"Seraph's mine."
The words landed harder than the scream still tearing out of Prince Aerion.
The hall, which had just begun to move, froze again. Elven escorts had reached the prince. One of them was already pressing cloth to the open wrist.
Another had drawn a slender blade and pointed it at Gray, then stopped, because the palace guards were doing the same and no one wanted to be the first to step into that line.
The Emperor rose from his chair.
For a moment he did not speak.
The warmth he had used to welcome the vampires was gone. What remained was the look of a man who had just been struck in front of his own court.
"You actually... dared to..."
"And so?" Gray smiled mockingly.
"Seize him!" a captain shouted.
Three guards instantly moved at the command.
Swoop!
The first came in from the right, blade aimed at Gray's shoulder.
