Night in Nacrifa felt different lately.
Too aware.
Too quiet.
As though the kingdom itself had started listening to things beyond mortal understanding.
The crimson barrier stretched across the skies above the capital like fractured glass illuminated by moonlight, flickering faintly against the darkness.
Beyond it—
something ancient waited.
And everyone in the palace felt it.
Even the servants moved differently now.
Soft footsteps.
Lower voices.
Nervous glances toward the mountains.
Fear had quietly settled into the kingdom like winter frost.
Inside the eastern wing of the royal palace, the halls were almost empty now.
Most of the chaos from earlier had finally faded.
Rael and Dineski had temporarily stopped arguing about wedding preparations.
The wedding planner had been escorted away before suffering complete emotional collapse.
Petiron disappeared somewhere with Miles after declaring he needed alcohol to survive vampire royalty.
And Sebastian—
