The party was in full swing. Long tables were filled with royal delicacies that tantalized the senses. Guests laughed and chatted, while the towering pillars of the hall glowed in the flickering candlelight.
However, amidst the grandeur, Taylor sat in silence. Her face was troubled, her fingers absentmindedly spinning a carving knife on her plate. Her mind was filled with a gnawing hunger.
"What do they think? How can I breathe in the midst of all this deliciousness that's out of reach? Isn't this ridiculous?" Taylor muttered in frustration. Her expression was flat, like time had stopped—empty.
Ethan, Liam, and Alex exchanged meaningful glances.
"Does she want to sleep with me?" Alex murmured, deliberately putting on a pitying look.
Liam and Ethan instinctively clenched their jaws, their gazes turning icy.
Queen Valencia Yan, seated beside the King, couldn't help but feel worried. She nervously observed Princess Delcy, who seemed so dejected. Perhaps it was the influence of her first-trimester pregnancy hormones, but a flood of empathy filled her as she watched Princess Delcy refuse to touch any food in front of her. Hadn't she just said she was hungry? Or maybe she didn't like this dish? Valencia thought, lost in her own troubling thoughts.
Gently, she ran her fingers across the King's arm, signaling for him to act.
"Ahem," King Nevan cleared his throat loudly, his voice echoing throughout the hall, causing all eyes to turn toward him. "Princess, would you like something else? The royal chef can prepare anything for you."
Liam interjected in a low but mocking voice, "Nevan, you're right. Maybe you can give her something... more... bloody."
Upon hearing Prince Liam's comment, everyone froze, jaws dropping.
"Ah, something fresh," Nevan mused. "Raw meat?" he asked again, ensuring his understanding.
"Exactly, is there—hm!" Taylor's words were cut short when Alex swiftly clamped his hand over her mouth.
"Don't mind her, she's sick. That's why. You all enjoy the party," Alex said quietly, removing his hand, and receiving an annoyed glance from Taylor, who slammed her hand on the table.
Smack! "Huh!" Taylor was beyond frustrated.
Ethan, who had been sighing heavily, finally took action. He picked up his knife and fork, cutting a piece of steak and attempting to feed it to Taylor.
"I don't want it," Taylor hissed, gently swatting the fork away.
Ethan sighed again. His lips curled in frustration. He withdrew his hand with exasperation. Liam, sitting next to Taylor, took over, offering her a piece of soft strawberry tart.
"How about this strawberry? It's sweet and red. Hmm?" he whispered, trying a forced smile. But Taylor once again shook her head, covering her mouth, outright rejecting it.
"Taylor!" Ethan furrowed his brow. "You need to eat something," he insisted, forcing a large bite of meat into her mouth.
Taylor's cheeks puffed out as she reluctantly chewed.
Pffft. The three vampires could hardly hold back their laughter, turning their faces away as they watched Taylor's nose twitch like a dragon sniffing air.
This caught the attention of some guests, who began whispering among themselves. "Is she a baby?"
After swallowing her bite, Taylor smirked. "Just wait, soon enough you'll be my meal," she thought to herself.
She then deliberately leaned closer to Alex, who was standing behind her casually sipping wine. She whispered, pulling his cloak to bring him closer.
"Alex, give me just one wolf. I promise I won't drain it dry," she whispered.
Alex snorted, suppressing a laugh. He glanced at the wary looks from the Elves around the table, particularly Queen Emilia, who had been glaring at them for some time.
"Hold on a minute. Don't you see the Elves over there? We agreed to leave here peacefully."
Seeing Taylor's closeness to Alex, Ethan and Liam both became visibly jealous, folding their arms across their chests. Their eyes were closed, trying to suppress their frustration.
Bang!
Suddenly, the sound of the door to the hall being burst open shattered the merriment. A guard rushed in, covered in blood. He had deep stab wounds in his leg and arm. His steps staggered, his breath ragged.
"King... gate... border..." he gasped, faltering weakly, almost fading into silence.
The atmosphere of the party shifted drastically. The once joyful faces were now filled with anxiety. King Nevan immediately ordered his knights to protect Queen Valencia, who had started to panic. He rose from his seat, surrounded by armed knights, and approached the injured guard.
"Speak," King Nevan commanded sternly. His gaze pierced the guard, who appeared to have been mauled by wild beasts.
However, amidst the tension, Taylor murmured softly, loud enough for the three men beside her to hear. "They must be so delicious."
Liam immediately flicked Taylor's arm, glaring at her. "Taylor, not now!" he hissed, ordering her to be quiet.
Taylor shrugged, a resigned look on her face. "Alright."
Ethan simply smiled faintly, lowering his gaze before casually stroking Taylor's stomach. "Calm down, my little kitten. After this, I'll take you hunting in the forest. A smelly wolf is nothing." His mocking gaze directed at Liam.
"Crash!"
Liam suddenly slammed his fist on the table, causing the plates to shake. His eyes widened with fury as he glared at Ethan.
"What did you say?!" he growled.
Alex simply chuckled as he took another sip of wine. "Impressive. Ethan really is a master at making people angry."
The three men were so caught up in their argument that they failed to notice all eyes in the hall now focused on them, including King Nevan.
Guests began whispering, some even stepping away from their tables. Meanwhile, the injured guard lay motionless, his life slipping away in the eerie silence.
King Nevan looked at them with sharp eyes. His jaw tightened, suspicion clouding his mind. The fact that a group of vampires had managed to infiltrate his territory was now undeniable.
Taylor turned to the three eternal men around her, a puzzled look on her face. "Why are they all staring at us?" she whispered.
The three men simultaneously turned their gaze toward the crowd, noticing the suspicious glances from the guests. The once cheerful atmosphere had turned into a palpable tension hanging in the air.
"Wow! Wait. Are they suspecting us?" Liam stood, tension written across his face.
Ethan moved forward, positioning himself to protect Taylor. In a low voice, he whispered to Alex, "She's still very weak right now. If she gets hurt here, we'll be in big trouble."
Alex nodded slightly. He stood on the opposite side of Taylor, forming a shield around her. "Control yourself, Liam," he hissed sharply.
Outside the palace, several dark figures dashed through the night like arrows in a storm. Their speed was unimaginable.
Vampires who had been hiding for centuries now gathered, answering the call of two figures standing on a rocky hilltop.
"This kingdom is progressing faster than I expected," muttered Nara, one of the vampire leaders. She smiled smugly, a wicked grin curling on her lips. "Tonight, we feast on blood."
On the other side, Ryu only nodded, his eyes sharp as he monitored the situation from afar. "We don't have much time. Begin the attack now."