The night in the hidden district was unnaturally quiet.
Moonlight spilt across the stone courtyard behind Elder Seraphina's house, painting the runes on the ground in silver.
Aarav stood in the centre, still breathing hard from the training in the previous chapter.
His body felt different.
Sharper.
Lighter.
Stronger.
But what frightened him most was not the strength.
It was the hunger.
Kai stood a few steps away, hands in his pockets, crimson eyes calm and unreadable.
Mia and Jack stood near the wall, watching.
Kai finally spoke.
"Tonight, I train your vampire instincts."
Aarav frowned.
"Do I really have to call it that?"
Kai smirked faintly.
"You literally tried to bite Mia."
Mia folded her arms and gave Aarav a teasing smile.
"Don't worry. I forgive you."
Aarav groaned.
"Please don't remind me."
Jack snorted.
"Trust me, we're never letting you forget that."
Even in the tense atmosphere, Aarav let out a small laugh.
But Kai's face turned serious again.
"The blood inside you is unstable."
He slowly stepped forward.
"The wolf side makes you stronger."
"The alpha side gives instinct and dominance."
"But the vampire blood…"
His crimson eyes narrowed.
"That is the most dangerous."
A cold breeze moved through the courtyard.
Aarav swallowed.
"What exactly do I need to control?"
Kai raised one finger.
"Three things."
"Blood hunger."
"Night instinct."
"Shadow speed."
Aarav blinked.
"Shadow speed?"
Kai smiled faintly.
"You'll see."
He took out a small silver blade and, without hesitation, made a shallow cut across his palm.
A single drop of dark crimson blood rolled down.
The moment Aarav smelled it—
Everything changed.
His throat burnt.
His heartbeat accelerated.
His eyes instantly locked onto Kai's hand.
That metallic scent.
Warm.
Sweet.
Inviting.
Aarav's breathing became heavier.
Kai's voice cut through the haze.
"Control it."
Aarav clenched his fists.
The hunger rose like a beast inside him.
His canines slowly sharpened.
Mia took a step forward.
"Aarav?"
He barely heard her.
His eyes had turned a faint shade of crimson.
Kai's voice became sharper.
"Look at me."
Aarav forced himself to focus.
Kai met his gaze directly.
"Blood hunger is instinct."
"But instinct is not command."
"You feel it."
"You do not obey it."
Aarav took a shaky breath.
The burning in his throat was unbearable.
For a moment, he truly understood why Kai called it dangerous.
It wasn't just desire.
It was a pull.
A command from inside his blood.
Jack suddenly tossed a wooden staff toward him.
Aarav reacted instantly, catching it in midair.
Kai nodded.
"Good."
"Use movement to distract the hunger."
Jack stepped into the courtyard.
"Your body listens better than your mind."
He charged forward.
Fast.
Too fast.
Aarav barely had time to react.
Instinct took over.
He moved.
No.
He vanished.
For one second, the world blurred.
Then he found himself standing several feet away.
Everyone froze.
Aarav stared at his own hands.
"What…?"
Kai's smirk widened.
"There."
"Shadow speed."
Mia's golden eyes widened.
"That was faster than before."
Jack grinned.
"Not bad."
Aarav looked at Kai.
"How did I do that?"
Kai slowly walked closer.
"The vampire blood enhances speed in darkness."
"At night, your body moves before your mind."
Aarav frowned.
"So basically I'm turning into a monster."
Mia immediately shook her head.
"No."
Jack crossed his arms.
"You're learning."
Kai looked directly at him.
"You only become a monster if you stop controlling yourself."
Before Aarav could reply—
Another scent reached him.
Fresh blood.
His head snapped toward Mia.
A small cut had opened on her knuckle during training.
The scent hit him harder this time.
His throat burnt.
His vision narrowed.
No.
Not again.
Aarav immediately stepped back.
His fists tightened.
His breathing grew uneven.
Kai noticed at once.
"Good."
"You sensed it."
Aarav gritted his teeth.
"It hurts."
Kai nodded.
"It always does at first."
He walked closer and placed a hand on Aarav's shoulder.
"Close your eyes."
Aarav hesitated.
Then obeyed.
Kai's voice became calm.
"Listen to your heartbeat."
Aarav focused.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
"Now listen to Mia's."
He could hear it.
Warm.
Fast.
Alive.
"Now separate the scent from the sound."
Aarav concentrated.
The scent remained.
But the hunger slowly weakened.
Kai continued.
"Control begins with awareness."
"You cannot kill instinct."
"You guide it."
Slowly, Aarav's breathing steadied.
The crimson glow in his eyes faded.
When he opened them again, Mia smiled in relief.
"You did it."
Aarav looked down at his hands.
For the first time, the hunger had obeyed him.
Kai gave a small nod.
"Not bad for your first night."
Jack smirked.
"Still, almost bit Mia twice."
Mia elbowed her brother.
"Stop teasing him."
Before Aarav could answer—
A sharp pain struck his chest.
He staggered.
A glowing crimson symbol briefly appeared beneath his shirt.
Kai's expression darkened.
"The blood crest."
Elder Seraphina stepped into the courtyard, her purple eyes grave.
"It is reacting."
Aarav grabbed his chest.
Another vision slammed into his mind.
A woman stood beneath the red moon.
Long silver hair.
Dragon horns.
Crimson eyes.
This time, he saw her clearly.
She was beautiful.
Dangerously so.
Her lips curved into a faint smile.
"I can finally feel you."
Aarav gasped, and the vision shattered.
The courtyard fell silent.
Mia rushed toward him.
"What did you see?"
Aarav slowly looked up.
His voice was barely above a whisper.
"The first bride."
Elder Seraphina's face darkened.
Then she whispered,
"She has crossed the boundary."
Far away, on the rooftop of a tall building overlooking Delhi, the silver-haired woman stood beneath the blood moon.
A black cloak flowed behind her.
Her crimson eyes glowed.
She smiled softly.
"So the heir has awakened."
Her dragon horns gleamed in the moonlight.
"Good."
"It is time we meet, Aarav."