Three days after the Singapore hearing, they were back in Bangkok. Mae Siri had found them a safehouse—a renovated traditional Thai house in the old city, warded heavily against detection.
Arav was in the courtyard practicing his convergence powers when he felt it—a presence. Ancient. Powerful. And watching him with intense focus.
He spun around.
A man stood at the gate. No—not just a man. A vision.
Platinum blonde hair that caught the moonlight like spun silver. Blue eyes so vivid they seemed to glow. Six-foot-three of perfectly proportioned muscle, wearing an expensive tailored suit that probably cost more than Arav's entire college tuition. His face was the kind that belonged on magazine covers—sharp jawline, high cheekbones, lips that curved into an easy, charming smile.
"Beautiful," the stranger said, his voice accented—European, British maybe. "The way your powers manifest. Like watching art come to life."
Arav instinctively took a defensive stance. "Who are you? How did you get past the wards?"
The man raised his hands in a peaceful gesture. "My apologies for the intrusion. I'm Lysander Corvinus. Prince of the European Court." He bowed slightly—elegant, practiced. "And I've come a very long way to meet you, Arav Kumar."
"How do you know my name?"
"Everyone knows your name," Lysander said, stepping closer. Arav noticed he moved with predatory grace—but controlled, non-threatening. "The convergence vampire who survived a Council trial. The one bonded to Kayen of Thailand. The boy who made Seraphina herself intervene." His blue eyes studied Arav with open fascination. "You're famous in our world."
"I don't want to be famous," Arav said warily. "I just want to be left alone."
"A sentiment I understand completely," Lysander said sympathetically. "Royalty is... exhausting. Everyone wanting something from you. Never sure who's genuine." He smiled, self-deprecating. "Why do you think I traveled to Asia? To escape the European court politics, even if briefly."
Despite himself, Arav felt his guard lowering slightly. There was something genuine in Lysander's tone, something relatable.
"You're a prince?" Arav asked.
"Unfortunately," Lysander said with a slight grimace. "My father is Lord Corvinus, one of the oldest vampires in Europe. Four thousand years old. He expects me to take over the dynasty eventually." He looked around the courtyard. "This is lovely, by the way. Very peaceful. Is Kayen here?"
At the mention of Kayen's name, something flickered in Lysander's eyes—too quick for Arav to identify. But it was gone immediately, replaced by polite interest.
"He's out hunting," Arav said. "Should be back soon."
"Good," Lysander said. "I actually came to speak with both of you. About Seraphina's task."
Arav tensed. "What about it?"
"I have information," Lysander said. "About the Blood Crown. Its location in the Vatican, the security systems, everything." He pulled out a USB drive from his pocket. "My father's archives are... extensive. When I heard you were attempting to retrieve it, I thought I could help."
"Why would you help us?" Arav asked suspiciously.
Lysander's expression turned earnest. "Because Seraphina has been hunting that Crown for two millennia. She's made enemies across Europe trying to find it. If you succeed—if you return it to her—it might finally bring peace between the European and Asian vampire communities." He paused. "And selfishly, because I'm curious about you. A convergence bloodline is incredibly rare. I've never met one before."
"I'm not a curiosity," Arav said, a bit sharply.
"No," Lysander agreed immediately. "You're not. I apologize if I made you feel that way. I meant... you're extraordinary. Not in a 'specimen to study' way, but in a 'I'd like to know you as a person' way." He smiled, and it was warm, genuine. "If that makes sense."
Before Arav could respond, he felt Kayen through the bond—approaching fast, and furious.
Kayen burst into the courtyard, his eyes immediately locking onto Lysander. "Get away from him."
"Kayen," Lysander turned, his expression perfectly pleasant. "It's been a while."
"Not long enough," Kayen said coldly, moving to stand between Lysander and Arav. "What are you doing here, Lysander?"
"Offering help," Lysander said calmly. "And saying hello to your bonded mate. Is that a crime?"
Through the bond, Arav felt Kayen's emotions—rage, jealousy, and underneath it all, fear.
*You know him?* Arav asked through their connection.
*We have history,* Kayen thought back, his mental voice tight. *Bad history.*
"Kayen and I knew each other centuries ago," Lysander explained to Arav, as if sensing the silent communication. "We were... friends, once. Before a misunderstanding." He looked at Kayen. "I've always regretted how things ended between us."
"Misunderstanding?" Kayen's voice was deadly quiet. "You tried to steal someone I cared about. Turned her against me. When that didn't work, you had her killed."
Arav's blood went cold. Through the bond, he felt the old pain in Kayen—a wound that had never fully healed.
Lysander's expression flickered—for just a moment, something dark crossed his face. But it was gone so quickly Arav wondered if he'd imagined it.
"That was four hundred years ago," Lysander said quietly. "I was young. Stupid. Obsessed with winning at any cost. I've changed, Kayen. Grown. I came here to make amends, not to reopen old wounds."
"Amends?" Kayen laughed bitterly. "You murdered Sienna—"
"I didn't kill her," Lysander interrupted, his voice sharp. "My father did, when he found out about her relationship with a 'common vampire.' I tried to stop him. I failed." His blue eyes were intense, seemingly sincere. "You think I haven't carried that guilt for four centuries? You think I don't see her face every time I close my eyes?"
Silence fell. Arav looked between them, trying to understand the history, the pain, the truth buried in accusations and denials.
"Why are you really here?" Arav asked.
Lysander turned to him, and for a moment, Arav saw something in those blue eyes—hunger, possession, obsession—before it was hidden behind a charming smile.
"To help," Lysander said simply. "To make up for past mistakes. And..." he hesitated, as if debating whether to continue, "to warn you."
"Warn us about what?" Kayen demanded.
"My father," Lysander said. "He's heard about Arav. About the convergence bloodline. He wants to meet him. And when my father wants something..." He didn't finish, but the implication was clear.
"Let him try," Arav said, his powers instinctively flaring—eyes swirling with four colors.
Lysander's eyes widened, and there it was again—that flash of hunger, quickly hidden. "Magnificent," he breathed. "You're absolutely magnificent."
The way he said it made Arav's skin crawl. There was something possessive in his tone, something that reminded Arav uncomfortably of Theron.
Through the bond, Kayen felt Arav's unease and moved closer, protective.
"Give us the information and leave," Kayen said flatly. "We don't need your help beyond that."
"Fair enough," Lysander said, tossing the USB drive to Kayen. "Everything about the Vatican is on there. Security layouts, guard rotations, the Crown's exact location." He looked at Arav one more time. "If you need anything—anything at all—I'm staying at the Mandarin Oriental. Room 888. Day or night, I'm available."
He started to leave, then paused at the gate.
"Arav," he said without turning around. "You deserve someone who sees you as an equal. Not someone who marked you without permission, who took away your choices." Now he did turn, his blue eyes meeting Arav's. "Remember that."
Then he was gone, vanishing into the Bangkok night.
Arav looked at Kayen, who was trembling with barely controlled rage.
"What was that about?" Arav asked.
"A threat," Kayen said. "Wrapped in charm and false concern. That's how Lysander operates—he makes you think he's helping while he's really undermining everything around you."
"He seemed genuine," Arav said carefully.
"That's what makes him dangerous," Kayen said. "Lysander is a master manipulator. He'll befriend you, make you trust him, make you doubt everyone else—including me. Then when you're isolated, when you're vulnerable, he'll strike."
"You think he wants me," Arav said.
"I know he wants you," Kayen corrected. "I saw it in his eyes. The same look he had with Sienna. The same obsession." His voice broke. "I can't lose you too, Arav. Not to him. Not to anyone."
Arav pulled Kayen close, letting their bond flow with reassurance and love. "You won't lose me. I'm bonded to you. Forever, remember?"
"Bonds can be broken," Kayen whispered. "With enough power, enough magic, anything can be undone."
And Arav felt the fear radiating from his mate—fear that history was repeating, that Lysander would take away another person Kayen loved.
What Kayen didn't know—what Arav was only beginning to suspect—was that Lysander had no intention of breaking the bond.
He wanted Arav to break it himself.
**To be continued...**