The cheering died instantly.
Every head turned toward the source of the voice—the vampire queen, standing with her arms crossed, her crimson eyes cold and unforgiving.
"He is human." She repeated, her voice carrying across the suddenly silent valley. "Which means we cannot trust him so easily. This could all be a trap. A performance designed to lure us in, to lower our guard, to make us vulnerable."
Shivers ran through the crowd. Murmurs spread like wildfire.
"Oh, right. I forgot about that!"
"How could I? I was so vigilant a moment ago. It's almost as if I was put under a spell!"
"Exactly! I came here ready to keep my heart guarded, but instead I was cheering like a fool. Was this all planned? Was it all just a trick?"
The excitement that had filled the valley moments ago evaporated, replaced by wariness, suspicion, fear.
The same races that had been clapping and shouting for encores now looked at each other with uncertainty, their hands drifting toward their weapons.
