Lies in her lips

The identities

I stared into his green eyes. A flicker of dark red crossed them for a moment, disappearing instantly.

"Are you Glaznia Moon?" he asked.

"Yes," I said. The elevator opened to the top floor of the building.

"What are we doing on your helipad?" I asked, horrified.

"Don't tell me you're going to push me off. Please don't bother—I already feel like I'm dying from nervousness," I added, holding tightly to the elevator frame.

He glanced back at me. "We're going to your hotel in Silvermoon territory so you'll feel safe. Plus, I need to speak to your cousins, Alexandra and Aurora."

I was hesitant to let go of the railing, but after a moment's thought, I decided to follow him. "Don't be scared," he said, leaving me speechless. "I know your clan, Ms. Moon, and you're far scarier than I am."

I rolled my eyes at his comment, though a slight shiver ran down my spine.

In the heat of the moment, I had forgotten to consider the world we lived in.

In our modern era, humans no longer reigned supreme; we coexisted alongside various supernatural species, more commonly referred to as the Clans.

It hadn't always been peaceful. Two centuries ago, the realm was ravaged by a brutal conflict that nearly drove every species to extinction.

When the bloody soot of the Two-Hundred-Year War finally settled, the surviving leaders drew lines across the globe, partitioning the land into distinct territories to prevent further bloodshed.

The icy North was claimed by the majestic yet lethal Vampire Clan.

The lush forests of the South were shared between the territorial Werewolves and the elusive Fairies.

The rugged mountain ranges of the East belonged to the industrious Dwarves and the fiery Demons, while the sweeping valleys of the West were reserved for humanity.

Surrounding it all, the endless depths of the sea were ruled entirely by the Mermaid Clan.

For decades now, we have lived in relative harmony. Society slowly learned to tolerate, if not accept, the presence of neighboring species—a fragile trust born from the sheer exhaustion of war.

Yet, peace is an elusive thing. Rogue factions and extremists still linger within every clan, constantly threatening to ignite old hatreds.

To prevent another apocalyptic conflict, power was consolidated under the High Council.

Composed of the most formidable leaders from each species, this governing body enforces the realm's laws with an iron fist, ensuring that the fragile balance between the Clans remains unbroken.

"We're not scary. We're too beautiful for that," I said, rolling my eyes.

He sighed and shrugged. I belonged to the Goddess Clan, originally from Auria Paradise—a hidden sanctuary nestled deep within the sss Rainforest.

Or at least, it was, until decades ago when the Vampire King, Marcus, slaughtered our entire clan. Only four of us survived the m******e: Alex, Aurora, Denise, and me.

The wind whipped wildly against the sides of the sleek aircraft as we descended toward the glowing crown of the Silvermoon Grand Hotel.

Below us, the towering luxury skyscraper pierced through the night sky, its reflective glass shimmering with the signature pale-blue radiance of our territory.

As the rotors slowly spun down, the glass doors of the helipad observation lounge swung open.

Standing under the stark floodlights were two familiar figures, their coats fluttering in the backdraft.

Alexandra stood at the front, her arms crossed tightly over her designer blazer. Her sharp eyes tracked the chopper before we had even touched down.

Half a step behind her was Aurora, her hands tucked casually into her oversized coat pockets, looking thoroughly unbothered by the late hour—though the tight set of her jaw betrayed her underlying tension.

The cabin door slid back, letting in the cool night air. My companion stepped out first, offering a hand to help me down, though I intentionally bypassed it to steady myself on my own two feet.

"Took you long enough, Glaznia," Alexandra called out over the dying whine of the engines, her voice cutting through the noise with practiced authority.

She glanced sharply between me and the man beside me. "When your personal guard messaged us saying you were arriving via private transit with *him*, we assumed the worst."

"I brought him here in one piece, didn't I?" I replied, adjusting my jacket and offering my cousins a small, reassuring look.

Aurora stepped forward, her keen gaze scanning the man up and down, sizing him up with the cool calculation typical of our bloodline.

A faint smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. "Well, well. It's not every day a member of another clan walks directly onto Silvermoon soil without an invitation. Welcome to our hotel."

He inclined his head politely, unphased by their sharp reception. "Ms. Alexandra, Ms. Aurora. I appreciate you taking the time to meet us here on short notice."

"Don't thank us yet," Alexandra said coolly, gesturing toward the private penthouse doors leading down into the hotel.

"You said you needed to speak with the three of us. Let's get inside before the High Council's eyes notice who just landed on our roof."