves without my approval will be treated as hostile.”
His eyes swept the room.
“And I do not forgive hostility.”
---
•
Later that night.
Grandula Estate.
Lio stood on the balcony, city lights shimmering like distant stars.
He felt trapped.
Not by walls.
By choices he never made.
---
•
Elissa entered quietly.
She didn’t knock.
She never did.
“You didn’t say no,” she said.
He didn’t turn.
“I didn’t say yes either.”
She stepped closer.
“That’s not enough anymore.”
---
•
The distance between them vanished.
She stood right in front of him now.
Too close.
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
“They want to marry you to control you.”
Her hand pressed against his chest.
“But I don’t want to control you.”
Her eyes burned.
“I want to stay.”
---
•
Lio’s heartbeat thundered.
“Elissa… this isn’t—”
“I know,” she interrupted.
“That’s why it’s terrifying.”
---
•
The mark on his arm pulsed.
Not violently.
Responding.
Accepting.
---
•
Somewhere else, Celeste watched a live feed.
Her lips parted slightly.
“So she’s the anchor,” she murmured.
Jealousy flickered across her face.
“No matter,” she said softly. “I don’t lose what I want.”
---
•
Kael stood beside her, arms crossed.
“She’ll break him.”
Celeste smiled coldly.
“Or he’ll burn the world for her.”
---
•
Back on the balcony, Elissa rested her forehead against Lio’s chest.
“If the world says I can’t choose you,” she whispered,
“then I’ll choose you anyway.”
---
•
Deep within Lio’s blood—
Something ancient smiled.
---
•
High above the city, the same voice from before echoed again:
> The first bond has been chosen…
Let the war of heirs begin.
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