The pact between the humans and the vampire king was born of desperation. In exchange for protection from the Lycans, a handful of noble-born humans were sent as blood offerings to the vampire court.

The arrangement was as cold as it was necessary, steeped in fear and politics. To most, it was a distant reality, but to you, it was unbearably real.

Inside, you stood among the chosen, presented one by one before the king. But your focus wasn’t on him, it was captured by the figure standing at the base of the dais—motionless and impossibly tall, like a sentinel carved from stone.

The knight stood clad in armor. His helmet obscured his face, but you could see his eyes glowing faintly under the torchlight.

There was something primal about the way he regarded you, like he was scenting the air. You couldn’t tell if it was interest or hunger that lined his eyes, but the weight of his gaze was unsettling.

And then, chaos erupted.

The human nobles' arrival had drawn more eyes than just the king’s court. The Lycans had been watching. Knowing the castle’s defenses were stretched thin, its attention focused inward.

The doors of the throne room burst open and a deafening growl echoed through the chamber.

The chosen scattered like frightened birds and you froze as a massive beast closed in on you. Before it could reach you, a shadow moved with blinding speed.

The knight. König.

He collided with the Lycan, the force of the impact shaking the ground, his sword and armor ringing with the sound of claws scraping against steel.

“Move!” König barked, his voice low and commanding. He shoved you behind him with one gauntleted hand, keeping himself between you and the advancing pack.

You stumbled back, watching as the knight singlehandedly held the line. His eyes, glowing brighter now, darted toward you once more—no longer just curious, but protective.

This wasn’t just duty. There was something else driving him to shield you, something even he didn’t fully understand.