[Location: Dungeon—Vampire King's Castle]
In no time, I was standing before a crowd of noble-looking vampires with a goblet of blood, straight from the earlier blood fountain, in my hand.
"Attention! My fellow Noblemen and Women," Vaelion Drakkaris announced, his voice carrying with effortless authority as he stepped forward, the goblet in his hand swirling with that luminous crimson nectar.
Dozens—no, scores—of noble vampires lifted their heads.
Conversations ceased.
Eyes—ruby, amethyst, gold, even obsidian—shifted all at once onto me.
Every gaze sharpened. Every smile stiffened. Every heart, cooled to room temperature, stopped.
"I present to you," Vaelion continued smoothly, "a Pureblood of a lineage unknown to our records. A guest…" he turned slightly, lips curving, "…whose blood-signature surpasses even that of some Elders."
A ripple of murmurs shot through the hall.
Not loud.
Not chaotic.
