The palace's gold-veined walls echoed every sound, as if the building itself were listening.
The grand hall of the royal suite was no longer a place of intimacy - it had become a war room.
The Vampire King and his three most trusted confidants stood around Elara, who still wore the regal gown a little awkwardly - but she no longer stood like a guest. She stood like someone who wouldn't just cross the threshold of the throne room - but stay.
Dareth leaned against the edge of the massive marble table, arms crossed, his gaze never straying far from Elara.
The atmosphere was thick, though not hostile.
It was one of preparation.
"You know I'm no diplomat," Kael spoke first, hands in his pockets. "But from what I heard last night from the shadow sources, there's already movement within the
