Dark Hunger

Elize stood before the massive mahogany mirror. She smiled at the vision. Not used to dressing like a queen, she was actually excited to see herself like this. 

She ran her hand down her gown. Made from crimson silk, golden roses were embroidered on the bodice with a slash neckline that sat on her shoulders. A golden sash was on the waist that separated the bodice from the skirts that exploded beneath the fine silk beneath. Big golden red roses were embroidered across the entire fabric. The maids had curled and pinned half of her hair up. They had made her wear diamond and ruby earrings which dangled and reflected light on her pale marble skin and a two-chain necklace of diamonds and rubies. She couldn't help preening when they finally made her wear a tiara of rubies. 

Elize initially wanted to wear a light blue gown but Caleb had specifically asked her to wear a crimson gown in order to accentuate her red eyes and ruby lips. He wanted everyone to see that he had a wife who was a vampire and they better respected her. He wanted to make an impact right from the beginning. She had warned him that he was being too bold, but Caleb was about making the right statements. 

"Will you be gawking at me, Caleb Silver?" she asked when she caught his reflection in the mirror. He was leaning against the door with his arms crossed against his chest. In his black pants and a white gold-cuffed shirt with a red cape that bore royal insignia, the man looked dashing. He was wearing the royal crown on his head—a gold piece with precious gems encrusted in it. He stole her breath right away. His raven black hair was combed back. After a week of coming to Ixoviya, Caleb looked healthy and bright. His skin shone and her chest puffed that he belonged to her. 

"When one has such a beautiful wife, one can't think of anything else," he replied in a breathy voice. 

The maids started giggling. Elize's cheeks became pink and her lips tugged up in a coy smile. 

Caleb straightened and sauntered to her. "Will you allow me?" he asked and offered his arm to her. She curled her arm in the crook of his elbow and he kissed her temple. He leaned over her and whispered, "I can't wait to get you out of that dress." And her heartbeat accelerated. 

His finger brushed over the Amber Moonstone that she was wearing in her bracelet and faint lights flickered inside it. In tonight's gathering he was going to give his people their magic back. 

Surrounded by six guards, the royal couple walked through the corridors, down a stairwell, through an antechamber and to the throne hall. Caleb entered the throne hall proudly with his mate, his wife, walking beside him. "It looks complete," he murmured. 

The throne hall was brimming with people. No one wanted to miss this opportunity of meeting their king and queen for the first time. As soon as they arrived, men and women stopped talking and they turned to look at the royal couple. Those who were sitting on the chairs that were lined in long rows on either side, also got up. 

Elize gripped her gown on the side feeling nervous suddenly. All her confidence evaporated the moment she felt that people were gazing at her intensely. She tried to keep herself as calm as possible but was failing. She knew that her red eyes were making others uncomfortable, but Caleb had asked her to be herself. He had asked her to relax and just not feel uneasy. He had said that "It's your attitude that will make others act towards you. The more you will appear weary, the more they will hassle you. So, better be as confident as you are." 

She scanned the room and her gaze went to Daryn who was standing with Dawn. She gasped. Dawn flashed her a smile and Elize's spirits lifted. She felt like jumping but managed to stifle a giggle. Right next to them was Cole. He dipped his head when he met her gaze. Immediately Elize started looking for Auril but she couldn't find him. As if understanding what she was looking for, Caleb leaned over her and whispered. "He is standing on the right balcony behind the curtains." 

Elize shot a glance up to look and found Auril standing behind the curtains, his attention fully towards Cole. It was as if his world had tilted and fixed on an axis called Cole. She couldn't help smiling at the druid prince. The feast was given in his honor but unfortunately, he couldn't be there in the hall with them. She felt like asking Caleb to absolve him of his vow just for a few hours, but then she didn't trust the attraction he had had for Cole. 

When they walked a little inside, Urhan came to receive them. Elize stiffened seeing him as a wave of rage passed through her. He was wearing the robe of a priest that was draped over his entire body. Through their mind link, Caleb said, 'Look normal Elize. He is waiting for you to react to him.' She closed her fists and willed herself to up her guards. Elize was wondering how Caleb was being so good at subduing his expressions. He was looking perfectly calm.

Urhan received them with all the grace that was expected of the priest. He accompanied them to the throne and waved his hand gently for them to take their seats. For a flitting moment his gaze went to the Amber Moonstone that she was wearing. 

For the first time, Elize was going to sit on the throne proudly, with her husband. The feeling was exciting. She wanted him to be just as proud of her as she was of him. 

The thrones were made from solid gold. There was a red cushion on the seat and on her backrest. The legs of the thrones were in the shape of paws of lions. Last time she remembered that her throne was slightly smaller than the king's but she was surprised to notice that the thrones were of equal size. She couldn't help feeling overcome by emotions. Her husband wanted her to be his equal in all ways. Her chest swelled with pride as she walked up the steps of the throne and sat down. 

As soon as they sat down, Urhan started the ritual of receiving blessings from the deities. It was over in a few minutes. For the next hour, various programs followed. And during that hour Caleb had caught Elize's hand which had the Amber Moonstone. He had to take this opportunity to return the magic of his people, those who were present. He had already planned on declaring a competition of sorts for all his people so that he could return their magic too. 

Caleb's eyes went to Daryn who nodded. He was sitting on the right side. As Caleb grasped his wife's hand firmly, he whispered to her, "Ready." She nodded and then the brothers started chanting in ancient language through their mind link. 

Lights inside the Amber Moonstone flickered lightly at first. Soon, with a sharp pulse, the lights fractured out of the stone. Daryn took over and controlled them from exploding. He focused on the lights that pulsed out of the stone to bring them to go slowly to the recipients. The brothers were aware of the fact that those who would receive their magic would definitely feel a surge of energy in them. But they hoped that none reacted since it was a royal ceremony going on. 

Magic throbbed out from the Amber Moonstone and it got attracted to all those who were present over there. The spells that the brothers had cast were so strong that while the magic was flowing in the throne hall, no one could come to know about it. Only that magic which recognized its owner came out of the moonstone. It flowed to its owners and settled over them as if fitting like a snap over a missing puzzle piece. 

Caleb and Daryn heard audible gasps amongst the audience. They all had an element of surprise over their faces. Excitement followed and some even shifted in their place. It took less than twenty minutes for the entire process to take place. And when it was done, Caleb and Daryn chanted spells to stop the magic from leaking out of the moonstone. 

All the time, Elize held Caleb's hand tightly. She felt the skin on her wrist tingling and also felt energy being drained out of her. Her throat became paper dry. At the end of it, she thought that she would collapse. Caleb realized it. He knew that she had to be fed, else she would faint. But Elize sat straight till the process of returning the magic was over.. As soon as that was done, Caleb created an illusion in front of his people in which he and Elize were sitting straight and watching the artists perform with interest. However—