Overlord of the Four Powers

Chapter 8: Princess

Her gaze shifted between Alkan and Ambong. After a few seconds, she smiled at him.

"New faces in the palace. Who are you, and how did you get in?"

Alkan was about to answer, but Ambong pulled him past her. Celya only let out a soft laugh as she watched them leave.

Her amusement faded when she saw the way Ambong looked at her—cold and guarded. How annoying. She didn’t like it when men ignored her, especially those who should have been on their knees, enchanted by her beauty.

“Celya,” she heard a voice call from behind her. A fellow vampire approached, worry on his face. “Why are you out here? Your father is looking for you.”

She clicked her tongue in irritation but turned gracefully. “I was just welcoming our guests. Did he say what he wanted?”

“He just told me to fetch you. You should hurry back.”

Celya sighed but obeyed. However, as she walked away, her thoughts lingered on the man who had stared at her so intently—Alkan. Unlike the others, he had looked at her with fascination, yet he managed to break away.

Interesting.

She had met many men, all of whom fell under her spell with little effort. But Alkan… he resisted.

A slow smirk curled her lips. She loved a challenge.

Later that night, when the palace was silent, Celya slipped through the halls, her bare feet making no sound. A cool breeze from an open window brushed against her skin as she moved toward the guest chambers.

She found him sleeping, his features relaxed in slumber. How peaceful. How unaware.

A wicked thrill ran through her as she leaned closer, her cold fingers tracing his face ever so gently. She felt his breath hitch, watched as his lashes fluttered before he opened his eyes.

For a brief moment, Alkan was still, caught between sleep and wakefulness. Then realization struck, and he bolted upright.

"Celya!" His voice was hoarse.

She grinned, her eyes narrowing in amusement. "You're handsome. I don't know what kind of being you are, but I can sense it—you have Sawikin blood in you." Her smile widened. "Why don’t you stay here? I’ll make you a prince if you agree to be by my side."

Alkan didn’t respond immediately. Celya tilted her head, waiting. She expected the usual—shock, excitement, a man stumbling over his words, eager to accept.

But instead, Alkan stood, stepping away from the bed. His eyes flickered toward the door.

Celya’s smirk twitched. Did he really think he could escape her so easily?

But before she could advance, something unexpected happened.

A dark shadow emerged from Alkan’s body, and in an instant, he was flung aside.

Celya’s eyes widened as Ambong stood where Alkan had been just seconds ago. His black eyes glinted with something unreadable, and a mischievous smirk played on his lips.

"Well, well," Ambong drawled, his voice teasing. "Isn't this the vampire princess? What is she doing in a man's room at this hour?"

Celya felt a rare heat rise to her cheeks. Embarrassment. She clenched her fists. She wasn’t supposed to feel this way. She was the one who made others squirm, not the other way around!

Snatching her hands away from him, she glared. "Ambong," she hissed through gritted teeth. "Why are you here? And why did you come out of Alkan's body?"

Ambong shrugged, completely unfazed. "Why are you here? Isn’t it forbidden for an unmarried vampire princess to visit a man’s room?"

Celya’s irritation flared, but she kept her composure. She refused to let him have the upper hand.

But something about this was… off. She had never heard of a human sharing a body with another. Was this some new trick of the witches? And if so, why hadn’t her father warned her?

Her hands curled into fists. This wasn’t good. She needed to inform her father before it was too late.

Without another word, she shot one last glance at Alkan before turning and marching toward the door.

Once it shut behind her, silence filled the room.

Then Alkan, still shaken, turned to Ambong. "How long have you been back in my body?"

Ambong gave him a brief look before, without answering, his form melted into shadow and disappeared out the open window.

A cold wind rushed in, making Alkan shiver. He quickly shut the window, knowing full well that Celya had come through it.

As dawn broke, he hadn’t slept a wink since her visit. And Ambong… he had yet to return.

Just as he finished dressing, a series of loud, urgent knocks came from his door.