The city was quiet, but that quietness was deceptive. Threads of fate were bending, shifting, and snapping in the unseen currents. Kael's defeat had left ripples—small fractures in the capital that were invisible to ordinary eyes but screamed to mine.
I walked through the palace corridors, Seraphina trailing closely, fingers brushing mine. Her jealousy simmered beneath her calm, possessive gaze. Every time another of my harem leaned too close to me or dared a playful tease, her green eyes flashed. I allowed it. Jealousy sharpened devotion—it was a tool as effective as any blade.
"Azrael," she murmured, voice low, almost purring, "don't let them… push too far. I don't like sharing you."
I smiled faintly, leaning close. "You'll never have to. They belong to me, just as you do. But… teasing is healthy."
Her breath hitched. "Don't test me."
"Of course not," I whispered, letting a lazy brush of my lips hover over her temple. "I know better than to provoke my favorite thread."
Meanwhile, the city's undercurrents stirred. Hidden factions—mercenary groups, rogue cultivators, and minor sects—had taken note of Kael's public humiliation. Some saw opportunity. Others sensed danger.
I decided to meet a few personally. Mireya, curious and ever vigilant, followed at my side. Liara and Seraphina waited in the garden, keeping my other harem close.
The first stop was a narrow alley lined with small merchant houses. A group of rogue cultivators was rumored to be selling information to Kael's former allies.
I stepped forward, crimson eyes sweeping over them. They froze, uncertainty flickering across their faces.
"Azrael Drakaryx," one muttered, eyes wide. "We… we were told not to…"
"Lie to me?" I finished for him. "Good instinct. But loyalty isn't something you can buy—it's something I cultivate."
With subtle gestures, soft movements, and invisible threads of influence, I altered their plans, shifting them from Kael's side to mine. By the time I left, the alley was quiet. My influence had spread without a single drop of blood.
Seraphina appeared beside me as we returned to the palace. She leaned against my shoulder. "You're spoiling them too," she said, nodding toward the harem waiting in the gardens. "Giving them attention, rewards, little… perks. They'll start expecting it."
"They already do," I admitted, letting her fingers lace with mine. "But you're first. Always first."
She tilted her head, satisfaction mixing with jealousy. "I like it that way."
Mireya approached quietly, golden eyes flicking between us. "You really know how to keep them in line," she said softly. "But… it's more than fear. They love you. You're… magnetic."
I smirked lazily. "I don't take credit for that. Fate has its ways."
Liara appeared then, laughing softly. "Magnetic? You're more like a storm that makes people fall willingly into the water."
I allowed a slow smile. "I like that imagery."
The night stretched into playful teasing, quiet flirtation, and subtle intimacy. Hands brushed shoulders, fingers intertwined, laughter echoed across the lotus pond. Seraphina demanded my attention, and I gave it generously—soft kisses, possessive touches, whispered words.
Mireya watched carefully, learning, testing boundaries, curious how far devotion could be guided. Liara leaned closer for playful banter, her amber eyes alight with amusement. The garden was a haven—a place where my harem could laugh, flirt, and feel connection, all while my threads continued bending the city outside.
Every smile, every teasing touch, every small blush strengthened their loyalty. They were mine, and they knew it. Not because they feared me entirely, but because I made them feel wanted, seen, and cherished.
Far above, Kael's frustration simmered. He sent scouts, allies, and spies, trying to recover what I had quietly taken. But each move he made, I had already anticipated. Threads bent. Choices fell into place. Fate was no longer his to command.
And in the palace garden, under the lantern light reflected on the lotus pond, my harem lingered close, laughing softly, teasing, flirting, and indulging in the joy of being near me. Possessive, devoted, and entirely entangled with the Third Prince.
Tonight, they were happy. And that happiness… was mine to protect, and mine to control.
🐉