Chapter 206 The Sokolov Royal Family

Knock. Knock.

A sharp knock echoed through the hotel room, slicing clean through the heat of the moment. Liam’s hand froze behind Lana’s back, his fingers hooked just under the strap of her bra, one breath away from undoing it. The sound hit like a cold splash of water, snapping him straight out of the haze that had wrapped around them. He blinked, exhaled slowly, frustration already swelling in his chest as he stared at Lana.

"You expecting someone?" he asked, his voice low, still rough from what they’d just been about to do.

Lana, lying underneath him shook her head. "No," she murmured, her brows furrowing with confusion. "No one even knows we’re here..."

Liam didn’t move immediately. He didn’t want to. His arm was still wrapped tightly around her waist, and her warmth was too addictive to let go of. But the knock came again. Louder. This time, sharper. Almost urgent.

"Damn it," Liam muttered, pulling his hand away at last. He pushed off the bed, still shirtless, his body humming with leftover heat and irritation. He walked barefoot to the door, glancing back as Lana quickly threw on his shirt, buttoning only the middle as she came up behind him, cautious but curious.

Liam unlocked the door and pulled it open.

There was no one there.

No figure standing in the dim hallway. No footsteps running away. Just silence. Cold, still silence.

But on the floor, placed neatly in front of the door, was a white envelope.

Liam narrowed his eyes.

He crouched down, grabbed it, and stood. His gaze swept the hallway—left, then right—but there wasn’t even the sound of footsteps retreating. No staff. No guests. Just the low hum of the corridor lights above and the faint buzz of distant elevators. Still, empty.

He shut the door quietly and turned to Lana, who was already looking at the envelope in his hand.

"You sure no one else knows we’re here besides Ella?" she asked, stepping closer.

Liam nodded. "Yeah. I haven’t told a soul. Apart from Lilith."

"Then where the hell did that come from?" Lana asked, her voice low and tense now.

Liam raised the envelope to eye level, examining it. It was plain white—smooth, thick paper—but sealed with a deep red wax sigil. There was no name. No return address. Just that unfamiliar crest stamped boldly in the center.

Lana’s breath hitched.

Her eyes fixed on the wax, and something in her body language changed. She stiffened. Her skin paled slightly. She didn’t say anything right away. Just... stared.

"Lana?" Liam asked, noticing her sudden stillness. "What is it? Why’d your face go pale all of a sudden?"

Lana’s lips parted, but it took a second before words came out.

"Liam," she said softly. Her voice was low—too low. Serious. Grave.

Liam looked back at the envelope again, eyebrows pulling together. "What?" he asked, eyes flicking between the red seal and her expression. "What’s wrong? It’s just a damn envelope. Some kind of weird prank?"

"No," she said, shaking her head. "No, it’s not a prank."

She took a slow step forward, her eyes never leaving the seal.

"That symbol in your hand... the sigil."

Liam turned the envelope slightly, angling it toward the light so he could see it more clearly. It was elegant—ornate lines curling around a crowned phoenix with twin serpents flanking it. A circular pattern wrapped around the design, like a sun. It didn’t look familiar at all.

"What about it?" he asked, frowning. "You recognize it?"

Lana nodded slowly, her tone heavy. "Yeah... I do."

Liam stared at her. Her green eyes were sharp now. Focused. Not scared, but cautious. Wary.

"That crest," she said carefully, "belongs to the Sokolov royal family."

Liam blinked. "The what?"

"The Sokolov royal family," Lana repeated, her voice steady but serious. "The old Russian bloodline. They’re practically ghosts now. Most people think the monarchy ended a century ago—but the bloodline didn’t."

Liam held the envelope tighter. "And they’re dangerous?"

Lana nodded. "Extremely. I only know of them through the dark web archives. They’re... different. Not like politicians or criminal syndicates. They operate quietly. But when they move—when they reach out—it’s never casual."

"And you’re sure this sigil belongs to them?"

"I’m certain," Lana said, eyes locked on the envelope like it might explode. "It was rumored that the royal family used a phoenix in their sigil to symbolize immortality. The snakes were said to represent their control over old, forbidden knowledge. They were obsessed with power, Liam—spiritual, political, supernatural. If this envelope came from them... it’s not a coincidence."

Liam stared at it for another long second, heart beginning to beat a little harder. This wasn’t some love letter. This wasn’t a welcome basket. Whatever was inside... wasn’t ordinary.

He looked back up at Lana. "You think it’s safe to open?"

"I don’t know," she admitted. "But if it’s from the Sokolovs... it might not matter."

The envelope suddenly felt heavier in his hand.

Who the hell are the Sokolovs?

Liam stared at the envelope again, the red wax seal cold beneath his fingers. His thumb slid beneath the edge, and with a sharp snap, he broke it open. The soft sound of tearing paper echoed unnaturally loud in the silent hotel room. He pulled the contents out—a single, thick piece of parchment folded crisply in half. No insignia. No sender name. Just the faintest scent of perfume and something metallic, almost like old blood.

Lana leaned in beside him, her soft shoulder brushing his. Her hair fell close, the faint smell of her shampoo mixing with the tension in the air. Liam could smell her—warm and clean, like jasmine and honey—but none of it was registering properly in his brain. All his attention was locked on the paper in his hand.

He unfolded it slowly. His eyes scanned the contents.

It wasn’t a letter.

It was an invitation.

Plain black ink. No greeting. No signature. No explanation.

Just bold words in a serif typeface

That was it.

Liam blinked, rereading it again to make sure he didn’t miss anything. No mention of who sent it. No clue what the party was about. Just a time. A place. And the implicit assumption that he’d be there.

He turned the paper toward Lana.

She scanned it fast, then looked up at him. Their eyes locked.

Neither of them said anything for a moment. The weight in the room grew heavier.

Finally, Lana spoke, her voice soft, speculative.

"If the Sokolov family is the same royal family that Ann was supposed to marry into..."

Liam raised an eyebrow. "Then what?"

Lana’s eyes hardened. She stepped back, folding her arms over her chest. "Then it’s over for all of us."

Liam frowned. "Why?"

"I told you already," she said, tension creeping into her voice. "They’re powerful, Liam. Way more powerful than you can imagine.The kind of power that doesn’t care about rules or consequences."

Liam folded the invitation in half, eyes narrowing. "I’ve dealt with powerful before. I’m still breathing. I don’t think these ones will be a problem."

Lana didn’t smile. She looked away, eyes distant, as though searching through old memories.

"I once came across something..." she began. "Years ago. When I was first digging into hidden circles on the dark web. I found a page—no links, no navigation—just text. It was gone within minutes. Like it was never there. I barely took a screenshot. Thought it was nonsense."

"What did it say?"

"It said the Sokolov royal line weren’t human anymore. That they’d evolved—no, ascended. That they had supernatural powers tied to blood rituals and ancient relics passed down through generations."

Liam raised an eyebrow, half-skeptical. "You believe that?"

"I didn’t then," she admitted. "Back then, I thought it was just fringe lunacy. You know... the usual conspiracy shit. But now?" She met his eyes again. "After what I’ve seen... after your powers, Lilith’s ice, my own fire—I’m starting to think it might not be total fiction."

Liam paused.

He then nodded slowly. "Well... I guess I’ll find out about them tonight."

Lana’s eyes widened slightly. "You’re going?"

Liam gave a half-smile, folding the invitation again. "Why not? If Ann’s connected to this family, then maybe this party will finally give me the full story. There’s too much mystery around that girl. Her sudden wedding. Her disappearing. Her silence."

Lana looked like she was about to protest, but something in her expression shifted. Her jaw tightened. "Then I’m going with you."

Liam opened his mouth. "Lana—"

"No," she cut in, voice sharp but calm. "Don’t even try. That wasn’t a suggestion."

Liam looked at her, the way her body was standing tall in his oversized shirt, her green eyes steady and blazing. There wasn’t a trace of hesitation. Not even fear. He could’ve argued, but he already knew she wasn’t going to budge.

He smirked faintly. "You’re not going to take no for an answer, are you?"

She shook her head. "Not tonight."

He sighed. "Then I guess we’re both crashing a royal party."