My Three Beautiful Vampire Wives can hear my Inner Thoughts-Chapter 109: Grand Second Meeting

Back inside the Blood Tower Main Room, the atmosphere felt heavier than it had ever been.

The hall itself seemed larger than before, as if the walls had drawn back to make space for what was about to happen.

Towering pillars carved from dark crimson stone rose high into the shadows above, their surfaces etched with ancient runes that glowed faintly like veins beneath skin.

Massive chandeliers made of black crystal and bone hung from the vaulted ceiling, casting a deep red light that washed over the crowd like a tide of blood.

The floor was polished obsidian, reflecting the glow from above so that every step taken seemed to ripple across darkness. Banners bearing the sigil of the Moonshade family hung from the walls, embroidered with silver threads that shimmered faintly under the light.

The room was packed.

More packed than yesterday.

Vampires filled every corner of the grand chamber, their eyes gleaming, their expressions tense. Noble lines stood shoulder to shoulder with lower-ranked members. The air carried the scent of cold iron and incense, thick and almost suffocating.

On the left side of the hall stood Sevette.

She was no longer alone or idle. She stood respectfully beside a tall, imposing man whose presence alone caused the surrounding vampires to keep their distance. His hair was silver and pulled back neatly, his posture straight and commanding. He did not speak, yet those near him stood straighter simply because he existed.

At the center of the raised stage stood Rivik Moonshade.

Behind him, seated on elevated thrones carved from dark crystal, were the ancestors. Their expressions were calm, ancient, unreadable. Their eyes glowed faintly, like embers that had burned for centuries.

Rivik stepped forward.

He looked older than he had yesterday.

Not weak.

Not frail.

But reflective.

He lifted his chin and opened his arms slowly, his long black coat flowing behind him like a cape of shadow.

"My beloved children of the Moonshade," he began, his voice smooth and deep, carrying across the hall without strain. It was a voice that seemed to echo from the stone itself.

Silence fell instantly.

"We are a family born not from mere blood," he continued, "but from devotion. Devotion to our name. Devotion to our legacy. And above all... devotion to the Blood God."

A murmur of reverence moved through the crowd.

"For centuries," Rivik went on, pacing slowly across the stage, "our clan has stood tall among the night. While others wither in fear of sunlight, we thrive in the dark. While others beg for power, we earn it through sacrifice."

He raised one pale hand toward the ceiling.

"We do not kneel to kings of beings. We do not bow to fleeting empires. We worship only the eternal. We worship only the Blood God."

His voice grew deeper, more resonant, carrying a tone that was almost intoxicating.

"The Blood God who gave us strength when our enemies sought our extinction. The Blood God who blessed our veins with power beyond mortal limits. The Blood God whose gaze watches over us even now."

He placed his hand over his chest.

"Each drop of blood we spill in battle, each sacrifice we make, each victory we claim, all of it flows back to Him. We are His chosen. We are His children."

The hall erupted.

"Blood God!" voices roared.

"Blood God!"

"Moonshade!"

The chant grew louder, echoing against the walls, vibrating through the floor. Some vampires raised their hands. Others bowed their heads in reverence.

Rivik’s lips curved faintly.

"Our family," he said over the rising noise, "is not merely a clan. We are a covenant. A sacred oath carved into eternity."

"Moonshade!" the crowd shouted again.

"Blood God!"

The sound was overwhelming, like a storm rolling through stone.

Rivik lifted two fingers slightly.

The gesture was small.

Yet the effect was immediate.

The noise began to quiet, voices fading one by one until only a faint echo remained.

He looked out at them, his red eyes scanning the sea of faces.

"As your Baron," he said slowly, "am I a good leader?"

A ripple of confusion moved through the hall.

Whispers began.

"Why is he asking that?"

"What does he mean?"

"Of course he is."

"Is this some test?"

Some vampires glanced at each other uneasily. Others frowned, unsure whether to speak.

Rivik’s gaze hardened slightly.

"I ask again," he said, louder this time. "Am I a good Baron?"

A few voices answered hesitantly.

"Yes."

"You are."

"But why..."

Rivik stepped forward to the edge of the stage.

"Am I a good Baron?" he repeated once more, his voice now ringing with authority.

This time, more answered.

"Yes!"

"You are our Baron!"

"You have led us well!"

The responses were not fully unified, but they grew stronger with each echo.

Soon, the entire hall was filled with awkward affirmations.

"Yes!"

"Yes, Baron!"

Rivik stood straight.

Then suddenly, his voice rose, powerful and filled with emotion.

"I, Rivik Moonshade, am proud to be your Baron!"

The words struck the hall like thunder.

"I am proud to have led you through famine and through war. Proud to have watched this family rise from ashes. Proud to have seen our young grow strong and our elders honored."

His voice softened slightly.

"I remember when our borders were attacked by three clans at once. We were outnumbered. We were surrounded. Many said we would fall."

He looked toward the ancestors behind him.

"But we did not fall."

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd.

"I stood on the battlefield that night," Rivik continued, "covered in blood, watching our warriors fight with their last breath. I saw fear in their eyes. And I saw faith."

He clenched his fist.

"We survived because we trusted each other. Because we trusted our Blood God. Because we believed in the name Moonshade."

Some vampires nodded, memories surfacing in their own minds. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"I have watched us prosper," he went on. "Trade agreements formed. Territories expanded. Enemies crushed. I have seen children born into safety who never knew the hunger we once endured."

His gaze softened.

"And for that... I am grateful."

At first, the crowd simply listened.

Then unease began to creep in.

Why does this sound like...

No.

It cannot be.

Rivik inhaled deeply.

"And yet," he said quietly, "every era must end."

The hall went silent again.

"I have served as your Baron for longer than many of you have lived," he continued. "I have given my strength, my time, my blood."

He paused.

"And now... I say farewell."

The words fell like a blade.

Gasps filled the room.

"What?"

"No—"

"Farewell?"

"You cannot mean—"

Rivik raised his hand for silence, but the hall erupted in confusion.

"Why?"

"Is someone forcing you?"

"Is the family in danger?"

Those who had not attended the previous gathering looked around in shock.

"Why would he step down?"

"Is he ill?"

"Is this about the ancestors being present?"

Fear crept into many faces.

The ancestors only emerged when the Moonshade family faced grave danger. Their lifespan was precious, their existence sacred. For them to appear in public like this meant something serious.

A bald vampire stepped forward.

Rivik moved aside, giving him space.

The bald man’s presence was heavy, his expression stern.

"Silence!" he commanded.

The single word cut through the chaos like a blade.

The hall quieted instantly.

"I am Ghurn Moonshade," he announced, his voice calm but firm. "To those who were here yesterday, you know why we stand before you. To those who were not, listen carefully."

He swept his gaze across the crowd.

"The ancestors have stepped forward because we have something to announce."

Unease spread once more.

Some vampires whispered under their breath.

"They only come out during crisis."

"Is the Blood God displeased?"

"Are we under threat?"

"Our enemies..."

Ghurn raised his hand slightly.

"I know you have questions," he said. "And I will answer them."

He turned his head toward the back of the hall.

"Come out," he called. "Lady Cornelia."

For a heartbeat, nothing happened.

Then—

Behind the sea of vampires, a circle of light burst into existence.

It was not bright like sunlight, but focused, intense, and clean. The beam cut through the red glow of the hall and illuminated a single figure standing at its center.

Cornelia.

She stood tall, her posture straight, her long hair cascading over her shoulders. Her face was serious, composed, almost cold.

Every eye in the hall turned toward her.

And silence fell once more.