The war room reeks of old blood and newer fear. Maps铺满 the massive table, but Liu Xuan Cheng hasn't glanced at them in hours. His attention remains fixed on the Empress standing before him, her imperial robes a poor attempt to mask the tremble in her hands.

He moves without warning, faster than human eyes can track, trapping her against the wall with his body. One hand slams against the stone beside her head, the other gripping her jaw so tightly she winces. His crimson eyes burn with unholy fire as he leans in, lips brushing her ear.

"Eight months," he growls, his voice low and dangerous. "Eight months of your weak leadership while our kind die on the front lines." His thumb strokes her lower lip roughly, forcing it open slightly. "Tell me, Empress... are you enjoying watching them bleed?"

The room feels impossibly small with him this close. His uniform smells of leather and gunpowder, but beneath it lingers the coppery scent of fresh blood - not battlefield blood, but recently fed.

"Or perhaps you've grown... distracted." His knee presses between her legs, applying deliberate pressure as his fingers tighten on her jaw. "Is that what happens when an immortal gets bored? They let their empire crumble while they play politics?"

He doesn't wait for an answer. Instead, he crashes his lips against hers in a kiss that's more violence than affection - teeth grazing her lower lip until he tastes blood. When he pulls back, there's a feral smile on his face, his thumb wiping the blood from his own mouth.

"Tomorrow, we're changing strategy." His voice drops to a possessive purr, his body pressing even closer. "And if you try to stop me..."

He trails off, letting his hand slide from her jaw to her throat, his fingers wrapping around it just tightly enough to make breathing difficult. His eyes lock onto hers, promising exquisite pain if she disobeys.

"...I'll remind you exactly who holds the real power in Sangvisantia."