No, violence wasn’t an option here. This would require something far more subtle, a delicate touch that violence simply couldn’t provide in this particular situation.
I made my way to the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face to clear my head. The man staring back from the mirror looked dangerous, his skin marked with telltale scratches and bite marks from last night’s passion. His eyes held a cold, analytical calculation that would have been perfectly at home on Kaelen Leone’s face, but looked utterly alien reflected in Satori Nakano’s softer features. The dichotomy was jarring, even to me.
I needed a plan. And I needed it fast, before this whole situation spiraled completely beyond my control.
A soft, tentative knock on the bathroom door startled me from my thoughts.
"Satori?" Natalia’s voice, husky with sleep and last night’s activities. "You okay in there?"
I opened the door to find her wrapped loosely in my bedsheet, her hair a wild, beautiful mess cascading over her shoulders, her lips still swollen from our night together. Instantly, despite the crisis looming over us, my body responded to the sight of her—a primal reaction I couldn’t fully suppress.
"I’m fine," I lied smoothly, the falsehood coming easily to my lips. "Just washing up."
She smiled, leaning against the doorframe with a newfound sensuality that she wore like a second skin. "Last night was..." Her cheeks flushed a delicate pink. "I didn’t know it could be like that. Not ever."
I pulled her against me, burying my face in her hair and inhaling her scent—a mix of her expensive shampoo and our mingled essence. "You’re mine now," I murmured into her ear. "My queen."
"Mmm," she agreed, melting against me like wax near flame. "All yours. Always."
The moment was bittersweet, a perfect crystallization of what we’d built together, tainted by the knowledge that it was already endangered. She had no idea the throne we shared was already crumbling beneath us.
"We should get cleaned up," I said, reluctantly pulling back. "Your father and my mother might be up soon."
"Dad sleeps late after Guild events," Natalia said, rolling her eyes dismissively. "And Kimiko usually lets him sleep in. We have time." Her hand slid down my chest with deliberate slowness, her intention crystal clear in the hungry look she gave me.
I caught her wrist, though everything in me wanted to give in. "We need to talk strategy first. About Emi."
The shift in topic worked perfectly. Natalia’s expression became more serious, thoughtful, though her eyes still held that possessive gleam that sent a thrill through me.
"What about her?" she asked, standing straighter, instantly transitioning into the role of strategic partner.
"The seeds are planted," I said, leading her back to the bedroom. We sat on the edge of the rumpled bed, my mind working furiously on two parallel tracks—the immediate, potentially catastrophic Kimiko problem and the longer-term Emi strategy. "But we need to be careful. You can’t show jealousy when we’re all together."
Natalia frowned, a small crease forming between her perfectly shaped eyebrows. "I wasn’t jealous."
"You followed us around the city wearing a disguise," I said dryly, raising an eyebrow. "With sunglasses and a hat, like some noir detective."
She had the grace to look embarrassed, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "I was concerned for our asset. For the mission’s success."
"Right." I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, a gesture both affectionate and subtly controlling. "If we want this to work, you need to trust me. Emi is valuable. Her healing would complement your offense perfectly. We’d be unstoppable with her."
"I know that," Natalia said, a hint of defensiveness creeping into her voice. She straightened her back slightly. "I’m the one who suggested her in the first place."
"You did," I agreed, stroking her ego. "And it was a brilliant suggestion. That’s why you’re my queen. You see the bigger picture when others can’t."
Her expression softened at the praise, the defensiveness melting away. So predictable. So utterly malleable in my hands. It was almost too easy.
"Tell me what you want me to do," she said, eyes locked on mine, completely devoted.
Perfect. I had her full attention now, which meant I could steer the conversation toward what I really needed—a way to handle Kimiko and the ticking time bomb she represented.
"First, we need to establish a united front," I said, choosing my words carefully. "If anyone suspects anything between us, we both deny everything. Consistently and without hesitation."
"Of course," Natalia said, frowning slightly. "Why would you even need to say that? It’s obvious."
I shrugged casually, hiding my true concerns. "Just being thorough. Second, we need to be more careful. Last night was... intense. Incredible, but risky."
"The door..." she realized, eyes widening slightly as understanding dawned on her face.
"Exactly," I said, watching her reaction closely.
"You don’t think anyone heard us, do you?" She looked genuinely concerned now, a flash of vulnerability crossing her features as she pulled the sheet tighter around herself.
"No," I lied, hating the way the word felt in my mouth when addressing her. "But we can’t risk it in the future. We need to be smarter."
Natalia nodded solemnly, running a hand through her tangled hair. "Agreed. So what’s the plan with Emi going forward?"
"For now, we maintain our current trajectory. You continue being her friend—her best friend who supports her completely. I continue showing interest in her, building that connection. In a few days after the gala, I’ll suggest a study session with both of you."
"And then?" She leaned forward slightly, eager to know the next steps.
"And then we see if she’s open to something more... unconventional. But that’s still weeks away. We don’t rush this—rushing would ruin everything. She’s not like you."
Natalia nodded, looking thoughtful, a hint of protectiveness in her expression. "She’s innocent, Satori. We need to be gentle with her. She trusts so easily."
"We will be," I promised, my mind already racing five steps ahead. If Kimiko knew about us, I needed to accelerate the timeline with Emi. A public girlfriend would provide excellent cover, a shield against accusations and suspicions. "Trust me on this. I know what I’m doing."
"I do," she said, the absolute sincerity in her voice almost painful to hear. Complete trust. Complete surrender.
I pulled her in for a deep kiss, partly to shut her up, partly because I needed to feel something real amidst the mountain of lies I was building. Her lips yielded to mine immediately, molding perfectly against my mouth.
"Get dressed," I said when we broke apart, both slightly breathless. "I’ll make breakfast for everyone. It’ll seem normal, just another day."
Natalia gathered her scattered clothing from around the room, pulling on pieces as she found them. I watched her, wondering how long we had before our carefully constructed façade came crumbling down around us.
As she headed for the door, I called after her, "Natalia?"
She paused, looking back over her shoulder, her profile silhouetted against the morning light filtering through the curtains.
"No matter what happens," I said, putting as much conviction into my voice as I could, "we’re in this together. Always."
Her smile was radiant and trusting, lighting up her entire face. "Always. No matter what."
After she left, quietly closing the door behind her, I sank onto the edge of the bed, staring at the floor between my feet.
I was the King of the Glass House now. Ruler of a transparent kingdom where every move was observed, every secret exposed to maternal eyes that saw too much.
"You wanted entertainment?" I muttered to the invisible presence of Nel and her watching gods. "Let’s see how you like this plot twist, you sadistic voyeurs."