The hall gathered back into formation as the band finished their last song and the lights shifted toward the stage again. More guests had arrived during the break—politicians, business giants, foreign dignitaries, and a few vampire nobles Xavier hadn't seen earlier. The place felt tighter now, like everyone knew the real ceremony was finally about to begin.
Lucas stood on the stage again, posture rigid, face carefully assembled into something polite. He wasn't smiling. He wasn't even pretending to enjoy this anymore. Lucian stood a short distance away with several board members, investors, and a swarm of Blackwood relatives, including Aldric, who was trying very hard to look unbothered even though his earlier humiliation still clung to him like a smell.
