I watched as Galahad turned away, walking back toward the command centre without raising any alarm. My heart continued to race even after he disappeared from view.

  "He's ignoring us," I muttered, not trusting this unexpected reprieve. "He must be planning something."

  Isabella shook her head slightly, her glamoured blonde hair catching the sunlight. "Or perhaps he's simply waiting for us to resolve his issues for him. Why risk his own agents when he has four powerful beings willing to confront Cain?"

  Kyriakos nodded, his human face creasing with understanding. "That would make tactical sense. Demons and a Lich entering the fray—we're most likely expendable to him, yet potentially effective." He gestured toward the service entrance I'd spotted earlier. "We shouldn't waste time debating his motives. The negotiations are scheduled for 19:00, and we need to be in position before then."

  "He's right," Aria said, her usual playfulness replaced by determination. "Cain awaits, and I'm not missing another chance to settle the score." Her hand unconsciously moved to her chest where Cain's blade had pierced her during our last encounter.

  We moved carefully toward the service entrance, timing our approach to coincide with a shift change among the guards. Kyriakos's spell worked remarkably well—the agents' eyes slid past us as though we were nothing interesting. Within minutes, we slipped through the door and into the cool interior of the ancient fortress.

  Once inside, Kyriakos stopped abruptly in a narrow stone corridor. "I must leave you here," he announced, his voice low. "I need to prepare specific countermeasures against Cain."

  "What?" I frowned. "Couldn't you have prepared earlier?"

  Isabella's eyes narrowed with suspicion. "We spent hours together before coming here. Why wait until now?"

  Kyriakos shook his head. "Some preparations must be made at the specific location. Magical resonance patterns, spatial anchoring—these things cannot be established remotely." He gestured down the corridor. "Cain is likely in the White Tower. You should proceed there while I set up."

  Isabella studied him for a long moment, her glamoured human features doing little to hide her distrust. "Fine," she finally said. "We don't have time to debate this. But remember our agreement."

  I glanced between them, suddenly reminded of what Kyriakos truly was. In our shared purpose of confronting Cain, I'd almost forgotten that this was an ancient Lich—a being who had lived thousands of years through cunning and ruthless calculation. What was he really planning?

  Aria stepped forward, her glamoured form somehow still projecting her natural predatory grace. "Just remember, bone man—if you cross us, I'll personally ensure your next thousand years are spent as scattered dust." Despite her light tone, there was no mistaking the deadly seriousness behind her words.

  Kyriakos bowed his head slightly. "I assure you, my intentions align perfectly with yours. Cain must be stopped." His human eyes met mine. "I'll rejoin you before the confrontation begins. Until then, move carefully. The White Tower is this way." He pointed down the corridor before turning and disappearing down a different passage.

  "Do you trust him?" I asked Isabella once Kyriakos was out of earshot.

  "About as much as I trust any being who's lived thousands of years through necromancy," she replied dryly. "But for now, our goals align."

  Aria shrugged. "If he tries anything, we'll deal with it after we handle Cain." She gestured down the corridor. "Shall we?"

  I nodded, pushing my concerns about Kyriakos aside. Right now, finding Faith and stopping Cain had to take priority. Everything else was secondary.

  We emerged into open air, the White Tower looming before us. The massive stone structure dominated the courtyard, its pale walls reflecting the late afternoon sun. I quickly spotted several agents positioned strategically around the building.

  "Main entrance has four guards," Isabella noted clinically. "Western entrance only has two." She turned to us, her expression hardening. "We could dispose of either group quickly and slip inside."

  Aria nodded in agreement, but my stomach turned as I realized what Isabella meant by "dispose." Despite everything I'd experienced, the casual suggestion of murder still bothered me.

  "No," I said firmly. "Galahad already knows we're here. If we start killing his agents, he'll have every reason to turn against us completely."

  Isabella studied me for a moment, then nodded slowly. "You make a valid point. We don't need additional enemies." Her lips curved into a slight smile. "We could simply render them unconscious instead."

  "Oh, I can handle that," Aria chimed in, her eyes lighting up. "I know a sleeping spell that works beautifully on mortals."

  I glanced between the western and main entrances, weighing our options. The western approach offered more shadow coverage and fewer witnesses. "West gate," I decided. "Aria, how close do you need to be for your spell?"

  "Just get me within ten meters," she replied, already moving into position.

  We crept along the courtyard's edge, using the lengthening afternoon shadows for cover. The two agents at the western entrance remained alert but hadn't noticed our approach.

  I watched as Aria gracefully wove her spell. A faint shimmer rippled through the air, nearly invisible in the late afternoon light. The two agents swayed slightly, their shoulders drooping. Within seconds, both men slumped against the wall, sliding down into sitting positions that might look natural to a casual observer.

  "They'll sleep for about an hour," Aria whispered, looking quite pleased with herself.

  Isabella moved first, reaching the heavy wooden door with silent steps. She tested the handle - unlocked. Of course it would be, with guards posted outside. The ancient hinges didn't make a sound as we slipped inside.

  The moment I crossed the threshold, everything changed. The air grew thick and heavy, pressing against my skin like a physical weight. The stone walls seemed to pulse with an unsettling energy that made my supernatural senses scream in warning.

  "I don't like this," Isabella muttered, her glamoured form tensing visibly.

  "What do you mean?" I asked, fighting the urge to retreat back through the door. Something about this place felt fundamentally wrong, as if we'd stepped into another world entirely.

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  Isabella's eyes darted around the corridor, taking in every shadow and corner. "It's a domain spell," she explained in a hushed voice. "Cain has claimed this entire structure as his temporary territory. The very stones are now extensions of his will." She met my gaze with grim certainty. "He knows we're here."

  I felt the cold air pressing against my skin, making each step feel like wading through invisible water. The air itself seemed charged with Cain's presence, heavy and oppressive. We'd barely made it twenty paces down the corridor when a figure emerged from the shadows ahead.

  My hand instinctively went to retrieve the silver whip from the ring, while Isabella's began weaving a spell pattern. Aria shifted her stance, ready to attack.

  The vampire stepped fully into view—a tall, elegant man with aristocratic features and unnaturally pale skin. He wore a perfectly tailored suit that seemed at odds with the ancient stone surroundings. His eyes, a deep crimson, regarded us with detached amusement rather than hostility.

  "There's no need for that," he said, his voice carrying a faint accent I couldn't quite place. "I'm not here to fight you."

  I kept my hand on my weapon. "Then why are you here?"

  The vampire offered a slight bow, the gesture almost mocking in its formality. "The master is expecting you. He sent me to escort you to his presence."

  I exchanged glances with Isabella and Aria. Isabella's eyes narrowed with suspicion, but she gave me a subtle nod. Aria raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by this unexpected turn.

  "Your master knew we were coming?" I asked.

  The vampire's lips curved into a thin smile. "My master knows many things."

  I considered our options. Fighting our way through would waste energy we'd need when facing Cain. And if he truly was expecting us, perhaps this would be the most direct path.

  "Lead the way," I finally said, not relaxing my guard for a moment.

  The vampire turned and began walking deeper into the White Tower. As we followed, I noticed how dramatically the interior had changed. The historical museum displays had vanished completely. The walls seemed darker, the stone somehow older and more imposing. Tapestries that hadn't been there before hung from the walls, depicting scenes of ancient battles and dark rituals.

  "This is... different," I murmured.

  "Domain magic reshape reality within their boundaries," Isabella whispered beside me. "The more powerful the caster, the more complete the transformation."

  The vampire led us up a spiral staircase that seemed to stretch much higher than the actual tower could possibly contain. The architecture itself had been warped, expanded, transformed into something that resembled a gothic castle from another era entirely.

  We passed by an open doorway, and I couldn't help but glance inside. What I saw made me falter mid-step.

  The large chamber had once been an exhibition hall. Now it was filled with vampires and mortals engaged in a decadent orgy. Bodies intertwined on plush divans and across the stone floor. Some vampires drank deeply from necks while others coupled with abandon. Blood and other fluids glistened on bare skin in the flickering torchlight. The air was thick with the scent of copper and sex.

  I froze mid-step, unable to tear my eyes away from the scene before me. The chamber had been transformed into a tableau of debauchery that would have made even the most seasoned succubus blush. My body responded instantly, a rush of heat flooding through me despite my determination to stay focused.

  I wasn't alone in my reaction. Beside me, Aria's pupils dilated, her breathing quickening as she stared at the writhing bodies. Isabella maintained more composure, but I noticed her fingers twitch slightly at her sides, betraying her interest.

  "Cain certainly knows how to entertain himself," Aria murmured, her voice dropping to that husky tone I'd come to recognize when her hunger stirred.

  Our vampire guide noticed our hesitation and turned, his thin lips curving into a knowing smile. "You could indulge yourselves if you wish," he offered smoothly. "The master wouldn't mind waiting a bit more. He understands... appetites."

  The invitation hung in the air, tempting and dangerous. For a moment, I considered it—the release of tension, the energy we could gain from feeding. My body was certainly making its desires known, my nipples hardening beneath my clothes, warmth pooling between my thighs.

  "No," I said firmly, forcing myself to look away from the chamber. "We don't have time for distractions."

  The vampire shrugged elegantly. "As you wish. This way, then."

  As we continued following him up the spiral staircase, Aria leaned close to my ear. "Shame we couldn't participate," she whispered, her breath warm against my skin. "That redhead by the window looked particularly... energetic."

  I squeezed her hand briefly. "I know," I replied softly. I wasn't angry with her—how could I be? This was our nature, after all. The hunger, the desire, the constant pull toward pleasure and sex. Four months ago, I might have been disgusted or embarrassed by such a scene. Now, it was merely an opportunity I had to regretfully decline.

  "Focus," Isabella reminded us both, though her voice lacked its usual edge. "We'll have time for recreation after we deal with Cain."

  We continued climbing, leaving the sounds of pleasure behind us. The staircase seemed endless, winding upward through impossible architecture. The walls around us shifted subtly as we ascended, stone giving way to dark wood panelling, then back to stone again. Cain's domain magic was powerful, warping reality to suit his whims.

  "How much further?" I asked our guide, trying to ignore the lingering arousal that made each step feel like a small torture.

  "Not far now," he replied without turning. "The master awaits in the Crown Jewel chamber."

  I exchanged glances with Isabella and Aria. We all knew what that meant—Cain had positioned himself at the heart of the Tower's power, both symbolic and actual. The Crown Jewels represented the pinnacle of British authority, a perfect focal point for whatever ritual he might be planning.

  As we climbed higher, I forced my thoughts away from the scene we'd witnessed and back to our purpose. Cain was waiting for us. And whatever game Kyriakos was playing by separating from us, I couldn't afford to be distracted.

  My body might be responding to the charged atmosphere of Cain's domain, but my mind remained clear. We had a mission, and no amount of temptation would divert me from it.

  ***

  Our vampire guide led us into what had once been the Crown Jewel chamber. The space had been transformed completely—expanded beyond its original dimensions into a grand throne room that defied the physical constraints of the Tower itself. Massive stone columns stretched toward a vaulted ceiling that couldn't possibly exist within the White Tower's architecture. Torches cast dancing shadows across walls adorned with tapestries depicting scenes of ancient bloodshed.

  And there, seated on an ornate throne that appeared to be crafted from human bones and black iron, was Cain.

  He lounged with casual arrogance, one leg draped over the armrest as he directed his vampire servants who scurried about the chamber. Some arranged ritual components on stone altars while others carried ancient-looking scrolls and artifacts.

  When we entered, his crimson eyes locked onto us. A slow smile spread across his face, and he straightened in his throne.

  "Ah, the princess arrives," he announced, his voice carrying effortlessly across the chamber. "And with her little entourage, no less."

  "Cain," I replied, keeping my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. Seeing my old body animated by this creature was deeply unsettling. "I see you've made yourself comfortable in a body that doesn't belong to you."

  He laughed, the sound cold and hollow. "Unfortunately for you, princess, I now have claim to Liam and his abilities. You'd be wise to scurry back to hell where you belong."

  I frowned, genuinely confused. "Abilities? What do you mean?"

  "Oh, don't pretend you don't know." He waved a dismissive hand. "It's beneath you."

  I felt Isabella and Aria's eyes on me, questioning, expecting an explanation. But I had none to give. I truly didn't understand what he was implying.

  Cain's smile widened as he observed my confusion and my friends' reactions. "You didn't even tell your friends?" He chuckled darkly. "But what would I expect from a demon? Deception is in your nature, after all."

  "Tell us what?" Aria demanded, her voice sharp.

  "I don't know what you're talking about," I said, genuinely perplexed. "Liam never had—"

  My words died in my throat as movement from the side of the chamber caught my attention. A woman approached Cain, carrying a chalice that appeared to be filled with dark, viscous blood. She moved with unnatural grace, her steps too fluid, too perfect.

  My heart clenched painfully in my chest as I recognized her.

  "Faith," I whispered.

  She didn't acknowledge me, didn't even glance in my direction. Her attention was entirely focused on Cain as she approached his throne and knelt before him, offering up the chalice with both hands.

  In the flickering torchlight, I could see how her skin had taken on a sickly, pale hue. The warm brown I remembered had faded to an ashen grey. Her eyes, once so vibrant and alive, now held the flat, predatory gleam of a vampire.

  Cain had turned her.