CHAPTER 174: THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT FOR OUR SECRET KINGDOM

Goddamn. When had I become the kind of man who found homicidal ambition this attractive?

"There’s one more thing." I pulled up the analytics again, showing her the bot network patterns. "This level of media manipulation requires serious resources. We’re talking corporate-grade PR firms, maybe even VHC’s own Insight Division. Someone spent a lot of money to make sure my story drowned out Veronica’s."

"So we have a target."

"No. We have a shadow. The VHC is too big, too nebulous. We need a face. A person we can pressure."

Natalia’s eyes lit up with understanding. "Celeste Vance."

"Celeste Vance," I confirmed. "Seraphina’s beloved little sister. The one person in the world the Ice Queen of the VHC actually gives a shit about. And conveniently, she’s going to be living on the same island as us for the next four years."

"So you’re thinking..."

I nodded. "Get close to Celeste. Earn her trust. Find out what big sister knows and what she’s hiding. And if we’re very lucky..."

"We find leverage."

"Exactly."

Natalia was quiet for a long moment, thinking. Then she shifted in my lap, straddling me properly and cupping my face in both hands. The Cryo-Lich Ring was cold enough to make me flinch.

"Promise me something."

"Depends on what it is."

"When we burn it all down," she said, her voice steady and sure, "when we expose whatever they’re hiding and make them pay for using us like puppets... we do it together. Not you protecting me. Not me supporting you from the shadows. Together. As equals."

The old Satori Nakano would’ve agreed to anything she asked in this position.

Kaelen Leone would’ve filed the promise away and broken it the second it became inconvenient.

But this version of me, this chimera of the two, looked at my purple-haired queen and realized something deeply inconvenient.

I meant it when I said: "Together. Always."

Natalia kissed me. Soft at first. Then deeper, her fingers tangling in my hair. When she finally pulled back, her lips were swollen and her eyes unfocused.

"Good. Now finish packing. We leave in eight hours and you’ve barely filled a third of that bag."

"I was distracted."

"By what, your own viral fame?"

"By you in my clothes."

She flushed. Even now, after everything, certain compliments still got through her armor. "Flatterer."

"Just honest." I grabbed another shirt, this one meeting her approval standards. "Though speaking of distractions, we need to talk about the logistical nightmare you’ve condemned us to."

Natalia cocked her head. "What nightmare?"

"Onyx House. Fifteen people. Thin walls. A hypervigilant instructor who probably sleeps with one eye open." I folded the shirt badly. She took it from my hands and refolded it correctly. "We’re not going to have privacy like this."

The realization hit her like cold water. Her hands froze mid-fold. "Oh. Right. Walls are probably thin."

"Exactly."

We stared at each other.

"Late-night meetings in the training room?" I offered.

"Too obvious. Raphael would probably try to join in, thinking it’s actual training." She bit her lip, thinking. "Utility closet?"

"Have some self-respect. You’re a queen, not a janitor’s fling."

"Soundproof study rooms?"

"If they exist, everyone else with a forbidden relationship will have the same idea."

Natalia groaned, flopping back on the bed dramatically. "This is going to be torture. Do you know how hard it was watching you smile at Emi today? Knowing I couldn’t just grab you and remind you who you belong to?"

"You spied on us."

"I was providing tactical oversight."

"You hid behind a mailbox."

"Strategic positioning." She threw a pillow at my head. I caught it, grinning. "But seriously. If I have to watch you charm other girls for weeks on end without being able to touch you..."

"You’ll survive. You’re strong."

"I’ll murder someone."

"Also possible."

She sat back up, all business again. "We need rules. Clear ones. For when we’re at the academy."

"I’m listening."

Natalia held up one finger. "Rule one: No sex in the dorms unless we’re absolutely certain everyone’s asleep and we can be quiet."

"Define quiet."

She kicked my shin. "I’m serious."

Yeah, don’t want another "mom incident".

"Fine. Rule one accepted. What else?"

"Rule two: If you’re going to flirt with recruits like Emi or Celeste, you text me first. I need to be prepared. In the loop. Not blindsided like I was at the café."

"You followed me."

"Because you didn’t text me." She crossed her arms. "I’m your partner, Satori. Your Keystone. That means I get advance notice before you go putting your hands on other girls."

"Deal. Anything else?"

"Rule three." She leaned forward, her voice dropping. "When we do recruit new Pillars, when we bring them into the Covenant... I’m there. I want to see what you do to them. How you break them down and build them back up. I want to learn."

Oh.

That was new.

And deeply, dangerously hot.

"You want front-row seats to your king corrupting innocent girls?"

"I want to help." Her eyes glittered. "You said it yourself. I’m your queen. That means your court is my court. Your pawns are my pawns. And if I’m going to rule beside you..." She traced a finger down my chest. "I need to understand all your tools."

Nel’s voice whispered in my head. [The Audience is eating this up. Your queen has yandere potential. Encourage this.]

I grabbed Natalia’s wrist, stopping her wandering hand. "You realize what you’re asking for, right? You want to watch me seduce other women. Help me plan it. Maybe even participate."

"Yes."

No hesitation. No shame.

"And that doesn’t bother you? Make you jealous?"

"Of course it makes me jealous." She leaned in until our noses almost touched. "But I’m also a realist. Your Covenant needs Pillars. We need allies, power, people we can trust in a world that wants to use or destroy us. And if those people happen to be beautiful, exceptional women?" She shrugged. "Then I’ll be the one who makes sure they know their place in the hierarchy."

"Which is?"

"Beneath me. Always." She kissed me once, soft and claiming. "I’m the Keystone, remember? The foundation. They’re just... additions. Enhancements. Useful tools." Her voice dropped to a purr. "But you? You’re mine. And they’ll know it."

"Then we’re agreed. You manage Emi. I’ll work on building rapport with Jacob and Soomin. We identify which of our new guildmates are assets, which are liabilities, and which are potential Pillars."

"And Celeste Vance?"

"Long game. Can’t rush that one. She’s too high-profile. We need to be established first. Respected. Then we make our move."