Chapter 98: Already Swarmed!

Jax phased cleanly through the door and back into Nightengale’s open night, the isolated house behind him settling once more into deliberate obscurity. Just like he arrived, there was absolutely no-one anywhere near the house, leaving it completely isolated aside from his own presence.

The wrongness around the environment softened the moment he stepped away, as if the city itself exhaled now that its inconvenient secret had returned to silence.

Hydra was already gone, her presence drifting toward one of the administrative guest quarters as promised, leaving Jax alone with his thoughts.

Which was… dangerous as he walked slowly throughout the streets, his boots clicking with every step as his mind turned over everything Virexa had just told him about Nulissa, the situation she found himself in, and all of the possible solutions to handle this without causing any major problems.

This seemed to be the real battlefield he would be facing in his time as the Demon King. Not the armies or even the Heroes, but the political warfare he’d constantly have to face to be a successful King and lead his people to glory.

This particular battlefield was one of Blood.

Specifically, his.

The problem wasn’t simply that Vampires desired his blood. Desire could be regulated and structured using his powers. The Demon Kingdom already ran on systems designed to control excess so they could simply use those.

No, the real threat was leverage.

If Nulissa courted him publicly, she would appear compromised. If she refused outright, she would appear weak. And if someone else succeeded in binding themselves to him first, the political aftermath could fracture Nightengale’s power structure overnight and leave her stranded.

A perfect storm.

“She’s boxed in,” Jax murmured quietly to himself.

And worse, she was boxed in by people who believed they were acting in the Clan’s best interest. It was such a perfect scenario for these people Jax wondered if they had all this planned out as soon as he appeared.

The Demon King slowed as he crossed into a broader avenue, one lined with elevated terraces and ornate residences carved directly into the cliffside. This district radiated wealth, influence, and lineage. The mana here was heavier, older—steeped in entitlement.

And that was when he felt loads of eyes evaluating him, and some of them moving closer towards him, ready to greet him.

“Demon King Jax.”

The voice was smooth, carefully modulated, carrying just enough reverence to flatter without submitting.

He turned and spotted a young Vampire woman stood a few paces away, flanked subtly, but not obviously, by two attendants who pretended to be admiring architecture.

Her crimson dress was understated but flawless, woven with sigils that whispered of old, powerful bloodlines and expensive enchantments. Silver jewelry traced her throat and wrists, each piece marked with ancestral seals.

Her beauty was refined, cultivated. The kind honed by generations of selective breeding and social grooming.

She gave a graceful curtsy and introduced herself, “Lady Seraphyne of House Velorian,” she said. “It is an honor to finally meet you.”

Jax inclined his head politely. “Likewise.”

Before he could say more, another presence slid into place beside her.

“And I am Lady Calistra of the Nocturne Line,” said a second Vampire woman, taller, her smile sharper, eyes glowing just a fraction brighter than etiquette recommended.

Her attire was bolder, high slits, exposed shoulders, with a confidence bordering on provocation. “I hope Nightengale has been… welcoming.”

Jax smiled faintly. “It’s been quite fun so far,”

A third beautiful lady arrived moments later, and then a forth and then a fifth. All of them came from different houses, wearing differently styled clothing, but Jax could tell they all had the same intent, and them approaching him wasn’t random at all.

This was coordinated, but not officially. A soft offensive. Each family sending its most promising candidate to test the waters before Nulissa could lock anything down.

They were also all young, just around Jax’s age, which was perfect for their plans.

Jax could practically see the invisible strings connecting them to elders watching from afar, calculating every reaction.

Seraphyne stepped slightly closer, lowering her voice. “We heard you were exploring the city before your formal introduction. We thought you might appreciate… company.”

Calistra smirked,”Nightengale can be overwhelming for outsiders. Even powerful ones.”

Jax chuckled internally.

’So it begins.’

“I was just walking,” he said evenly.

“That’s fortunate,” said another, a pale-haired Vampire with eyes like polished garnet. “So were we.”

’Of course you were.’ He thought to himself, remaining calm.

Jax shifted his stance subtly, projecting calm authority, enough to keep the interaction civil without encouraging escalation.

“I appreciate the hospitality,” he said, “But I wouldn’t want to cause misunderstandings.”

Seraphyne’s smile didn’t falter, continuing to push, “Misunderstandings can be clarified.”

Calistra’s eyes flicked briefly, just once, toward the direction of the administrative spires. “And intentions made known.”

There it was, them trying to position themselves near him. They wanted to be seen with him. To establish proximity. To signal availability.

Jax realized, with a quiet edge of amusement and concern, that this wasn’t just about Nulissa anymore. The moment word spread that he was walking Nightengale unescorted, the city’s elite had mobilized very quickly.

“You move quickly,” Jax said mildly.

Calistra laughed. “So do you, Demon King. Reshaping the Demon Kingdom, negotiating with Clans personally, designing systems no one thought possible. The train system that’s being built, we were all stunned when we heard about it, how incredible,”

Her gaze dipped, briefly, to his chest, then back to his eyes. “It’s… impressive.”

Jax could feel his pull working his effect on them, the way they all glanced at his neck every couple seconds. Even restrained, it was enough to sharpen interest into hunger-adjacent curiosity.

This was exactly what Virexa meant.

’Just being here is destabilizing.’Jax straightened as he thought.

“Lady Seraphyne. Lady Calistra,” he said, voice calm but carrying weight now. “And all of you.”

Their attention sharpened instantly.

“I value Nightengale’s discipline,” he continued. “And its leadership. I will not undermine either through… improvised relationships.”

A beat.

Seraphyne blinked, then smiled diplomatically. “Of course. No one would suggest—”

“Good,” Jax said gently.

The word landed like a closed door and one by one, the Vampires eased back, bows a fraction deeper this time, but not defeated.

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