The grand halls of the vampire castle had fallen silent in the wake of my coronation, but the tension in the air was palpable. I could feel the weight of countless crimson gazes boring into my back as Luther and I made our way through the winding corridors, their owners' expressions unreadable.
Only Torren, the disgruntled guard who had dared to challenge my ascension, made no effort to conceal his open hostility. As we passed, his eyes narrowed to slits, his lips curled back in a silent snarl. I fought the urge to bare my own fangs in response - to show any weakness now would be to invite further scrutiny and doubt.
Instead, I kept my head high, my steps measured and confident. I was the Queen of the Vampires now, and I would not be cowed by the petty resentments of a few naysayers. But
