Page 46 of Ruthless Kings of Obsession

I maintain my composure, though my mind races. The last time I saw that look in his eyes, he was testing Eva's loyalty over dinner, playing games within games that none of us fully understood.

"Change," he announces to the silent crowd, "is the only constant in our world. Those who cannot adapt..." his smile shows too many teeth, "drown."

The metaphor hangs heavy in the air, making several people shift uncomfortably. We've all heard stories of those who crossed Saint Joaquin ending up at the bottom of various bodies of water.

"This year's theme," he pauses for effect, "is Obsession."

The word echoes through the ballroom like a gunshot. My heart skips a beat as understanding begins to dawn.

"No longer will our courts be defined merely by their ruthlessness, their deviance, or their savagery," Saint Joaquin continues. "Instead, they will be marked by their depth of devotion. Their absolute commitment. Their..." his eyes find mine again, "consuming obsession."

*Ruthless Kings of Obsession.*

The new title rolls through my mind like thunder. Everything clicks into place – Eva's calculated revenge against Domino, our collective inability to let her go, the way she's become the center of our entire world.

"The Ruthless Kings of Havoc," Saint Joaquin gestures toward me, standing alone in my crimson suit, "will now be known as the Ruthless Kings of Obsession. Their devotion to their Queen must transcend mere loyalty. It must become all-consuming, absolute, potentially devastating."

The crowd murmurs, understanding the implications. This isn't just a name change – it's a fundamental shift in the power structure. Our Queen isn't just a partner anymore; she's meant to become our entire focus, our reason for existing.

"The same applies to our other courts," he continues. "The Deviant Lords of Chaos become the Deviant Lords of Desire. The Savage Heirs of Discord transform into the Savage Heirs of Vengeance."

But I barely hear the other announcements. My mind is racing, calculating what this means for us – for Eva. We're already protective of her, already devoted beyond reason. But this new title suggests something darker, more dangerous.

*What happens when obsession becomes official doctrine?*

"Of course," Saint Joaquin's voice drops lower, more intimate despite the size of the room, "such devotion comes with... risks. Not everyone survives being the object of absolute obsession. Not everyone should."

The threat in his words is clear. This isn't just about elevating our Queen – it's about testing all of us. Seeing who breaks first under the weight of such all-consuming focus.

I think of Zander, already so possessive of Eva that he'd kill for her without hesitation. Of Matteo, whose quiet devotion runs deeper than any of us suspected. Of myself, standing here in blood-red silk, ready to reinvent myself completely for her.

*How far will this obsession push us?*

"The game changes tonight," Saint Joaquin declares. "Those who cannot adapt to this new level of devotion will be...removed. Those who survive..." his smile turns predatory, "will rewrite the very foundations of our society."

The implications hit me like a physical blow. This isn't just about our court anymore. It's about transforming the entire underground hierarchy into something more primal, more dangerous.

And Eva – our brilliant, deadly, damaged Queen – sits at the center of it all.

"To accommodate this new era of Obsession," Saint Joaquin's voice carries a hint of amusement, "two additional Kings will be added to the Ruthless roster."

The announcement hits the crowd like a thunderbolt. Gasps and exclamations of disbelief echo through the ballroom, the perfectly maintained facade of society etiquette cracking under sheer shock.

"Six Kings?" Someone whispers too loudly. "That's impossible!"

"One Maiden can't possibly handle that many?—"

"Even four would be excessive?—"

"The standard three was established for a reason?—"

I fight to maintain my composed expression as the whispers grow bolder, more critical. These people, with their inherited wealth and borrowed power, think they understand the dynamics of our court. They know nothing of the intricate dance we've created, the delicate balance we maintain.

"Look at their track record," someone sneers. "Their Maiden could barely handle Leighton and Benedict, let alone this... model."

"Wasn't there another one?" A woman in diamonds asks. "Warren, was it? The bodyguard who joined for sport?"

My fingers clench around the stem of my champagne glass at the mention of my brother's other name. The crystal protests under the pressure, threatening to shatter.

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