A slow and dangerous smile appeared on her lips. She pushed off from the window and walked toward him with slow, deliberate steps. Her heels clicked against the marble floor like a ticking clock, bringing them closer to something inevitable.

When she reached the bed, Maksim’s good hand shot out and grabbed her wrist, pulling her down beside him with surprising strength for a guy who was hurt.

"Maksim—" she started, but he interrupted her.

"Sit."

She followed his command, settling on the edge of the bed, her body angled toward him. The scent of her fancy perfume filled his senses.

Selina’s hand moved almost lazily, resting on his chest, fingers spread over the bandages under his silk pajama top. "You should be resting."

"I’ll rest when I’m dead," he muttered.

Her fingers found the first button on his shirt. She unfastened it slowly and playfully, keeping her eyes locked on his. "That can be arranged."

He let out a laugh that quickly turned into a wince. "Careful, little snake. Your bite doesn’t work on me."

"Doesn’t it?" She leaned in, her warm breath against his skin as she undid the second button and then the third.

The shirt fell open, showing off his muscular chest marked by scars—some old, some fresh. The stark white bandage on his shoulder was soaked with blood seeping through.

Selina hovered over him, her lips brushing the unmarked side of his chest. She planted a soft, intentional kiss there, then another, and another.

Maksim’s breath deepened, his good hand sliding up her back, fingers tangling in her dark hair.

She moved lower, her mouth finding his nipple. She sucked gently, then harder, her tongue swirling in a way that made him arch his back despite the pain. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"Fuck," he breathed, his accent getting thicker.

She grinned against his skin, feeling his heart race beneath her lips — exactly where she wanted it.

But then she pulled back a bit, her hands framing his face, making him look at her. She had a playful look, but her eyes—there was a calculation he couldn’t figure out.

"What do you think?" she asked softly, her thumb running along his scarred jawline. "How did HK really find out?"

Maksim’s expression turned serious, but he didn’t push her away. "I’ve been thinking about that."

Selina leaned in, placing a kiss just below his left ear. "And?" Another kiss traveled down to his neck. She could feel his pulse racing beneath her lips.

"I think Alpha’s up to something," he said slowly, his voice gravelly but steady. "Playing both sides, maybe. Spreading info."

She moved to the right side of his neck, her lips grazing his jugular. "You really think he’d double-cross you?"

"I think," Maksim said, his fingers tightening in her hair, "that Alpha thinks he’s the smartest guy in the room. And whatever he’s up to—if he’s plotting against me—I’ll cut his balls off and make him eat them."

Selina laughed, a low, throaty sound. "Such violence. It’s almost romantic."

But Maksim wasn’t laughing. His hand dropped from her hair and moved to her throat—firm and possessive, but not choking. He pulled her face up to his, his eyes locking onto hers.

"You’re not plotting anything, are you?"

The question hung in the air like a sharp knife.

Selina didn’t think twice. She didn’t even flinch. Her grin got bigger, playful and totally believable. "No, babe. Why would I?"

"Why?" he asked again, his grip tightening a bit.

She leaned in close, their noses almost touching. "Because I want you to rise up. You deserve the throne. HK took your spot—your birthright. This is your shot to take him down; grab his empire, his cash, everything he’s built." Her voice dropped to a low whisper. "And I want to be the queen standing by your side when you do."

Maksim studied her face, looking for any signs of dishonesty. But Selina was a pro at this. She looked genuine and open, with just a touch of greed that mirrored his own.

He believed her.

His lips crashed onto hers, rough and urgent. She immediately kissed him back just as fiercely, her hands gliding up his chest while carefully dodging his injury.

The kiss deepened, their tongues fighting for control. Maksim’s good hand slid down her back, pulling her closer despite the pain from his shoulder.

When they finally pulled away, both panting, Selina rested her forehead against his.

"We’ll take them down," she whispered. "Together."

"Together," he repeated.

But as Maksim’s eyes started to close, exhaustion finally taking over, Selina’s smile turned icy.

Her fingers brushed against the hidden chip in her pocket—the one still recording everything. The other, barely noticeable, was already connected to Maksim’s phone on the nightstand, sending every word, every plan, every secret straight to Hazard King’s operations room.

She placed a soft kiss on Maksim’s forehead as he slept. "Sweet dreams, darling."

Then she slipped off the bed, fixed her dress, and headed to the window. The city lay spread out before her—millions of lights, millions of lives, all blissfully unaware of the battle happening in the shadows.

Selina pulled out her burner phone and typed a quick message: Alpha suspects. Maksim trusts me. Keep William under wraps. They’ll make their move soon.

She hit send, watching the message disappear into the void.

"Who’s playing who?" she quietly asked her reflection in the glass.

The answer? Everyone.

But Selina? She was in the longest game out there.

And when everything settled down, when the kings were defeated, and the empires burned to the ground, she’d be the last one standing.

Behind her, Maksim’s breathing had calmed into sleep, the wounded king, lost in dreams of revenge.

He had no idea that the woman in his bed was the one who caused his downfall.

Was Selina saving them, or dragging them all down one kiss at a time? Or was there someone sharper than both Selina and Lunel—someone who’d been pulling strings long before either of them noticed?