The sound of thundering cheers brought me back to my senses.

I opened my eyes and looked around; faces filled with happiness and some with worry flashed past my vision. Then I turned my gaze toward my mother. She stood there, as dignified as ever, though her eyes betrayed the pride she felt. Her lips curved into a subtle smile, acknowledging my success.

I looked over at my sister, Elara. She appeared very focused, her gaze locked onto mine as if she was resisting some impulse. Her expression mirrored the pride that my mother displayed, with a hint of something playful behind her focused demeanor. I also saw my father standing beside her, his face displaying an unmistakable sense of pride.

I felt something different—a bond with them that felt stronger than ever. Perhaps it was because of the blood I drank from their hearts. I could sense them, almost as if we were connected on a deeper level than before.

Rowena then approached, holding a robe in her hands. It was only then that I became aware of my own nakedness. My face flushed as I looked down and noticed my arousal, a thick drop of white liquid—similar to the heart blood I had consumed—leaking from the tip. Embarrassed, I hurriedly took the robe and wrapped it around myself, although it did little to conceal the tent between my legs.

I tried to divert my thoughts and instead focused on the incredible sensations that surged through me. This newfound power thrummed in my veins, making me feel more alive than ever. My senses were heightened; I could hear the smallest whispers, see details I had never noticed before, and feel the power that coursed through my muscles. It felt like I could run hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of miles without tiring.

My mother came forward at that moment, wrapping me in a tight embrace, her warmth engulfing me as my face pressed between her soft, welcoming breasts.

"Well done, my love. I am so proud of you," she whispered, her voice filled with warmth and pride.

Hearing her praise filled me with joy, but I struggled to focus as I became aware of my body's response to her closeness. My once-softened arousal began to regain its vigor, nestling between her thighs, and I was suddenly overwhelmed by an urge—a primal, almost uncontrollable need.

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But I fought it down, summoning my willpower to control myself. I gently pulled away, trying not to reveal just how much her embrace had affected me.

"Thank you, Mother," I replied, my voice almost steady, though I could feel the remnants of my wild thoughts lurking just beneath the surface.

As I stepped back, I became conscious of another change. I had grown taller, significantly so. Where before I only came up to my mother's waist, I now stood nearly at the same height as her breasts. It struck me that the feeding ceremony had accelerated my growth—a known consequence for vampires, or rather, nocturnals. My body had matured, and with that maturity came a heightened sense of awareness, both physical and emotional.

"How old am I now, Mother?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

She looked at Rowena, who bowed slightly before answering, "Based on the duration the prince absorbed the essence, it seems he is now the equivalent of seven years by vampire standards, or about twelve by human reckoning."

I nodded, satisfied with the answer. Then Rowena added, "We should now test the purity of the prince's blood."

Rowena stepped forward, handing me a glass knife. I took it from her, mimicking what my family had done earlier. With a quick motion, I cut my wrist, and a silvery liquid flowed out—pure silver, without even a trace of red. The wound closed almost instantly, healed by the essence within me. I marveled at the speed and completeness of the healing, feeling the essence work through my veins, mending me as if nothing had happened.

"Remarkable, truly a marvel," Rowena commented, and I saw the pride in my mother's eyes deepen.

Rowena then took a glass cup and approached a large crystal ball—translucent, patterned intricately—that rested on a raised pedestal of polished glass. "We will now test the purity of our prince's blood," she announced, her words causing the entire hall to fall into silence. Everyone's eyes followed her every movement as she poured the silver blood into the ball.

The crystal ball absorbed the liquid as though it were parched soil taking in water. For a moment, nothing happened. The hall was steeped in silence, the tension almost palpable. Then, all at once, a blinding light erupted from the crystal ball, causing cracks to splinter across its surface. The intensity of the glow increased until, with a final blinding flash, the ball shattered into fragments.

For a heartbeat, there was silence, and then the hall erupted in cheers. The voices of those gathered echoed throughout the grand space, their cheers filling the dome like a wave of sound crashing over me.