Elion let out an exaggerated sigh.

"It was more exhausting than fighting forty people."

Between this and the last similar event he had attended in Haven during the trials, Elion was becoming increasingly certain that he simply was not built for court life.

Dorian chuckled.

"That is normal."

Elion glanced across the hall toward Celeste.

She was speaking with her mother, but her eyes drifted toward him every few moments, as though making certain he had not vanished.

Dorian noticed the constant exchange of glances.

"She truly loves you."

"I know."

"Do not become arrogant about it."

"I was already arrogant."

Dorian sighed.

"Of course you were."

Elion looked down at his drink.

Unlike Dorian’s cup, his contained ordinary wine.

"You said you planned to train me."

Dorian smiled.

"I did."

"When?"

"As soon as you return from Silvergrove."

Elion studied the expression on his face.

"That smile makes me think I should remain there."

"You would only delay the inevitable."

"What exactly do you intend to teach me?"

"You have good instincts, but your fighting style is far from perfect. You still have much to learn, and I assume you intend to stand at the top of the world beside my niece over there."

Dorian briefly glanced toward Celeste.

"If so, then you should strive to become nothing but the best. With that in mind, I will teach you everything I know about combat, spellcasting, spatial awareness, survival, and how to fight someone capable of tearing holes through reality."

Elion raised a brow.

"And what makes you think that what I showed you is everything I am capable of?"

"Oh, I know you are capable of far more than what you displayed yesterday," Dorian replied. "But limiting your power does not suddenly change the way you fight. Many of your habits remain the same, whether you are holding back or not."

Elion gave his words some thought before nodding.

"That makes sense. Well, then, it seems I will be under your care going forward."

He gave Dorian a respectful bow.

"Should I call you Master from now on?" he joked.

"If you want to, I will make sure to tell all my descendants that I was once the master of the Great Elion Nova...assuming you manage to make a name for yourself by then!"

Dorian released an uproarious laugh.

Elion smiled and gave him a playful pat on the shoulder.

"How about you worry about finding yourself a woman before dreaming about having descendants?"

Dorian’s laughter came to an abrupt end, and a pained grimace flashed across his face.

"Elion, was that necessary?"

Elion laughed but did not give him the benefit of an answer, prompting a less-than-peaceful reaction from Dorian.

"You know training can be quite painful, right?"

Elion’s brow twitched.

"Can we... talk about this, Dorian?"

"There is nothing to discuss. I am merely stating the obvious." Dorian slapped him heavily across the back. "Besides, pain builds character."

"I have enough character."

"Then it will build more."

Before Elion could respond, Celeste appeared beside them. "The celebration is almost finished."

Dorian looked toward the hall. "There are still hundreds of people here."

"It is finished for us." She took Elion’s hand and pulled him away.

Dorian glanced between them and grinned. "I understand."

Celeste’s eyes narrowed. "You understand nothing."

"Of course, Princess."

Elion allowed himself to be led away.

The moment they reached the corridor outside the hall, Celeste released a quiet breath. "Finally."

"Tired?"

"No. I simply grew tired of everyone staring at you."

Elion smiled. "I thought they were staring at you."

"They were doing both."

"That seems fair. We look good together."

Celeste stopped walking.

She turned toward him and looked up, the top of her head barely reaching his chest even in her heels.

"Yes," she said softly. "We do."

Elion rested one hand against her cheek.

The distant music from the celebration echoed through the corridor, softened by the thick stone walls.

Celeste leaned into his palm.

For a moment, neither of them spoke, then Elion lowered his head and kissed her.

Their lips met softly before he caught her lower lip gently between his teeth, biting down just enough to draw a quiet moan from Celeste into the kiss.

A sudden wave of competitiveness stirred within her.

Celeste responded with a sharper, stinging bite of her own, this one strong enough to draw blood. She then sucked gently on his wounded lip, savoring the sweet taste of his blood upon her tongue.

When they finally separated, Celeste released a heated breath and slowly licked her crimson lips while gazing up at Elion through hazy eyes.

She kept her hands against his chest.

"You will return quickly."

"I promised that I would, didn’t I?"

"And you will be careful."

"I will try."

"That is not enough."

"I will be very careful."

She studied him suspiciously.

Elion smiled. "One and a half days."

Celeste finally nodded, satisfied with his answer. "Good."

Allowing the serious expression to fade from her face, she blushed as she finally addressed the most pressing matter.

"Before then... I, uh..." Her crimson eyes drifted away from him. "Seeing as you will be leaving me again, it is only right that I perform my... wifely duties, if you will have me."

The furious blush on her face deepened, spreading all the way toward her ears as she began nervously twiddling her fingers while waiting for his response.

It took Elion only a moment to understand what she meant.

In truth, he had already suspected that this was what she wanted when she pulled him away from the celebration.

He had not been given nearly as much time to enjoy Celeste’s company as he had with the others, considering how little time they had spent together.

As for her pregnancy, it was still in its earliest stages.

He had fucked the two succubi while they were already several weeks into their pregnancies, so he understood that they did not need to avoid sex entirely just because she was pregnant.

However, once Celeste’s pregnancy progressed further, he would need to become far more careful.

Perhaps then he would lavish more of his attention upon the other ladies, and whenever Celeste decided that she was horny, he would simply need to find gentler ways to satisfy her.

The most important thing was for her to be comfortable, and he wasn’t going to touch her while she was pregnant unless she asked for it.

As thrilling as the thought of having her was, he would never subject his pregnant little vampire to anything that might place unnecessary strain upon her body.

Realizing that he had remained silent for slightly too long, Elion leaned down and suddenly scooped Celeste into a princess carry.

She released a startled yelp and immediately clutched the front of his shirt.

Elion smiled down at her. "Let us give you some attention, shall we?"

Celeste buried her flushed face against his chest, earning an amused chuckle from him. The anticipation alone was already giving him quite the thrill.

If she was nearly as reactive as she had been the first time they were together, then Elion was certain they would both enjoy the privacy awaiting them.

It did not take long for the newly betrothed couple to reach Celeste’s exalted bedroom.

The door closed quietly behind them, leaving the distant celebration and the rest of the world outside.