I Love Danger.

Tristan D'Leon POV

Once Jade finished issuing her command to Kira, she walked out of the living room with a satisfied smirk playing on her lips. The sharp click of her heels echoed against the tiled floor, fading as she disappeared into a room I assumed was hers.

Seriously? Did I really expect her to share a room with her newly wedded husbands? A scoff escaped my lips as I glanced at the rusted ring on my finger. The damned thing seemed to glow faintly red in the dim light, though it could have been my imagination.

This marriage was more of a farce than anything else. The arrangement felt like something straight out of one of those Chinese wuxia dramas, Jade, the queen, marrying three consorts who were expected to vie for her attention and favor. And the more I thought about it, the more ridiculous the whole situation seemed.

Alexander and Albert stood frozen, their eyes fixed on the door Jade had just walked through. Her commanding behavior left us all speechless, not that there was much to say about a woman who'd married three men in one day and barely spared us a glance.

"You should all follow me," Kira's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. She had finally looked away from the door, her tone sharp yet professional. Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and started walking. Alexander, Albert, and I exchanged brief glances before silently trailing after her.

We climbed a wide staircase, our footsteps soft against the plush carpeted steps. Eventually, we stopped in front of three identical doors standing side by side.

"The three of you will occupy these rooms," Kira announced, her tone clipped as if she were delivering orders to soldiers. "Each of your belongings has already been placed in your respective rooms." She offered a polite bow and added, "Feel free to settle in. I'll see you all tomorrow."

With that, she turned and descended the stairs, leaving us to our thoughts.

Alexander and Albert didn't linger. Both men stepped into their rooms with audible groans of frustration, muttering under their breaths. The weight of the day's events had clearly taken a toll on them.

I lingered for a moment before gripping the doorknob to my own room. As I pushed the door open, a wave of luxury greeted me.

The room was lavish, almost absurdly so, with rich, velvety fabrics draping the windows and furniture. A massive four-poster bed stood in the center, its crimson duvet and plush pillows practically begging for attention. Dark, polished wood framed the room, and an ornate mirror hung on the wall opposite the bed, reflecting the warm glow of the chandelier above.

In one corner of the room sat a comfortable-looking armchair paired with a small, elegant table. My belongings had been neatly arranged on a rack nearby, though they hardly took up any space, I'd packed light.

But as impressive as the room was, it wasn't mine. Not really. Not without my coffin.

I ran a hand through my hair, my frustration bubbling to the surface. The bed, no matter how luxurious, was useless to me. My coffin should have been here, occupying the space where the bed now stood.

"Damn it," I muttered under my breath, groaning as I placed my hands on my hips.

Just as I was about to sink further into my irritation, my sensitive hearing picked up voices from the neighboring rooms.

"She's just a bitch!" Albert's voice rang out, loud and angry. "How could she ask me to clean when the contract clearly states I'm her husband? What kind of nonsense is this?"

There was a pause, followed by more ranting. "Honestly, I wish these three years would fly by so she can just die already. I can't wait to get my hands on the Sinclair family fortune. And you know what? This marriage has its perks. Once people know I'm tied to her family, my music career is bound to take off. I'll finally become the star I deserve to be."

I clenched my jaw, my patience already wearing thin. Before I could tune him out, Alexander's voice from the other room drifted into my ears.

"It's only three years, Mom," he said, his tone calm but laced with an edge of determination. "I have my reasons for accepting her offer, and you should understand that by now. Just trust me. I'll handle it."

Neither of them cared about Jade. Not that I did either, but hearing their plans so openly made the whole situation feel even more ridiculous.

Shutting my ears to their conversations, I pulled out my phone and dialed Valen's number. It only rang twice before his frantic voice came through the line.

"Tristan, where the hell are you? I just got to your place, and it looks like someone ransacked your room!" he yelled, his voice so loud I had to pull the phone away from my ear.

"I'm married to Jade now," I replied flatly, cutting through his panic.

"What?! Married to her?!" Valen's shock was palpable.

"Yes, married," I confirmed with a sigh. "Do me a favor, find a way to get my coffin delivered to her house. You know how to package it discreetly. Just drop it off without making a scene."

"Wait..."

"Just do it, Valen," I interrupted, ending the call before he could argue further.

With a heavy sigh, I glanced around the room again. My gaze landed on the bed, and I felt my irritation rise once more.

"This is just for tonight," I muttered to myself. "I'll have my coffin by tomorrow."

I walked to the windows, drawing the curtains closed to block out any light. Then, I turned off the chandelier, plunging the room into comforting darkness. Without much enthusiasm, I lay down on the bed and pulled the crimson duvet over me.

Sleeping on a mattress felt unnatural, but I had little choice for now. I needed to rest during the day if I was going to hunt tonight. Back in my mansion, I had all the live animals I needed, thanks to Valen's efforts. But here, I'd have to fend for myself.

Tonight would be the first of many long nights.

______

Jade's POV

The next day arrived swiftly, sunlight casting an eerie glow through the window and landing on my face. The warmth stirred me from sleep, prompting me to sit up in bed with a groggy sigh.

The incessant ringing of the 7:00 a.m. alarm had already ruined any chance of peaceful rest. I'd kept hitting the snooze button, each shrill beep more irritating than the last. Now, as my gaze flicked to the clock on my nightstand, the time read 10:00 a.m.

"Damn it," I muttered under my breath, throwing the covers off. Sliding out of bed, I stretched lazily, feeling every ache and stiffness in this body.

"This body is so weak and useless," I grumbled, rolling my shoulders in an attempt to loosen the soreness. It wasn't like I'd done anything strenuous, yet I felt as if I'd been through a battlefield.

My thoughts soon drifted back to the events of yesterday, the bizarre marriage ceremony and the peculiar men now bound to me by sacred vows. After reciting the marriage rites with my three husbands, I had retreated to my room without delay. With a flick of my fingers, I'd burned the marriage contract, watching the parchment disintegrate into ashes as my divine powers briefly resurfaced. But the moment the ritual was complete, those powers vanished, leaving me feeling hollow once again.

I had also given all three of my husbands the divine rings yesterday, the rings that would lead to their death when it is time.

My mind inevitably wandered to Tristan. He had occupied my thoughts throughout the evening, lingering there even as I drifted off to sleep. Something about him was… different. He wasn't like the other two. No matter how much I tried to dismiss the nagging feeling, it wouldn't leave me.

His presence was unsettling, almost unnervingly so. I had even attempted to use my divine abilities to uncover his identity, but my powers were fleeting. Last night's surge had been a temporary gift, granted only to fulfill the divine task of solidifying the marriage contract. Afterward, they vanished, leaving me powerless once more.

"Forget it," I snapped aloud, placing a hand on my neck and massaging the tension building there. "It's probably just Jade's feelings bleeding through. Maybe she knew Tristan before all of this."

Still, no matter how much I tried to convince myself, there was an underlying sense of danger about him that I couldn't shake. Ignoring it felt impossible.

With a frustrated sigh, I glanced around the room. "Why didn't Kira wake me up? Is she even in the mansion?" I muttered, annoyance lacing my tone. But then again, I suppose it didn't matter.

Shaking off my irritation, I strode toward the bathroom. I had wasted enough time already. The Sinclair company needed me, and there was much to do now that I had taken control of this body and its responsibilities.

And I deserved a treat. After all, I was victorious in securing the first step of my divine mission. Celebrating was essential.

My lips curled into a satisfied smile as I thought of my favorite indulgence. Cake. Chocolate-flavored anything, really. I had a ritual for every new mission: a slice of cake, a cup of coffee, perhaps some ice cream, all things chocolate.

And this time, Tristan would be coming along.

I needed to keep an eye on him, watch his every move. Having him close meant I could assess him in person, gauge his intentions, and uncover his secrets. Something about him screamed danger and I love danger.