The Crown's Entrapment

With the ceremony itself being officially over, the inevitable reception and party that would ensue was all but guaranteed to take place. Darius made sure that no expense would be spared for such an event, his own coffers bearing the brunt of the costs to avoid embezzling funds from the kingdom's vaults itself.

Still, while his own funds would be considered small when compared to the savings of an entire kingdom, it didn't mean that he was hurting for gold. In fact, he had much more to spare if they so needed. He didn't care how much it would take. So long as their guests were well fed and well entertained, it would be a successful show of his kingdom's wealth.

"I guess this is the reception," Xenia wondered aloud as she let herself be ushered in by her new husband. "You really spared no expenses."

"As it should be," Darius replied with a warm smile. "I made sure that all of our cuisines and cultures are accounted for. In the same way that the ceremony made sure to notice our customs, everyone present would be sure to not find themselves wanting."

Darius noted the slight dismay on her face, and he chalked it up to the fact that the Ebodian Royal family had already left to return to their respective duties. His good friend Nikolai was thankfully with them, escorting his in-laws to where their responsibilities were needed. Surely, the missing prince was still involved in all of this. Not that he wasn't affected by it anymore, what with Ezekiel now being his brother-in-law.

"Here comes the newlyweds!"

With an announcement from one of the servants, Darius was taken out of his musings as he saw that everything was running in full swing. Already the music and festivities were ramping up in earnest, some of his guests already intermingling with one another either on the dance floor or by some of the numerous tables scattered throughout the hall. Of course, all of them stopped whatever it was they were doing to address them, their smiles electric as they gave them a round of warm applause.

"Who's running the show anyway?" he heard Xen whisper beside him. "It doesn't sound like anyone I know."

"Technically, I am," Darius scoffed. "But I'm sure Mother is silently running herself haggard coordinating all of these efforts."

And speaking of his mother, Darius faintly squinted his eyes at what looked to be a glimpse into the back of the house. Sure enough, he saw what amounted to a small tornado of chaos hiding behind the curtains. Sure, he should really get someone to pull the curtains out and hide the madness making this event possible, but there was something magical in seeing the inner workings making all of these things possible. And he was sure that Xen would be more than happy to appreciate everybody's efforts in all of this.

Making their way to their designated table by the center of the room, Darius kept his regal composure in full effect as he remained standing in front of the others. There was a definite tension brewing in the air, an unspoken rule about waiting for the king's words before returning to whatever it was they were doing.

"You may all be seated," he bellowed out.

Taking a deep breath, he let himself smile as he addressed the crowd, both guests and subjects alike happy for them both as they waited for his supposed speech.

Well, he didn't have one, but who was to say that was the case in the end?

"Once again, thank you all for answering our invitations," Darius began, his authority oozing from every word he spoke. "While it might behoove us to simply forego all of the formality and let ourselves finally have fun, I would like to take this opportunity to once again express my heartfelt gratitude. As King of Cordon, I humbly appreciate the respect afforded to this momentous occasion. I will make sure to honor the alliance sealed by this marriage, and I shall uphold the laws of Ebodia should they request that we do so in regard to international affairs."

"Likewise, as his wife, I shall do my best to bridge the gap between Ebodia and Cordon," Xen suddenly spoke up, much to his own surprise. "I shall serve as both ambassador and guide for our cultures, as to make sure that this friendship between our two kingdoms would prove to last the test of time."

Applause rang out on their respective declarations, Xen faintly smirking at him as she looked positively radiant in spite of her current smugness.

[That's some quick thinking on her!] Zeus complimented her in his mind. [That was all improvisation!]

"But enough about all of that, Your Majesty! When is the Ritual of Marking going to take place?!"

A round of hushed whispers followed the loud request. Darius already knew what was going to happen next, and he was practically rearing to go just from the suggestion alone! It didn't matter that it was from his own chancellor, what did was that he do what was asked of him both by custom and his own instinct.

"My love," he whispered out, the cheers around them swelling with each passing second. "Are you ready?"

Xen took a small breath before she smiled. "Ready."

Ignoring the hollers and whistles, Darius took Xen into his embrace and sank his fangs deep into her flesh, between her neck and shoulder. The taste of her blood was heavenly, and he could almost understand just why vampires liked doing this kind of stuff to their significant other.

Beneath him, he felt Xen gasp and writhe, her moans sounding like music to his ears as he felt the Bond starting to form. Already, he could feel the hints of pleasure coursing through his wife's body, her unending love and attraction to him practically making him hard despite them being in front of hundreds of people watching the Ritual.

Once the Bond was fully formed, Darius finally let go, his arms still supporting her as he smiled.

"It's done," he smiled. "Are you okay?"

...

...

"My love?"