The evening settled over Gabriel's cottage like a warm embrace, casting soft shadows across the room where the small group had gathered. The scent of roast chicken and simmering stew mingled with nervous energy as everyone prepared for the gala at the palace. It was a celebration in honor of King Declan's third wife, Eva, but for Ethan and his companions, it held a different weight.
Darius watched as Aria prepared to depart for her newly reclaimed Devon Manor. With a casual tone masking his underlying curiosity, he inquired, "So, what are your plans for all the wealth left behind by the vampires in the manor?"
