021:- A Toast to New Family

There was the beginnings of a smile on Alessio's face, "It's because Nicola insisted I be the last to join the table." He eagerly informed Silvan. If it weren't for that, Alessio would have been the first at the table.

He had been rightfully nervous about dinner after his first chance meeting with Silvan but now things seemed to be taking a turn for the better.

Silvan dropped his head back to his plate, he spoke little to begin with, inclined to speak even less in the presence of Vampires.

Alessio wilted slightly when he was ignored, hoping to at least strike up a conversation with Silvan when the human Prince deigned to respond to him.

Queen Nadia nudged her husband, everyone at the table had been listening in on the conversation between the two Princes, so the awkwardness inadvertently spread to the rest of the table.

Vatore rose to his feet, his powerful figure immediately catching the attention of the entire hall. His black hair flowed freely down his powerful back, unrestrained; his heavy gold crown kept it out of his eyes. He held up a crystal goblet, the red liquid in it apparent, his eyes flashing red.

"A toast—" He began, his voice commanding. "To welcome our esteemed guests." He spoke leisurely, like he wasn't speaking to an entire hall of powerful Vampires. "Tonight we drink, to celebrate an addition to the Royal Family."

Silvan kept a straight face despite being mentioned in King Vatore's toast, his blue-green eyes never leaving the spot in front of him on the table, the glinting of the engraved gold plate reflecting in his eyes.

Rolfe glanced over at his son, the crease of worry never leaving his brows while Alexander grinned, his reaction unrestrained. The Crown Prince looked over to his younger brother when the hall reached for the goblets to make a toast with the Vampire King, the only human seeming to enjoy the festivities.

Silvan picked up the crystal goblet with a strained expression, he had no doubt that it was wine. Despite Vampires needing blood for sustenance, it wasn't the only thing they consumed. However, as a faithful of Kalla and a former High Priest, Silvan didn't drink wine. It took some effort to move past the restraints he once put on himself, lifting the crystal goblet in the same fashion as everyone else.

Alessio leaned in while King Vatore was still making his speech, making Silvan flinch, the scent of jasmine drifting over. "You can just pretend to take a drink if you can't handle wine," The Vampire Prince said helpfully.

Silvan had been trying his hardest to keep his gaze off him, but he was so startled by this intrusion that he glanced over. "I've never drunk wine before," He revealed without meaning to, pursing his lips at Alessio's wide-eyed surprise.

"Then you can try a little, see how it tastes." Alessio changed his tune. "Who knows?" He asked with a slow smile, moving away. "You might like it."

Silvan was hooked on the slight expression, the goblet of wine trembling lightly in his hold. Why had he revealed that to Prince Alessio? Why was the Vampire Prince not playing his part of a preying villain?

Queen Nadia watched this exchange from her end of the table with sharp eyes, satisfied.

Next to her, Prince Elio was speaking to the strangely delicate Vampire beside him. "Drink only a little wine, Luna." He spoke patiently to her, holding up her goblet of wine for her.

Luna Bianci's pale blue eyes were fixed on the goblet of wine like she hadn't heard him, anticipation on her face.

"…To Vallyn." King Vatore's calm voice rippled through the grand hall.

A boisterous response greeted his words, "To Vallyn!" The hall echoed, the sound of crystals clinking as everyone took a drink from their goblet.

Silvan put his goblet to his lips but he didn't drink, his eyes darting to the side to watch Alessio. The Vampire Prince didn't show any restraint, drinking down the entire goblet like a man parched. Blue-green eyes seemed to follow the trajectory of the wine, trailing down the Vampire's pale slender neck.

He couldn't say if it was the wine but paying attention to Alessio's lips for the first time made him realize that the Vampire had unnaturally red lips, ones that contrasted with his pale skin.

"Would you like a refill, brother?" Alexander's voice crashed into his thoughts. He was seated on the other side of Silvan, the smile on his face filled with schemes.

Silvan looked away from Alessio and took a dutiful sip, the sweet but tart taste of the red wine a little jolting. "No need," He replied calmly, "I'm no good at drinking."

Alexander's smile didn't fade but his jaw hardened underneath, he knew that it would be impossible to taunt his stoic younger brother, but it didn't mean that a loss of face didn't sting.

"Don't torment your brother," Rolfe leaned in right away to scold.

Alexander's dark blue eyes shuttered, his smile fading into nothingness. He had no further interest in speaking to either of his family, his curious eyes drifted to Alessio. The Vampire seemed to be trying to start a conversation with Silvan but his stuffy younger brother wasn't making it an easy venture.

"Do you have a betrothed?" A voice directed at him.

Alexander was genuinely caught off guard, the voice that had spoken to him sounded like the tinkering of ice bells but when he looked over, droopy red eyes stared at him. It was the Vampire Crown Prince's betrothed, she seemed to have lost all the strength in her frail limbs, leaning against Prince Elio suggestively.

"A betrothed?" He repeated, his voice hesitant.

The parents at the table were quietly discussing something that sounded political and Alessio was still fixated on Silvan, so this left Alexander all to the company of the lovers.

Alexander's guarded expression eased into a grin, "There's no time for that now, not when my younger brother is about to tie the knot." He had easily learned from the maidservants attending to him that a wedding ceremony would actually be held, and he had confirmed it from his father, it pleased him to no end.