Lucius’s gaze moved toward Celeste.

She looked happier than he had ever seen her. "You have made quite the statement," Lucius said.

Elion raised a brow. "Hardly, I simply gave my future wife a ring."

"A Divine ring."

"I did not choose the grade for dramatic effect."

Dorian snorted. "You knelt in front of everyone and produced a treasure that kingdoms would kill for."

Elion considered his words. "When you put it that way, perhaps it was slightly dramatic."

"Only slightly?" Morgana asked.

Celeste returned to his side and intertwined her fingers with his. "It was perfect." Elion looked toward her.

The warmth in her crimson eyes made the rest of the room fade from his attention for a brief moment.

He leaned closer and pressed a light kiss against her forehead.

Lucius watched them and released a quiet sigh. At least his daughter had chosen someone who valued her.

That did not mean he intended to make the boy’s life easy, but perhaps he would reduce the amount of suffering he had been planning.

Just slightly.

Once most matters had been settled, Elion and the ladies were given rooms within the menacing castle where they could settle in.

All that remained was the betrothal ceremony scheduled to take place the following day.

But, as expected, the moment the ceremony was announced and Elion’s presence became public knowledge, trouble began brewing almost immediately.

His arrival had already been exposed by the lower-ranking elders who had seen him enter the throne room, so it was no surprise that an angry crowd of vampires gradually began gathering near the gates leading into the royal castle’s courtyard.

Most of them claimed they were merely asking politely for an opportunity to see and meet the soon-to-be prince consort.

They wanted nothing more than a brief and perfectly cordial conversation with him. Of course, no one truly believed that.

Perhaps the most troublesome among them was a separate group of young vampire nobles who had once tried their luck at obtaining the princess’s hand in marriage.

One could only imagine the amount of carefully concealed hostility they harbored toward the lucky bastard known as Elion Nova.

The news spread quickly through the castle.

By the time Elion had been shown to the luxurious chamber prepared for him, the sound of the gathering crowd could already be heard faintly through the tall windows.

At first, he assumed it was nothing important.

The occasional shout and a few raised voices. Perhaps some celebration related to Celeste’s awakening.

But as the noise continued growing, becoming louder and increasingly aggressive, Elion slowly turned away from the bed and looked toward the window.

"What is going on outside?"

Dorian, who had insisted on personally escorting them to their rooms, leaned casually against the doorway.

"Nothing you need to worry about."

Elion looked at him. "That usually means there is something I should worry about."

"There are a few people outside who wish to meet you."

"A few?"

Dorian’s lips twitched. "Perhaps slightly more than a few."

Another roar rose from beyond the castle walls. "BRING OUT THE HUMAN!"

Elion slowly looked back toward Dorian. The Grand Elder cleared his throat. "They are excited to meet."

"Very welcoming people."

"The clan is not accustomed to outsiders."

"Apparently."

Aria walked over to one of the windows and pulled aside the heavy curtain. Her eyes widened. "That is not a few people."

The others moved closer to take a look as well.

Since the perpetual darkness had returned, it was mostly dark out, but they could see thanks to the lanterns that were placed everywhere around Dreadmoor Hollow.

Beyond the courtyard gates, dozens of vampires had gathered beneath the dim crimson lanterns illuminating the castle grounds. More continued arriving from the surrounding streets, filling the wide road leading toward the royal estate.

Some were common citizens driven by curiosity.

Others were clan warriors hoping to see what sort of man had managed to capture their princess’s heart.

Then there were the young nobles.

They stood apart from the larger crowd in carefully arranged groups, dressed in elegant clothing and accompanied by servants, guards, or older family representatives.

Most wore calm expressions, but the hostility in their crimson eyes was impossible to miss.

Mira studied them from behind the glass. "They do not look as though they came to congratulate him."

"They are simply disappointed," Dorian said.

"Disappointed that Celeste is getting married?" Isla asked.

"Disappointed that she is marrying him."

Elion turned toward him.

Dorian shrugged. "Many of those young men spent years believing they had a chance of becoming prince consort. Some trained specifically to impress Celeste. Others were pushed forward by their families because of the political benefits."

Tessa folded her arms. "And now some outsider appears and takes the position without even trying."

"I tried," Elion said.

Every woman in the room looked at him.

Elion cleared his throat. "Perhaps not in the way they did."

Tessa scoffed. "You barely knew Celeste before getting her pregnant." Celeste, who had remained seated near the bed, slowly turned her gaze toward her.

Tessa cleared her throat. "I did not mean that as an insult."

"It sounded like one."

"I was criticizing him, not you."

"That is acceptable."

Elion stared at both of them. "I am standing right here." Neither woman acknowledged him.

Dorian laughed. "You will fit into the clan wonderfully."

Another voice rose from outside. "If he is worthy of the princess, let him prove it!"

Several vampires cheered.

Then another shouted. "Allow us to challenge the future prince consort!" The cheering became louder.

Elion raised a brow. "They want to fight me?"

"Most likely," Dorian replied.

"Is that normal?"

"For vampires? Very."

Celeste stood. "No." Her single word caused the room to quiet. She walked toward the window and looked down at the crowd. "They will leave."

Dorian gave her a cautious look. "They are unlikely to leave simply because they are told."

Celeste’s crimson eyes sharpened. "Then they will be made to leave."

The air inside the room grew heavier. Outside, several weaker vampires suddenly stumbled without understanding why.

Elion stepped beside her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "It is fine."

Celeste turned toward him. "They are insulting you."

"They have not met me yet."

"They are demanding the right to attack you."

"That is almost polite compared to some of the people I have dealt with."

Zenith smiled brightly. "I can remove them."

Dorian’s expression darkened immediately. "No." He did not need to think to much to understand what someone like Zenith meant when she said she would remove them.

Zenith tilted her head. "I would not kill all of them."

"That does not improve the suggestion."

She looked toward Elion.

"Hubby?"

Elion shook his head. "No killing anyone, Zenith."

Zenith’s shoulders drooped slightly. She was clearly disappointed. "Can I frighten them at least?"

"Not yet."

Mira continued watching the crowd.

"I doubt they will remain satisfied with shouting from outside. One of them will eventually try to force a confrontation."

"Then I will speak with them," Elion said.

Celeste frowned. "You do not need to entertain their foolishness."

"I know."

"Then why would you go?"

"Because I am supposed to become prince consort tomorrow."

He glanced toward the crowd.

"If I hide inside the castle while they shout at the gates, they will assume I am afraid of them."

"And you care what they think?"

"Not particularly."

Elion smiled faintly. "But I dislike being called a coward."

Celeste looked him up and down with a concerned gaze. "You are still recovering."