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But I wasn’t him.

“Would you…” I swallowed hard, fighting years of the old Luca’s instincts. “Would you like to come in?”

Their twin expressions of shock would have been comical if they weren’t so heartbreaking.

“Really?” Sylvie’s voice cracked slightly.

“I mean, unless you have homework?” I offered awkwardly, having no idea what the proper protocol was for suddenly deciding to be social with the cousins you’d apparently been avoiding for years.

“Done during study hall,” Hunter said quickly, as if afraid I’d change my mind. “We were thinking of hanging out in the family room? The new gaming system arrived, and Sylvie got some fashion magazines…”

Sylvie added, hope blooming across her face, “With the latest trends from the Winter Gala. Not that you usually… I mean…”

She trailed off, clearly remembering years of rejected invitations. I wanted to hug her, to apologize for a distance I hadn’t created but somehow inherited. Instead, I stood, earning twin looks of disbelief.

“Show me everything?” It came out more like a question, betraying my own uncertainty.

Sylvie’s squeal of delight startled both of us. She took half a step forward, then caught herself—probably remembering the old Luca’s aversion to contact. The gesture made my heart ache.

“This way!” She bounced on her toes instead, all teenage enthusiasm barely contained. “The family room is amazing—you’ll love it!”

I followed them down corridors I’d only glimpsed during my earlier exploration, trying not to look too obviously amazed at the casual luxury surrounding us. The “family room” turned out to be more like a private entertainment complex that would put five-star hotels to shame.

Gaming stations with screens that dominated entire walls. Plush seating areas with throws. A library corner filled with everything from ancient-looking books to the latest magazines. Even a small café setup.

“We usually hang out here after school,” Hunter explained, moving toward the gaming area. “When we’re not at events or clan functions.”

“Speaking of functions,” Sylvie settled onto a velvet chaise, spreading magazines around her like she’d done this a thousand times—probably hoping each time the reclusive Luca Valentine might join her. “There’s a new idol group debuting. The Park Clan is hosting…”

I perched carefully on the edge of the chaise, hyperaware of maintaining the right balance between friendly and formal.

“Tell me everything?” I ventured, and Sylvie’s answering smile could have lit up all of New Vale.

For the next hour, I learned more about this world’s society than any of the old Luca’s memories could provide.

The Park Clan’s K-pop empire was expanding into virtual reality concerts, their innovative technology setting global trends.

The Sato Clan’s latest anime featured a vampire prince character that made Sylvie giggle behind her hand, while their gaming division was launching groundbreaking new titles.

The Kingston Clan’s music empire dominated the charts, their influence extending from classical concerts to underground rock scenes.

The Bellini Clan’s entertainment venues were the place to be seen, their coastal resorts hosting the most exclusive social gatherings.

And the Cheng Clan’s upcoming celestial festival had every noble family competing for invitations, promising to be the social event of the season.

“You should come with us,” Sylvie said suddenly, then bit her lip. “I mean, if you want to. To the idol debut. Mom already said we could go…”

I looked up from a particularly interesting article to find both twins watching me with carefully controlled hope. The weight of years of rejection hung in the air between us.

The old Luca would say no. Would retreat to his safe, quiet room with its familiar walls and careful distance. Would leave these bright, wonderful teenagers to their own world while he hid in his.

But I wasn’t him. And I was tired of being alone—of dreaming of family only to wake up in an empty apartment with Mochi for company.

“I’d love to,” I said softly, and their matching grins made something in my chest crack and heal all at once.

The afternoon passed in a surprising haze of comfort. I’d been guarded at first, uncertain how to act around these teenagers. But Sylvie’s gentle enthusiasm and Hunter’s quiet humor slowly drew me out of my shell.

Sylvie shared the latest designs from elite houses while Hunter demonstrated his gaming skills. They offered me blood-infused hot chocolates, and gradually, I found myself relaxing in their company.

Sylvie’s commentary on the newest idol groups had me giggling despite myself. Hunter’s tales of academy mishaps—especially the incident involving a misfired transformation spell in combat class—left me clutching my sides with laughter.

For the first time in either of my lives, I felt the warmth of belonging. Of family. Each shared smile, each casual touch, each inside joke tentatively extended filled an emptiness I hadn’t realized ran so deep.

“Luca?” Sylvie’s voice held that careful hope again as the sky outside deepened to purple. “Will you… join us for dinner?”

I nodded before I could overthink it, earning another of her brilliant smiles. But as we approached the family dining room, other scents hit me—rich musk and amber, citrus and sunshine, warm spice and bergamot. My fangs began to tingle.

Zane, Ryker, and Archer sat at the table, engaged in conversation with an elderly gentleman who could only be Great Uncle Johnathan—the old Luca’s memories supplied hazily.

Near the window stood a tall man in a security chief uniform—Uncle Owen—beside an elegant woman with golden curls so like Sylvie’s—Aunt Senna.

The old Luca had only glimpsed them through barely opened doors, heard their gentle attempts to coax him out, found their thoughtful gifts outside his room.

I froze in the doorway, overwhelmed by both these people I knew but had never truly met, and the potent mixture of the brothers’ scents. One brother was difficult enough to resist. All three again? My fangs ached at the mere thought.

“Luca.” Great Uncle Johnathan’s voice held pleasant surprise, his features softening. “How wonderful to see you joining us.”

The butler—Harrison, the old Luca’s memories supplied—rushed forward with smooth efficiency to pull out a chair, while Benedict hurried toward what appeared to be a separate preparation area. Right. I couldn’t eat regular food anymore.

“Our little prince finally emerges.” Uncle Owen’s deep voice carried warmth and careful welcome. Aunt Senna beside him practically glowed with joy.

I hesitated in the doorway, overwhelmed by the weight of their gazes—and more pressingly, the intoxicating mixture of the brothers’ scents that seemed to fill the entire room.

Zane’s rich musk and amber dominated the head of the table, while Archer’s citrus-sunshine danced playfully through the air.

Ryker’s warm spice and bergamot drifted between them, creating an impossible combination that made my fangs throb with need.

Sylvie gently tugged me toward the empty chair—directly across from Archer, whose brilliant smile did nothing to help my composure.

Zane sat at the head of the table to my right, close enough that I could hear each steady beat of his pulse.

Ryker’s knowing gaze from Archer’s left only added to my growing awareness that I was surrounded by them.

“Luca’s coming to the idol debut with us!” Sylvie’s excitement bubbled over as she settled into the chair beside me.

“Is he now?” Aunt Senna’s smile grew impossibly brighter, hope and joy radiating from her in waves.

“Are you certain that’s wise?” Zane’s low voice sent shivers down my spine. His concerned gaze fell on me, heavy with the weight of years watching over his reclusive brother. “The crowds?—”

“I’ll be fine,” I said quickly, perhaps too quickly, as several eyebrows rose at my certainty. Archer’s scent intensified as he leaned forward, and I gripped the armrest of my chair to keep from swaying toward him.

“Don’t worry, big brother.” His trademark grin flashed, drawing my attention to the strong line of his jaw, the elegant curve of his throat. “I’ll be there to protect our little brother.”

“The same brother who swears clan gatherings are ‘more tedious than council meetings’ suddenly volunteers?” Ryker’s elegant tone carried lethal amusement as his fingers traced the rim of his wineglass, the gesture oddly hypnotic. “Nothing to do with hearing the new idols are exceptionally pretty?”

“The Park Clan would consider it a slight if we didn’t attend.” Zane’s deep voice rumbled with authority. “Though I’m sure Archer’s sudden enthusiasm has nothing to do with the idols’ legendary beauty.”

Something in my chest twisted sharply at his words.

The casual mention of pretty idols shouldn’t affect me—shouldn’t make my fangs ache with possessive hunger.

The brothers could flirt with whoever they wanted.

They weren’t really my brothers, but they thought they were, which meant any other feelings were completely inappropriate and?—

Zane shifted beside me, his scent wrapping around me like a physical caress. I bit my lip, trying desperately to focus on anything else. The elaborate table settings. The crystal chandelier overhead. The way Archer’s eyes seemed to linger on my face. No, not that.

“Dinner is served,” Harrison announced, as an array of staff entered with covered dishes. Benedict approached with what appeared to be a crystal decanter of blood, the rich scent a poor substitute for the three pulses beating so tantalizingly close.

Thank goodness for the interruption. I wasn’t sure my fangs could take much more of this exquisite torture.