The Morning Presentation
The group was downstairs when Lilith finally came down the stairs.
"Hi," she greeted them.
"Hi," they replied.
"Shall we begin?" Lilith asked as she approached her seat.
Monica immediately began speaking while the presentation slides appeared on the large screen. Everyone settled down, their attention shifting between Monica and the information displayed before them.
Lilith listened carefully, occasionally glancing at the notes in front of her as the presentation continued.
Meanwhile, at Gloria's Mansion
Valen was asleep in his room.
Gloria gently opened the door and stepped inside.
"Sir?" she called softly.
There was no response.
He was sound asleep.
She walked closer to the bed and carefully covered him with his blanket. Just as she was about to leave, Valen began mumbling in his sleep.
"Kiwi… I love you so much. I am sorry, G… Gloria," he murmured.
Gloria froze.
"Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry," he continued mumbling in his sleep.
She stared at him for a moment before slowly sitting on the edge of his bed.
"Kiwi…" he whispered again.
Gloria sighed and gently rubbed his hair.
"Will I continue to hate you, V? Will I?" she asked quietly, although he was far too deeply asleep to hear her.
She continued stroking his hair, her expression complicated by feelings she could not entirely explain.
Zale was standing outside the room when he noticed them.
He paused at the doorway, looking at Gloria sitting beside Valen.
"Hmm," he muttered.
He decided not to interrupt and walked away.
The Presentation Ends
"That it?" Lilith asked when Monica finished.
"Yep. So basically, we are done," Bianca answered.
"Almost," Zeno said as he returned.
Before anyone could ask him what he meant, Nistarini entered the room.
"Beneva got the bags, and now we are unboxing them for you," she announced.
Lily turned towards her.
Behind Nistarini, thirty girls were already giggling excitedly, barely containing their anticipation.
"Shhhhh!" Lilith said.
The girls immediately became quiet.
"Can we?" Tamlika asked hopefully.
"Don't make noise. I am quite busy here, so no loud giggling," Lilith warned.
"Ji! (Okay!)" they answered together.
Nistarini approached the first enormous box and carefully opened it.
"Oh, Jesus…" Domirk exclaimed.
Everyone stared at the luxurious items inside.
Lilith handed her notes to Brown.
"Is that your mom?" Jennifer asked her.
"No. My parents and brothers all live in New York. Well, only two of my brothers are in Russia here with their wives," Lily explained.
"Neva, look! This is a handmade royal saree," Debasmita exclaimed.
"Royal?" Peter asked, moving closer.
"Lilith, look at it! A silk saree!" someone exclaimed.
"Oh, and this!" Shonli said as she opened another box.
Inside was a magnificent set consisting of a diamond necklace and a matching waist chain.
"Damn…" Diana whispered.
The room was filled with astonished voices as more boxes were opened.
Every single one of the five hundred boxes contained ancient, luxurious, rare, and extraordinary treasures. Some had been preserved for generations, while others were said to have belonged to forgotten dynasties and legendary royal women.
The girls could hardly believe what they were seeing.
The Five Hundred Boxes of the Ancient Cult
The treasures were not ordinary gifts. They represented the accumulated wealth, history, traditions, and allegiance of the Ancient Cult.
The first collection contained the original Sunfire Navaratna crown set with nine flawless sacred gemstones, the ancient Bengali royal gold choker of the First Empress, a seven-layer necklace of natural Basra pearls, the Moon Goddess diamond haar crafted from antique Golconda diamonds, a royal Polki necklace featuring uncut diamonds and old gold filigree, a ruby-and-emerald Rani Haar from a forgotten Indian dynasty, the Serpent Queen's necklace shaped from antique gold and black diamonds, a pair of enormous Burmese ruby chandelier earrings, the celestial Chandbali earrings encrusted with old Golconda diamonds, a pair of antique Jadau earrings with natural emerald drops, the Bengali royal Shankha-inspired diamond ear ornaments, a diamond-studded Matha Patti from an ancient royal treasury, a seven-gem Borla forehead ornament, a golden Tikka containing a rare natural star ruby, a pair of antique gold Kaan Phool ear cuffs, the Queen's thousand-pearl bridal Nath, a diamond nose ring surrounded by Burmese rubies, the ancient Bengali gold Shakha-Pola ceremonial bangle set, a pair of solid gold royal Kadas engraved with Sanskrit inscriptions, the serpent-shaped diamond armlets of the Nagini dynasty, an antique Bajuband featuring unheated sapphires, the royal Hathphool hand harness with natural diamonds, a pair of emerald-encrusted finger rings from a lost kingdom, the Emperor's ruby signet ring reserved for the Supreme Queen, a gold toe-ring collection decorated with natural pearls, the ancient Anklet of a Thousand Bells made of antique gold, a pair of diamond-studded Bengali royal anklets, the Sun Temple waist chain fashioned from gold and rubies, a Kamarband of emeralds, pearls, and hand-cut diamonds, and the Moonlit Lotus jewellery set containing a necklace, earrings, bangles, and rings.
The next collection contained a historic unheated pigeon-blood Burmese ruby, a flawless natural blue diamond, a rare pink Golconda diamond preserved in an imperial case, a magnificent natural yellow diamond, a Kashmir blue sapphire with exceptional velvet-blue colour, a large natural Colombian emerald, a collector-grade Paraíba tourmaline, a natural alexandrite showing a dramatic colour change, a rare imperial jadeite cabochon, a magnificent black opal with vivid multicoloured fire, a natural red spinel from an ancient royal collection, a large star sapphire displaying a distinct six-ray star, a natural star ruby from Burma, a collection of exceptionally rare natural Padparadscha sapphires, a royal box of antique Golconda diamond fragments, a natural imperial topaz from an old Maharaja's treasury, a collection of untreated Paraíba and indicolite tourmalines, a giant natural aquamarine crystal, a rare demantoid garnet with horsetail inclusions, a collection of vivid tsavorite garnets, a natural fire agate from a forgotten merchant's collection, a historic carved Mughal jade pendant, an enormous natural rock crystal sphere, a royal collection of ancient Baltic amber, a rare natural pearl shaped like a perfect lotus bud, a collection of exceptional natural conch pearls, a collection of historic natural Basra pearls, and a rare golden South Sea pearl necklace.
There was also a natural freshwater pearl of unusual size and lustre, the Nine Treasures Casket containing nine exceptional gemstones representing the Navaratna tradition, the Crown of the First Serpent Empress, the ancient Bengali gold mukut of a forgotten queen, the Lotus Throne miniature cast in gold and decorated with rubies, a royal ivory-free sandalwood sceptre with a gold finial, the Supreme Queen's ceremonial golden fan, an ancient peacock-feather royal fly whisk with a jewelled handle, a gold-and-emerald royal parasol, the Moon Dynasty's ceremonial silver mirror, a solid-gold betel box from an ancient Bengali palace, a jewelled royal paan tray with matching antique containers, the Queen Mother's gold sindoor box, a carved sandalwood jewellery chest inlaid with mother-of-pearl, an imperial treasure chest covered in gold repoussé work, a miniature golden temple containing nine gemstones, a silver lotus-shaped incense burner, a ceremonial gold water vessel with emerald handles, an antique royal attar flask made from rock crystal, a pair of gold ceremonial lamps with ruby-encrusted bases, the Ancient Cult's golden seal of allegiance to Lilith, a crystal orb enclosed in an antique gold serpent frame, a ceremonial throne cushion woven with gold thread, the Queen's royal nameplate carved from black jade, a gold-handled ceremonial sword scabbard, an antique gold hand mirror decorated with peacocks, a rare Mughal-style enamelled gold huqqa base, a collection of antique miniature royal paintings, a gold-inlaid ceremonial writing set, a carved black-stone statue of the protective goddess Durga, a rare antique bronze statue of a dancing Shiva, and the First Queen's sealed treasury ledger bound in red silk and gold.
The weapons collection was equally extraordinary. It included the Serpent King's antique gold-hilted talwar, the Moon Empress's curved ceremonial shamshir, a jewelled Rajput-style khanda sword, an antique basket-hilt sword decorated with rubies, a gold-inlaid ceremonial pata sword, a royal katar dagger with an emerald pommel, a pair of antique ivory-free sandalwood-handled katars, a silver-inlaid ceremonial pesh-kabz, a Mughal-style dagger with a jade hilt, a ceremonial bichuwa dagger shaped like twin serpents, a royal gold-hilted jambiya from an ancient trade dynasty, a ceremonial kukri with a jewelled scabbard, a Bengali zamindar's antique ceremonial sword, a gold-and-silver-inlaid khanda preserved in a velvet case, a pair of crossed royal daggers with matching ruby hilts, a ceremonial spear with a gold lotus-shaped finial, an antique royal lance displayed on a sandalwood stand, a ceremonial trident with silver filigree, a gold-inlaid temple trishul with ruby accents, a historical bow made from dark polished wood with gold fittings, a royal quiver decorated with emerald embroidery, a collection of antique ceremonial arrows with ornamental metalwork, a royal shield decorated with four silver bosses, a blackened-steel shield with intricate gold damascening, a ceremonial buckler with a ruby-encrusted central boss, an antique Bengali royal battle standard with gold embroidery, a ceremonial mace with a solid silver head, a gold-inlaid royal battle axe displayed in a carved case, and a pair of antique ceremonial chain-mail sleeves preserved as museum-grade armour.
Among the most important pieces were the Ancient Cult's legendary Queen's Blade, an heirloom sword with a dark steel blade and an elaborate gold serpent hilt.
The textile collection included a genuine antique Dhakai Jamdani saree with extraordinary floral weaving, a rare traditional Tangail handloom saree with gold borders, a royal Baluchari silk saree depicting scenes from ancient epics, a crimson Benarasi Katan silk saree with antique gold brocade, a pure gold-zari Banarasi saree commissioned for Lilith, a handwoven Murshidabad silk saree in imperial emerald, an antique Bishnupuri Baluchari saree with intricate motifs, a white-and-red Bengali bridal saree woven with fine gold zari, a deep-black Banarasi saree with ruby-red embroidery, a moon-white Jamdani saree decorated with silver thread, a royal peacock-blue silk saree with handwoven lotus patterns, a crimson-and-gold wedding Benarasi with an elaborate pallu, a rare muslin saree inspired by historic Bengal textiles, a gold-threaded Kanjivaram silk saree from an old royal collection, a violet silk saree with handwoven silver peacocks, a sapphire-blue Jamdani with tiny woven floral motifs, a blush-pink Banarasi saree with antique gold brocade, an ivory silk saree embroidered with natural pearls, a forest-green royal silk saree with handwoven mango motifs, a black-and-gold Bengali ceremonial saree, a rare handwoven tussar silk saree with intricate zari borders, a royal orange-and-red silk saree for Durga Puja celebrations, a hand-embroidered Kashmiri pashmina shawl presented with a silk saree, a gold-threaded odhni from an ancient Rajput treasury, a crimson bridal dupatta with real antique gold embroidery, a translucent tissue-silk saree woven with silver zari, a deep-maroon Benarasi saree with elaborate floral brocade, a sapphire-and-emerald silk saree with peacock motifs, a rare traditional Bengali white silk saree with red woven borders, and the First Empress's preserved bridal saree restored and presented in a climate-controlled royal chest.
There were also garments of every kind: a crimson royal lehenga with hand-sewn gold embroidery, an emerald velvet lehenga with natural pearl embellishments, a sapphire-blue bridal lehenga with antique zardozi work, a black-and-gold royal lehenga inspired by Mughal court fashion, a champagne-gold lehenga with hand-embroidered floral vines, a ruby-red lehenga with a matching pearl-edged dupatta, a moon-white bridal lehenga with silver threadwork, a royal purple lehenga with intricate antique-style embroidery, a rose-pink lehenga with a gold-threaded veil, a peacock-green lehenga with handwoven brocade panels, a midnight-blue velvet Anarkali dress with gemstone buttons, a royal ivory Anarkali with delicate gold embroidery, a crimson silk Anarkali with antique-inspired Mughal motifs, an emerald floor-length Anarkali with pearl-edged sleeves, a Bengali royal-style red-and-white ceremonial gown, a black velvet gown with gold lotus embroidery, a sapphire silk gown with a detachable embroidered train, a champagne satin gown with hand-sewn crystal detailing, a royal emerald gown with a structured bodice and silk skirt, a ruby-red gown with an antique gold embroidered cape, a pearl-white evening gown inspired by the moon goddess, a violet royal gown with silver peacock embroidery, a deep burgundy gown with handwoven brocade, a gold tissue gown with delicate pearl embellishments, a midnight-black gown with a removable jewelled collar, a traditional Bengali bridal ensemble with a red veil and gold borders, a royal Sharara set with embroidered trousers and a long dupatta, a silk Gharara ensemble with hand-sewn zardozi work, a Mughal-inspired Peshwas dress with a jewelled waistband, and the Queen's exclusive ceremonial ensemble combining Bengali silk, Indian zardozi, and a detachable gold-threaded royal mantle.
The luxurious outerwear collection contained a handwoven Kashmiri pashmina shawl in natural ivory, an antique Kani shawl with intricate woven floral patterns, a pure cashmere shawl embroidered with gold-threaded vines, a royal Banarasi brocade cloak, a deep-crimson velvet mantle with gold embroidery, a midnight-blue velvet cape with silver lotus motifs, a handwoven silk brocade robe from an old Indian court, a gold-threaded Bengali ceremonial uttariya, a rare antique Dhakai muslin length preserved in archival wrapping, a luxurious handwoven jamawar shawl, a hand-embroidered Kashmiri sozni shawl, a fine ivory pashmina embroidered with tiny flowers, a royal purple silk cape with a jewelled clasp, a sapphire velvet cloak lined with mulberry silk, a gold tissue dupatta with hand-finished borders, a ruby-red Banarasi dupatta with antique zari, a moon-white silk veil edged with natural pearls, a black silk shawl with gold peacock embroidery, a handwoven tussar silk stole with traditional Bengal motifs, a royal emerald silk scarf embroidered with a serpent emblem, a crimson Kashmiri shawl with intricate paisley designs, a silver-threaded ceremonial scarf woven by master artisans, a royal gold-and-black brocade fabric reserved for future gowns, a bolt of antique-inspired Bengali silk woven with lotus patterns, a hand-loomed indigo silk fabric with gold borders, a luxurious rose-gold tissue fabric, a rare natural-coloured silk length with a handwoven floral border, a royal bridal veil embroidered with tiny gold stars, a black velvet royal mantle with a ruby clasp, and the Ancient Cult's ancestral textile collection containing rare handwoven fabrics from several historic Indian and Bengali traditions.
The footwear collection featured ruby-red velvet juttis with gold embroidery, emerald-green royal mojris with hand-sewn pearls, champagne-gold bridal juttis with zardozi work, black velvet juttis with gold peacock motifs, ivory silk bridal shoes with natural pearl embellishments, antique-style gold leather sandals, ruby-encrusted ceremonial padukas displayed in a glass case, silver-threaded Bengali bridal slippers, deep-purple velvet khussas with gold embroidery, sapphire-blue silk mojris with hand-sewn crystals, emerald satin court heels with jewelled buckles, gold satin bridal heels with pearl ankle straps, black velvet evening heels with antique gold detailing, champagne crystal-embellished court shoes, ruby-red silk pumps with a gold heel, ivory satin heels with embroidered lotus flowers, midnight-blue velvet heels with sapphire-coloured stones, rose-gold bridal sandals with hand-set crystals, emerald silk sandals with delicate pearl straps, gold-threaded traditional Bengali wedding shoes, a royal ivory mule collection with embroidered silk uppers, burgundy velvet court slippers, hand-crafted leather sandals with gold floral tooling, traditional Rajasthani mojris decorated with mirror work, Bengali-inspired red-and-white ceremonial slippers, gold brocade ankle boots made exclusively for Lilith, black silk evening slippers embroidered with serpents, champagne silk flats with hand-sewn pearls, custom-made royal court shoes with interchangeable jewelled buckles, and the Queen's Golden Lotus footwear collection containing twelve individually crafted pairs in silk, velvet, leather, and precious-metal detailing.
The royal hair-jewellery collection contained a solid-gold serpent-shaped hairpin with a ruby head, a pair of antique gold floral hairpins, a diamond-studded Bengali bridal hair comb, a pearl-encrusted royal bun ornament, a gold-and-emerald Jada Billa hairpiece, a traditional gold Jhumar hair ornament, a moonstone-studded hair chain, a sapphire hair comb with antique gold filigree, a ruby-encrusted bridal Juda pin, a gold peacock hair ornament with emerald feathers, a pair of antique-inspired pearl hair vines, a diamond hair vine designed for royal bridal hairstyles, a floral gold Maang Tikka with a central emerald, a gold hair net decorated with tiny pearls, a silver hair net with moonstone detailing, a ceremonial Bengali Shola-inspired crown ornament, a royal red-and-gold braided hair ribbon, a set of hand-carved sandalwood hair sticks, a pair of jade hairpins from an ancient merchant dynasty, a black-jade hair comb with gold edging, a crystal-encrusted bridal hair tiara, a pearl-and-ruby hair bun cage, a gold chain hair accessory with tiny lotus charms, a royal emerald hair brooch designed to secure a veil, a silver serpent hairpiece with sapphire eyes, a pair of rose-gold floral hair clips, a jewelled hair clasp engraved with Lilith's royal seal, a set of antique-style gold paranda tassels, a royal bridal braid ornament with pearls and gold thread, and the Queen's ancestral hair-jewellery chest containing fifty individually catalogued ornaments.
The haircare collection included a hand-carved sandalwood hair-combing set, a premium wooden comb crafted from sustainably sourced sandalwood, a silver-handled hairbrush with an engraved royal crest, a traditional brass hair-oiling bowl, a gold-plated hair-oil dispenser, a collection of cold-pressed coconut hair oil, a premium amla hair-oil collection, a traditional bhringraj-infused hair-oil set, a jasmine-scented hair-oil collection, a rose-infused scalp-oil collection, a botanical hibiscus hair mask set, a premium fenugreek hair-treatment collection, a traditional shikakai hair-cleansing powder set, a reetha-based traditional hair cleanser collection, a natural amla hair-wash powder set, a botanical neem scalp-care collection, a premium aloe-vera hair-care collection, a collection of lightweight argan hair serums, a luxurious silk-protein hair-conditioning collection, a salon-grade deep-conditioning treatment set, a collection of silk hair bonnets, a set of pure mulberry-silk pillowcases, a collection of silk scrunchies in royal colours, a gold-plated hair-accessory storage box, a set of traditional brass hair-oiling tools, a luxury scalp-massage brush collection, a set of fine-mist botanical hair sprays, a premium heat-protectant haircare collection, a collection of restorative hair masks in rose, jasmine, and hibiscus scents, and the Queen's Botanical Hair Sanctuary, a complete luxury haircare collection inspired by traditional Indian and Bengali beauty rituals.
The skincare and bathing collection consisted of premium Kashmiri saffron-infused skincare, a rosewater facial mist collection, a luxurious aloe-vera hydration set, a premium glycerin-based moisturising collection, a gentle botanical facial-cleanser collection, a collection of fragrance-free facial moisturisers, a luxury ceramide-rich skin-barrier care set, a premium hyaluronic-acid hydration collection, a niacinamide skincare collection, a vitamin C facial-care set, a collection of gentle exfoliating facial treatments, a botanical calendula soothing-care set, a premium shea-butter body-care collection, a luxurious cocoa-butter moisturising collection, a rose-and-sandalwood body-lotion collection, a traditional ubtan-inspired body-care set, a premium turmeric-inspired cleansing collection, a saffron-inspired luxury body-care collection, a collection of gentle lip-balms in rose and vanilla, a luxury hand-and-cuticle-care collection, a premium foot-care set with rich moisturising creams, a set of traditional copper bathing vessels, a silver-plated royal bathing pitcher, a rose-petal bath-soak collection, a jasmine-scented bath-oil collection, a sandalwood bath-soap collection, a premium glycerin soap collection, a set of luxurious cotton bath towels embroidered with Lilith's crest, a collection of pure cotton bathrobes with gold-threaded monograms, and the Queen's Royal Bath Treasury containing botanical bathing preparations, premium skincare, and ceremonial bathing accessories.
The makeup collection included a solid-gold antique-style lipstick case, a jewelled compact mirror with a sapphire clasp, a silver-and-gold kohl container inspired by historic Indian cosmetics, a collection of premium black kajal pencils, a luxury eyeliner collection in black, brown, and jewel tones, a royal red lipstick collection, a collection of deep berry and burgundy lipsticks, a luxury rose-pink lipstick collection, a premium nude lipstick collection, a collection of hydrating lip glosses, a premium liquid foundation collection in a range of skin tones, a luxury concealer collection, a collection of finely milled setting powders, a premium pressed-powder collection, a luxury cream blush collection, a collection of rose, coral, and berry powder blushes, a premium highlighter collection with champagne and gold shades, a collection of sculpting and contour palettes, a royal jewel-toned eyeshadow palette collection, a luxury neutral eyeshadow palette collection, an emerald-and-gold eyeshadow palette, a ruby-and-burgundy eyeshadow palette, a sapphire-and-silver eyeshadow palette, a premium mascara collection, a collection of reusable makeup sponges, a luxury makeup-brush set with engraved handles, a gold-plated brush holder, a jewelled vanity tray for cosmetics, a silver cosmetic organiser with engraved lotus designs, and the Queen's Imperial Makeup Vault containing premium cosmetics, antique-style containers, and professional makeup tools.
The fragrance collection included a rare rose attar presented in a crystal bottle, a premium natural jasmine attar collection, a luxurious sandalwood attar collection, a saffron-and-rose perfume inspired by Mughal courts, a deep oud fragrance collection, a rare agarwood-inspired perfume collection, a royal amber fragrance collection, a luxurious musk-inspired perfume collection, a jasmine-and-tuberose evening perfume, a rose-and-sandalwood royal perfume, a saffron-and-amber perfume in a gold bottle, a premium white-musk fragrance collection, a violet-and-iris royal perfume, a black-rose evening fragrance, a peacock-blue glass perfume bottle containing a signature fragrance, a gold filigree attar bottle with a ruby stopper, a crystal perfume decanter with an emerald lid, a pair of antique-style silver attar flasks, a collection of traditional Bengali floral fragrances, a collection of Indian floral incense blends, a sandalwood incense collection, a premium frankincense-inspired incense collection, a collection of brass incense holders with lotus patterns, a silver-plated incense burner for the royal chambers, a carved sandalwood incense chest, a rose-and-amber scented candle collection, a luxury jasmine candle collection, a set of handcrafted ceramic perfume trays, a royal fragrance wardrobe with separate compartments for attars and perfumes, and the Queen's Thousand Fragrances Collection containing rare perfumes, attars, incense, and ceremonial scent vessels.
The Ancient Cult had also brought books and manuscripts: a hand-copied ancient Sanskrit manuscript on traditional paper, a rare Bengali manuscript of royal court poetry, an antique illustrated Ramayana manuscript, a beautifully preserved Mahabharata manuscript, a rare manuscript of classical Indian political thought, an ancient treatise on statecraft inspired by the Arthashastra tradition, a historical manuscript on ancient diplomacy and royal protocol, a collection of Bengali royal court chronicles, an illustrated manuscript of traditional Indian astronomy, a rare historical text on ancient Indian mathematics, a collection of classical Sanskrit poetry, a royal anthology of Bengali poetry, an antique collection of Tagore-era literary works, a beautifully bound historical collection of Bengali folk tales, a rare manuscript of traditional Indian medicinal knowledge, an antique botanical illustrated book from Bengal, a historical atlas of ancient Indian kingdoms, a hand-painted map of historic Bengal, a royal genealogical manuscript recording the Ancient Cult's rulers, a leather-bound chronicle of the First Empress, a collection of royal diplomatic letters in archival cases, an antique manuscript describing ancient trade routes, a collection of traditional Indian architectural drawings, a rare illustrated text on temple sculpture, an ancient treatise on jewellery-making and gemstone identification, a royal archive of historic textile patterns, a manuscript of traditional Bengali wedding customs, a collection of ancient court music notations, an illuminated book of royal ceremonial traditions, and the Ancient Cult's Secret Library, a collection of 108 rare manuscripts presented to Lilith as keeper of their history.
The cultural collection featured an antique brass Durga idol with fine traditional detailing, a bronze Saraswati statue from a historic temple collection, a carved stone Lakshmi statue with lotus motifs, an antique bronze Nataraja statue, a silver ceremonial puja thali, a gold-plated lotus-shaped diya set, a carved sandalwood ceremonial altar, a collection of antique brass temple bells, a traditional conch shell preserved in a silver case, a pair of silver ceremonial conch holders, an antique silver water vessel with floral patterns, a collection of traditional Bengali alpana design stencils, a set of rare hand-painted patachitra artworks, a royal collection of Kalighat-style paintings, an antique terracotta temple panel from a historical collection, a rare carved stone lotus panel, a collection of miniature Indian court paintings, a hand-painted scroll depicting ancient Bengali folklore, a royal ceremonial fan decorated with peacock feathers, a set of traditional Bengali dhak drums crafted by master artisans, a rare antique tanpura with decorative inlay, a royal sitar with elaborate hand-carved ornamentation, a pair of antique tabla drums with decorated wooden shells, a traditional sarod preserved in a royal music case, a handcrafted bansuri flute collection, a silver ceremonial anklet bell collection for classical dance, a royal collection of antique Indian musical instruments, an illustrated archive of ancient Bengali festivals and ceremonies, and the Temple of Memories Collection, a curated set of historic art, music, and ceremonial objects from Indian and Bengali heritage.
The palace furnishings included a carved sandalwood royal dressing table, an antique rosewood jewellery cabinet with brass fittings, a gold-inlaid wooden vanity mirror, a royal dressing stool upholstered in emerald velvet, a hand-carved bed with traditional Bengali floral motifs, a luxurious silk canopy for Lilith's royal bed, an emerald velvet chaise longue with gold-threaded upholstery, a pair of carved sandalwood bedside cabinets, a royal writing desk with mother-of-pearl inlay, a carved wooden bookcase designed for ancient manuscripts, a royal throne chair upholstered in burgundy velvet, a silver-inlaid ceremonial armchair, a set of gold-threaded silk cushions, a handwoven Kashmiri carpet with floral patterns, a royal carpet inspired by historic Persian and Indian court designs, a hand-knotted silk rug in ruby red, a black-and-gold decorative screen carved with lotus patterns, a carved wooden folding screen depicting peacocks, a crystal chandelier with antique gold fittings, a pair of handcrafted brass floor lamps, a silver-plated royal lantern collection, a carved sandalwood perfume cabinet, a jewelled antique-style wall clock, a gold-inlaid ceremonial chest for royal documents, a mother-of-pearl writing box, a royal mirror framed with hand-carved peacocks, a pair of antique-style marble lotus pedestals, a hand-painted ceramic vase collection inspired by Bengal, a collection of crystal bowls with gold rims, and the Queen's Private Palace Suite, a coordinated collection of antique-inspired furnishings and decorative treasures.
The ancestral heirlooms included the First Queen's gold hair comb, the First Empress's preserved ceremonial necklace, a royal signet ring bearing the Ancient Cult's original seal, a historic royal anklet worn by a queen of Bengal, a gold amulet case passed down through seven generations, an antique royal coin collection from ancient Indian kingdoms, a rare collection of historic Bengali gold coins, a collection of antique silver rupees from former Indian princely states, a royal coin cabinet with detailed historical catalogues, an ancient gold medallion engraved with a lotus and serpent, a royal family tree carved into a sandalwood panel, a preserved silk ribbon from the First Empress's coronation, an antique royal ivory-free ceremonial fan from an ancient court, an antique gold hair ornament from a Bengali royal wedding, a rare collection of royal seals in gold, silver, and bronze, a royal archive of handwritten ancestral letters, an antique embroidered banner of the Ancient Cult, a ceremonial gold key to the ancestral treasury, a silver key to the royal archive, a miniature gold model of the Ancient Cult's first palace, a historic map marking the locations of the cult's lost sanctuaries, a collection of antique gemstone-cutting tools, a royal jeweller's portable workshop preserved in a wooden chest, an antique textile loom miniature with historic weaving patterns, a collection of traditional Bengali conch-shell bangles, a royal bridal sindoor container with gold filigree, a collection of historic Indian marriage ornaments, a preserved royal wedding invitation engraved on metal, an ancestral royal portrait painted on silk, and the Bloodline Treasury, an archive of the Ancient Cult's most treasured family heirlooms entrusted exclusively to Lilith.
The travelling collection contained an emerald silk evening bag with antique gold embroidery, a ruby-red velvet clutch with a jewelled clasp, a gold brocade bridal potli embroidered with pearls, a sapphire-blue silk potli with gold drawstrings, a black velvet royal clutch with a serpent emblem, an ivory silk handbag with hand-sewn pearl detailing, a rose-gold evening bag with a crystal clasp, a traditional Bengali bridal potli with intricate zari work, a royal emerald leather handbag with custom gold hardware, a handcrafted burgundy leather travel bag, a luxury black leather document case with Lilith's crest, a royal passport and document holder in embossed leather, a gold-plated business-card case engraved with the royal seal, a jewelled pocket mirror in a silk pouch, a luxury silk handkerchief collection with embroidered initials, a set of gold-threaded silk gloves, a royal parasol with an embroidered silk canopy, a carved sandalwood walking stick with a silver handle, an antique-style gold-topped ceremonial cane, a jewelled sunglasses case with a matching silk lining, a luxury travel jewellery organiser, a large sandalwood trunk lined with silk, a gold-painted royal wardrobe trunk, an emerald velvet treasure chest with brass fittings, a black lacquer jewellery trunk with mother-of-pearl decoration, a ruby-red silk-lined cosmetics travel case, a collection of handcrafted leather belts with gold buckles, a royal waist belt embroidered with gold thread, a jewelled cloak clasp bearing the Ancient Cult's insignia, and the Queen's Travelling Treasury containing custom-made bags, ceremonial accessories, and silk-lined trunks.
The dining and collector's collection included a solid-silver dinner service with floral engraving, a gold-plated royal thali collection, a collection of antique silver drinking cups, a set of crystal goblets with gold rims, a silver tea service with a carved wooden presentation chest, a gold-plated Bengali tea tray, a royal spice box with nine compartments, an antique silver paan container, a collection of brass masala dabba boxes with intricate engraving, a carved sandalwood spice cabinet, a crystal fruit bowl with a gold pedestal, a collection of silver serving spoons with floral handles, a royal dessert service with gold-edged porcelain, a rare hand-painted Bengali ceramic dinner set, a set of traditional blue-and-white porcelain plates, a collection of hand-painted tea cups inspired by Mughal floral designs, a silver ceremonial water jug, a gold-inlaid serving platter bearing the royal emblem, a collection of antique bronze cooking vessels for display, a royal silver incense-and-perfume presentation tray, a collection of antique Indian trade weights preserved in a display case, a set of historic royal measuring instruments, an antique brass astronomical instrument, a beautifully preserved historical astrolabe, a collection of antique pocket watches from historic Indian collections, a gold pocket watch engraved with the name of the First Empress, a silver pocket watch with a moonstone dial, a royal mechanical clock with a hand-painted miniature scene, a collection of historic enamelled boxes and snuff containers, and the Imperial Collector's Vault containing silverware, historical instruments, fine porcelain, and rare decorative collectibles.
Yet even those treasures were not the end of the Ancient Cult's generosity.
There was the Crown of the Nine Kingdoms, a legendary gold crown set with nine exceptional gemstones and engraved with the names of ancient Indian royal houses; the Serpent Empress's Necklace, an enormous antique gold necklace with a central ruby surrounded by emeralds and natural pearls; the Bengali Moonstone Tiara, a silver-and-gold tiara with a rare moonstone at its centre reserved for the Queen's midnight ceremonies; the Blood Lotus Ring, a historic ruby ring said to have belonged to the first female ruler of the Ancient Cult; the Eternal Sun Diamond, an exceptional historic yellow diamond mounted in a gold display setting; the Black Serpent Blade, a legendary ceremonial sword with a dark steel blade and a gold hilt carved into two intertwined serpents; the Empress's Ruby Katar, an antique ceremonial dagger featuring an elaborate ruby-encrusted hilt; the Lost Palace Key, a solid-gold ceremonial key believed to have opened the treasury of the cult's first palace; the Thousand-Year Jamdani, a legendary handwoven Bengali textile preserved in a sealed archival chest; the First Queen's Bridal Benarasi, an ancestral crimson-and-gold wedding saree with an accompanying royal provenance scroll; the Lotus of Bengal, a gold lotus sculpture with a central emerald and petals set with small diamonds; the Nine Serpents Armlet, a pair of gold armlets engraved with nine intertwined serpents and set with coloured gemstones; the Empress's Pearl Veil, a ceremonial veil decorated with thousands of individually sewn pearls and fine gold thread; the Crown Jeweller's Secret Box, an antique sandalwood chest containing rare loose gemstones, miniature tools, and handwritten designs for royal jewellery; the Sapphire Peacock Fan, a royal ceremonial fan decorated with blue gemstones, gold filigree, and intricately carved feathers; the Golden Nagini Waist Chain, a rare antique gold kamarband with a serpent-shaped central clasp and emerald details; the Royal Mirror of Bengal, an antique silver mirror in a gold frame engraved with floral motifs and ancestral names; the Moon Goddess's Attar, a rare historical perfume preserved in a crystal vessel with a gold stopper accompanied by its original handwritten formula; the Seven Queens' Jewelled Comb, a ceremonial hair comb passed between seven legendary royal women, crafted from gold and decorated with natural pearls; the Imperial Silk Treasury, a collection of rare Bengali and Indian silk textiles including Jamdani, Baluchari, Banarasi, and royal brocade; the Golden Temple Casket, a miniature temple-shaped gold reliquary decorated with rubies and emeralds presented as a historical heirloom; the Ancient Cult's First Seal, an original gold signet bearing the cult's oldest symbol carried by every recognised Supreme Queen; the Crimson Empress's Armour, a ceremonial set of historically inspired armour with gold damascening, a decorated shield, and a matching display sword; the Nine Gemstones of Sovereignty, nine individually mounted gems representing wisdom, courage, justice, loyalty, prosperity, patience, protection, dignity, and authority; the Royal Library of Forgotten Empires, an extraordinary collection of ancient manuscripts, historical maps, court chronicles, and diplomatic records; the Golden Throne Miniature, a detailed gold model of the original throne of the Ancient Cult's first queen; the Ancestral Bloodline Scroll, a sealed genealogy recording the names, reigns, and royal marriages of the cult's rulers throughout the centuries; the Queen's Thousand-Bag Treasury, an enormous collection of antique jewellery chests, silk trunks, rare textiles, precious-metal objects, and heirloom containers representing the cult's accumulated wealth; the Supreme Queen's Royal Regalia, a complete ceremonial set containing a crown, necklace, earrings, armlets, rings, waist chain, anklets, sceptre, and jewelled ceremonial sword; and, finally, the Eternal Queen's Gift, the Ancient Cult's original royal charter written in ancient Sanskrit and Bengali declaring Lilith the sole Supreme Queen and hereditary guardian of its history, treasures, and allegiance.
By the time the last boxes had been opened, the entire room looked like an imperial treasury.
Lilith examined the final collection and then looked at the girls.
She was done.
"That's a wrap," she announced.
Everyone looked at her.
"Lunch, anyone?" she asked.
They nodded enthusiastically.
The Thirty Girls
The thirty girls who had accompanied the unboxing were Devyani of the Odia tribe, Agnija from Malayalam-speaking Kerala, Indulekha from Kannada culture, Zareena of Urdu-speaking heritage, Navjot of Bengali heritage, Tejinder of western Bengali heritage, Surjit of Bengali heritage, Gurkirat of Punjabi heritage, Dalbir of Punjabi heritage, Urvashi of Gujarati heritage, Rohini of Marathi heritage, Hansa of Gujarati heritage, Jahanara of Bengali and Urdu heritage, Ruqaiya of Kashmiri heritage, Bhanwar of Rajasthani heritage, Alamelu of Tamil heritage, Valli, also of Tamil heritage, Rudrani of Gujarati heritage, Mrinalini of Bengali heritage, Anindita, also of Bengali heritage, Yasmeen of Sindhi heritage, Aghorika of Assamese heritage, Bhavani of Kerala heritage, Kalyani of Telugu heritage, Shankar of Telugu heritage, Nirvair of Punjabi heritage, Raktima of Bengali heritage, Tamomayi of Bengali heritage, Kesar of Rajasthani heritage, and Sitara, who was half Indian Telugu and half Rajasthani.
The girls began carefully removing the gifts and organising the treasures.
Each box was handled with care, and the girls were fascinated by the extraordinary craftsmanship of the ancient jewellery, the intricately woven fabrics, the ceremonial objects, and the royal accessories.
Lilith watched them for a moment before returning to the rest of her work.
Nikolai and the Girls at the Baby Store
Meanwhile, Nikolai had strapped the girls securely into their stroller and was moving through the mall.
Nolan held Berlina in his arms as they entered a baby store.
"Ber, you like it?" Nolan asked, showing her an item.
Berlina smiled at it.
He immediately picked it up.
Nikolai, meanwhile, was selecting warmer jumpers for the girls, choosing the cutest ones he could find.
He examined the tiny outfits carefully, comparing colours and sizes before placing several of them into the shopping basket.
Berlina found more things she liked, and Nolan held the shopping bags while she continued looking around.
Eventually, he bought her a tub of ice cream.
Berlina looked pleased with her purchase, and Nolan smiled at her.
The shopping continued until their bags were filled with baby clothes and other necessities for the girls.
Lilith's Business Meeting
Back at the estate, Amelia was talking to Lilith while the group ate lunch.
Diana sat nearby, watching Lilith as Amelia continued speaking.
Lilith turned towards her when Catalina entered the room.
"Here, boss. The lists are all printed out, and we killed Starlord's leader," Catalina reported.
"More money?" Lilith asked.
"Yes. And the money is in your account. The company manager will be here in twenty minutes with the products," Catalina replied.
"Alright," Lilith said.
Nistarini approached and showed Lilith the haircare kit.
Bianca looked at the collection of gifts surrounding Lilith.
"Why are they all over her?" she asked.
"Because she's the heir to the throne," Shankar explained.
"What!?" several people exclaimed.
Shankar calmly blew out the smoke from her cigarette.
"She is a queen, but to all of you, she is also a student. Keep that in mind. So keep it that way," Shankar said firmly.
Lilith continued speaking as the others watched her.
The atmosphere around her was different from the one surrounding an ordinary student. She had responsibilities, power, wealth, and people who would follow her commands without question.
Yet she was still Lilith, the young woman who had work to finish and a family to care for.
By nightfall, everyone had left.
The Apex Enters the Ring
Lilith was asleep on the bed with the babies.
Nikolai was not there.
He had a match to attend.
At the arena, he sat in preparation, banging his hands together as he warmed up. His expression was cold, and his body was ready for the fight.
When it was time, he rose and stepped into the shadows.
The Apex Monstrosity walked into the ring.
The crowd erupted.
The bell rang.
The fight began.
Nikolai moved with the intensity for which he was feared. His opponent advanced, and the two men collided in the centre of the ring.
The match was brutal.
The Apex fought with the determination of a man who refused to surrender, but the night would not end as expected.
Zorina's Call
Meanwhile, at Lilith's estate, Zorina was on a call with her brother and sister.
"Listen, make him go to the hospital and get him checked. Daddy is just forty-five, and he's acting like a kid!" she said angrily.
Aram was sitting at his desk, working.
Zorina wrote a few lists while continuing the conversation.
"Gosh, I swear I'll book a bus ticket and come there myself! You are fucking lazy!" she shouted.
Aram looked up from his laptop.
He noticed that Zorina's eyes were red, as though she was about to cry.
She was trying to keep her emotions under control, but the thought of losing another parent was tearing her apart.
"Please, just take him to the hospital. We already lost Mom, and now Daddy is sick. Do you want to lose him too?" she asked, her voice breaking.
There was silence.
"You know what? It's fine," she said at last.
She ended the call.
For several moments, she sat staring at her phone. Then she began typing a message and called someone.
"Hi. Um, it's Zorina," she said.
She listened to the person on the other end.
"Yes, actually, I need help with something. Are you available?" she asked.
As she spoke, she used her iPad to send the money.
"I will kill you if you don't keep that promise. Got it?" she demanded.
She listened again.
"Good," she whispered.
She ended the call and threw her phone onto the bed.
Then she stared out of the window.
She lit her weed, took a few drags, and inhaled the smoke.
"Rina," Aram called.
"Leave me alone," she whispered.
He approached her, wrapped his hand around her throat, and made her look at him before kissing her slowly.
The kiss moved towards her neck, and Zorina dropped the smoking weed, allowing it to burn out.
Aram lifted her into his arms without breaking the kiss. Their clothes fell as they moved towards the round couch.
He placed her on it and leaned closer.
"Your first punishment starts now," he whispered behind her before kissing her neck.
Aram had flip her over and Zorina grip the sheets moaning he sucking her clit while squeezing her boobs There we go he cooed as he smacked her ass countless times as he slammed his huge thick cock inside her, Ohhhhh...…Mhmmm!! She moaned while her eyes rolled back his thrust were brutal.
Aram enjoying the moment between them he spread her legs her nipples in his mouth while his fingers were rubbing her clit S…Slow d…d…D——Ahhh Zorina moan reaching her climax her legs trembling with Pleasure Aram slamming his cock deeply inside her Ohh R…Ram!! She moaned his name sounded for sinful in her voice that it mama whose Pussy is this? He asked roughly thrusting inside her Y..Y…Y…..Yours Daddy All yours She said Damn Right he said and gave the final Thrust his seeds split inside her womb shakily legs he kissed while his hands rubbing her thighs while his cock still inside her.
The room filled with Zorina's breathless sounds and Aram's laughter.
The Apex Is Injured
"Boss!" Addison shouted.
The Apex Monstrosity stepped out, his arm bleeding.
"Shit," Nikolai muttered as he sat down.
Damian immediately moved towards him and began examining the injury.
Leonid walked in and checked his arm.
"Damn. Your arm is dislocated, and we need to do an X-ray test now," Leonid said.
The men hurried to help Nikolai.
At the same time, Olivia called Lilith.
"Hello?" Lily answered.
"Boss is being rushed to the hospital. He got injured," Olivia reported.
"WHAT!?" Lilith exclaimed.
Another loud crash sounded in the background.
"BOSS!" Damian shouted.
"What the hell!" Enzo exclaimed.
Olivia's voice came through the phone again.
"Boss just got into another accident!"
The call ended.
Lilith stood up immediately.
She changed her clothes and turned towards the others.
"AMELIA!" she shouted.
Nora and the girls began loading the guns.
"Watch the girls. I'm coming!" Lilith ordered.
She headed towards the garage, with Amelia following closely.
Lilith got into a Lamborghini and drove away at speed.
The Conspiracy
Elsewhere, a man stood with a cigarette between his fingers.
"Boss, the work is done," he reported over the phone.
"Good. He won't survive," the caller replied.
The man blew out his cigarette smoke.
The plan had been set in motion.
The attack was not an accident.
Someone wanted Nikolai dead.
The Hospital
Inside the hospital, Lilith's eyes never left Nikolai through the glass.
His body was covered in blood.
News of the accident spread quickly, and before long, Mila came running into the hospital with tears streaming down her face.
"Papa!" she cried.
Nathan caught her and held her close.
Lilith looked down at Mila, whose little face was wet with tears.
It was 2:45 a.m. on 26 July.
Every second seemed unbearable.
Finally, Leonid came out.
"How is he?" Lilith asked, tears filling her eyes.
"His condition is critical. He lost a lot of blood, and his leg is broken along with his arm. He will be on crutches for some time and then walking boots for five months," Leonid explained.
Lilith's body went numb.
For a moment, she could not move.
She stared at him as though the words had lost their meaning.
"Papa?" Mila asked in a tiny voice.
Lilith looked at the little girl, but she could barely bring herself to speak.
Damian walked in.
"We got the driver. It was planned. Someone wants to kill Boss," he reported.
Lilith slowly turned her head.
There was no sadness in her expression anymore.
No depression.
No despair.
No surrender.
Only anger.
Only strength.
Only power.
"Bring him to me," the tiny woman ordered.
Everyone looked at her.
"Lilith, you're not okay. You need to calm down," Darya said cautiously.
"I SAID BRING HIM TO ME, DAMIAN. I WOULDN'T REPEAT MYSELF AGAIN," Lilith declared.
"Yes, Maa," Damian answered.
The others exchanged glances.
Lilith looked back at her husband, who was fighting for his life.
She had seen blood before.
She had seen betrayal before.
But the thought of losing Nikolai was something she refused to accept.
The people responsible would pay.
Zorina's Morning
By sunrise, Zorina was awake.
She got dressed while Aram watched her.
"Here," he said, handing her some money.
"For?" she asked.
"Last night was good, so I'm paying—" he began.
"Are you fucking nuts?" Zorina interrupted.
She slapped the money out of his hand.
"Now you listen carefully. I am not a prostitute!" she shouted, her eyes turning red.
"How dare you!" she added.
Aram chuckled.
"You said it was fun. Remember how you used me?" he replied.
"I DIDN'T USE YOU! I SAID IT BECAUSE YOU WERE LEAVING, TO GET YOU OFF MY MIND!" Zorina shouted.
She pushed him towards the door.
"Get out!"
"Don't you dare come closer to me again!" she warned.
She slammed the door in his face.
Aram's expression fell.
Zorina threw his bag outside.
"Fuck you!" she shouted.
"Oh, Mama, you already did," he replied without shame.
Her cheeks turned red.
Aram looked at her chest, and his eyes widened when he noticed his name on her skin.
He stared at her.
Zorina turned away and walked off without saying another word.
The Driver's Confession
At the hospital, Lilith was no longer willing to wait.
She pushed the golden dagger into the driver's eye.
He screamed.
The sound echoed through the room.
"Talk, Damian ordered.
"Boss, we got it," Xandra replied.
She showed Lilith the messages and financial transactions.
The evidence revealed a complicated circle of people who had been planning to kill Nikolai. There were also spies inside the mansion.
This was not the work of one enemy.
It was a network.
"Get them to me, and tell Nora to come with my suit," Lilith ordered.
"Yes, Boss," Xandra answered.
Lilith turned back towards the driver.
"Speak!" she shouted.
The man nodded frantically.
"The rival group planned this for months. They sent spies disguised as workers to get close to him and gather information about him," he explained.
He struggled to continue.
"His name is Yevgeny Romanovich. He is the mastermind behind everything. The people involved were those whose deals had been rejected by him. They came together, formed a circle, and planned to assassinate him."
Lilith's expression remained cold.
"I want names. All of them," she demanded.
"Y… Y… Yes! Please spare me!" the driver begged.
Lilith raised the dagger.
"Send my greetings to Ma Kail," she said quietly.
Then she stabbed him.
His blood spilled onto the cold floor.
"Burn him," Lilith ordered.
Daphna threw the lighter onto him, and the flames rose.
Lilith watched without showing any emotion.
The hunt had begun.
Bambi
"Boss, he is awake and asking for you," Amelia announced.
Lilith immediately walked out.
Inside the hospital room, Nikolai was holding Mila in his arms.
The little girl was crying, and an oxygen tube was connected to his nose.
He held her carefully.
"I'm alright, baby," he whispered, kissing her forehead.
Lilith rushed into the room.
There was blood on her hands.
Nikolai looked at her.
"Bambi," he whispered.
Lilith tried to make a sad face, but the moment she saw him alive, her composure collapsed.
She began crying.
She hurried to him and hugged him carefully.
"Shhhhh," Nikolai whispered.
His own tears slipped down his face.
"Where are the rest?" he asked weakly.
"Home," Lilith whispered.
He kissed her forehead.
"Scared, my love?" he asked.
"I thought I lost you," Lilith confessed.
Nikolai looked at her, struggling to reassure her despite his pain.
"I am the king of kings. I am very strong," he said.
He was trying to make her feel better.
Lilith cried harder.
"Baby," he whispered.
Mila held him tightly, refusing to let go of her father.
Nikolai wrapped his arms around them both as best he could.
For a moment, the hospital room was quiet.
Outside, people were hunting the ones responsible for the attack.
Inside, Lilith only wanted her husband to survive.
Six Days Later
It had been six days since the accident.
During those six days, Lilith had become a huntress.
The people involved in the attack were dying one after another.
Every lead was investigated.
Every name was checked.
Every person connected to the conspiracy was being hunted.
Nikolai was sleeping when Lilith carefully tucked him in alongside the girls.
She checked the blankets and made sure the babies were comfortable before leaving the room.
Downstairs, several teams were waiting for her.
"Greetings, Madam," the manager said.
Lilith sat down.
"Keep it down. I just put my babies to sleep," she warned.
"Of course," he replied.
They went to the garage, where the manager showed her the completed work.
Lilith examined everything carefully, her expression focused.
She had responsibilities to handle, enemies to find, and a husband who needed her.
She would not allow any of those responsibilities to slip from her hands.
Zorina Leaves
Zorina was writing her list when she took a bigger car and left.
Aram watched her go.
She had avoided him ever since the words he had spoken to her that morning.
He sat down, remembering that night he unzip his pant and dip his hand into his pants rubbing his cock while having flashbacks of their night the way she kept whispering his name while he sucked her clit and pounding her from behind.
He groaned.
"R… Rina," he whispered while rubbing faster and harder Shit he cursed as a few drops of seeds came out followed by a larger amount he panted heavily and lead back on the chair.
The room grew darker around him.
He stared at the empty space where she had been standing, remembering the argument and the way she had looked at him before closing the door.
For the first time, he seemed to understand that he might have pushed her too far.
But Zorina was already gone.
Gloria and Valen
Gloria and Valen began talking again.
Valen was reading his file, his eyes gradually closing as sleep caught up with him.
"Sir?" Gloria asked.
"Hmm?" he replied.
"I think you need to rest," she said.
Valen sighed and closed the file.
"Don't let anyone into my room, please," he instructed.
He stood up and moved closer to her.
Gloria flushed as he approached.
He leaned forward until their noses almost touched.
For a brief moment, she forgot how to breathe.
Then he passed her and picked up the file.
"My file," he said.
Gloria blushed hard.
Valen smirked and walked away.
"Jerk," she mumbled.
He returned to his bed and fell asleep.
Gloria watched him from the doorway.
She still did not know what to do with the feelings that had begun to surface whenever he was near her.
Jaxon's Arrival
Meanwhile, Jaxon was driving.
His car eventually parked in front of a beautiful house.
He stepped out.
"Mama!" he called.
He hurried forward and hugged his mother.
"Oh, my sweet boy!" she exclaimed.
His mother, Mrs Ghita, was a Moroccan-Russian woman. His father was Don Vladislav.
Together, they had five children: three daughters named Agniya, Dihya, and Wafaa, and two sons named Jaxon and Larbi.
Jaxon hugged his mother warmly.
"Good evening, Dad," he said.
Mr Vladislav patted his head.
Jaxon entered the house.
"Brother!" his sisters exclaimed.
They hurried over to him, laughing and embracing him.
After greeting them, Jaxon looked up.
That was when he saw her.
She was brown-skinned and beautiful, with an elegant palm design on her head and a veil wrapped perfectly around her hair.
Jaxon immediately lowered his gaze, remembering his upbringing.
"Come sit," Mrs Ghita invited.
He sat down.
The young woman sat nearby.
They both looked at each other, but she was extremely shy.
Her name was Maryam Lilia El Mansouri.
She was Moroccan, and she appeared so nervous that she could barely look directly at him.
Jaxon tried his best not to stare at her.
Nevertheless, he could not help noticing how beautiful she was.
The Huntress Returns
"AHHHHH!" the woman screamed.
Lilith stood before her, swinging the dagger from side to side.
"Shhhhh," Lilith whispered.
Her voice was frighteningly calm.
"Where is he?" she asked.
The woman was terrified.
Lilith snapped her neck.
At that moment, Catalina approached.
"We got him, Boss. He is attending a party tonight," she reported.
"Good, Lily," Lilith replied.
They walked out together.
There was another name on Lilith's list, and she intended to deal with it.
Jaxon's Marriage Arrangement
Back at the Vladislav residence, Jaxon was still trying to understand what was happening.
"You want me to get married to her?" he asked, pointing towards Maryam.
"Yes," Don Vladislav replied.
"Why?" Jaxon demanded.
His father explained the situation.
"She lost her mother, and her father was the one who offered her hand. He has seven sons, and she is the only girl. The worst part is that she is the daughter of him and his second wife. She wants to study, but they don't let her leave the house, and they barely give her any care."
Jaxon listened quietly.
He looked at Maryam, who was slowly eating cookies.
She appeared to be doing her best to avoid the conversation.
"Then why not Larbi?" Jaxon asked.
"His girlfriend of eight years is already in his life. They are getting married next week," his father explained.
Jaxon looked at Maryam again.
She continued eating her cookies, seemingly unaware of how closely he was observing her.
"Daddddd!" Jaxon whined.
"Oh, shut up, child," Don Vladislav replied.
Jaxon rolled his eyes.
"But she is gorgeous," he admitted.
"Uh-huh," Mr Vladislav replied teasingly.
Jaxon rolled his eyes at him again.
Maryam lowered her gaze, her cheeks becoming slightly warm.
And just like that, a new complication entered Jaxon's life.
The Supreme Queen was hunting the people who had nearly taken her husband from her, the Apex was fighting to recover, Zorina was struggling with feelings she refused to admit, Gloria was beginning to question her hatred of Valen, and Jaxon had just discovered that the beautiful, shy Moroccan girl sitting across from him might become his wife.
The secrets of the Ancient Cult continued to unfold.
The bloodlines were shifting.
The enemies were closing in.
And Lilith, the Supreme Queen of the Ancient Cult, was not finished.