by Tricia Barr
Kol drank half a glass of water, then leaned forward, keeping his tone low. “What is going on?” he asked.
Juliet averted her eyes and Nik stared at the table, suddenly silent. Brett looked at the pair of them, then rolled his eyes.
“Your dad is quite the drill sergeant,” Brett said. The words sounded joking, but his tone was serious. “The general, Lord Dracul, has turned the school into a military training zone.”
Nik shot Brett a look.
“What?” Brett asked, shrugging his shoulders. “He should know.”
“What do you mean, a military training zone?” Kol asked, his eyebrows knit.
Nik sighed. “Offensive classes, increased training, mandatory sim exercises.”
“And he’s taken away all of the fun classes,” Juliet added, using her hands to illustrate. “Art, music, anything but military history and math... gone! Plus a few new winners, like tactical training. Ugh.”
“People are getting hurt,” Nik said. “Kids are fainting from exhaustion, Miss Heather and the harpies in the medical wing are being overworked just trying to keep the students standing.”
“That’s... not right,” Kol said, no other words accessing themselves.
“He wants us to be ready for the imminent attack,” Nik said, as if it was an excuse.
Kol’s replaced fire churned at his core, overflowing until it rushed through his limbs. He clenched his fists to avoid accidentally conjuring a fireball. “The students at the Dome are not in the military!” he shouted. “They’re just kids!”
“Tell us about it,” Juliet said wryly, a smirk playing at her lips.
As if hearing his name called, Eduard entered the dining hall, flanked by two officers Kol didn’t recognize. They walked straight for Kol and his friends’ table.
“Malkolm,” he said, his booming tone filling the hall with more joviality than merited from recent events. “And Charlotte. I see that you’ve had a chance to clean up and get some food.”
Kol pushed his plate away. He was mostly finished anyway, but his appetite fled soon after learning what his father was doing to Oberon’s school. To his school.
“Your escape was remarkable.” Eduard beamed. “How you managed to get all six—including the bloody vampire stuffed in Mr. Suzuki’s office—out of that fortress is truly remarkable.”
Kol didn’t correct him. There had been seven to begin with. They weren’t able to get all out. Char remained still, but Nik, Brett, and Juliet all shifted in their seats.
“And speaking of the vampire, how did he manage to get past the copper?”
Kol shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Perhaps it is in need of some thickening,” Eduard said, turning to look at the officer on his right.
“I can’t take the credit for the escape, Dad,” he said. “It was Myreen and Kenzie’s plan. Myreen broke myself and Char from that cell.” Kol’s chest tightened when he said Myreen’s name.
“Selkie’s plan,” Eduard scoffed. “Yes. Well, their plan wouldn’t have worked without two dragons to fly everyone out on their backs like common mules.”
“Except for Myreen,” he said quietly. The pressure in his chest increased.
“Yes, Myreen certainly is an impressive creature,” Eduard mused.
Kol wasn’t sure how he felt about his father being impressed by the girl he was in love with, but he didn’t say anything.
“It’s good to have you back, son,” Eduard said, his professional smile plastered on his face.
Kol felt several pairs of eyes trained on him, but he didn’t need the prompting. “What’s going on here, Dad?” He asked before Eduard could walk away.
“Don’t mumble, Malkolm. I am not sure of your meaning.”
“I didn’t mumble,” Kol said, through gritted teeth. “What have you done to our school?” he kept his eyes trained on Eduard, but gestured to the room full of students and to his friends.
Brett rose to leave, but from Kol’s peripheral he saw Char shoot him a look that sunk him back down in his seat.
“They’re telling me that you’re treating the Dome like a military school?” Kol heard the accusatory tone flip up in his voice, which was good because his heart rate was slowly increasing.
Eduard’s expression didn’t change, but Kol knew him well enough to see the faint twitch of his mouth. Though rare.
“They’re kids, Dad.”
“You might be right, but they must be prepared. Especially after your escape, I am certain Draven will soon be at our door.”
“They’re kids, Dad,” Kol repeated. “They’re not soldiers and no matter what you do, they won’t be ready. You’re torturing them.”
“Nonsense!” he snapped, walking forward and jabbing a finger in Kol’s direction. “I’ve seen how capable you are. I saw how you handled yourself in that simulation. With discipline and training—”
“They’re not me!” Kol shouted, getting several stares from students who were suddenly paying attention.
“Perhaps we should move this conversation elsewhere?” Eduard took a step back and lowered his tone, gesturing that his officers should move away from the conversation.
“Here is fine,” Kol said as the soldiers stationed themselves at the exit. He sensed more uncomfortable shifting of his friends at the table. They wanted him to move the conversation elsewhere.
But Eduard didn’t object.
“Yes, I have been trained all my life, but they haven’t,” Kol continued. “Many just recently shifted for the first time. Some only recently became or found out they’re shifters,” Kol shot a look at Juliet who gave him a small smile. “I’m seventeen, Dad, but some of these kids just started puberty.”
“There are plenty of other seventeen-year-olds and eighteen-year-olds here at the Dome,” Eduard countered, gesturing a hand at Kol’s table.
“But none of them are Draculs! You can’t hold them to the same standards you hold me to,” Kol stood, feeling strengthened with a full stomach. “Do you know how quickly Char and I were captured?” Kol lowered his tone. “It was pathetically easy for Draven.” He didn’t add the part about Kenzie’s hand in their capture. “Whatever you do to these kids not only won’t be enough, but you’re torturing them.” His voice hitched on the word.
Eduard’s expression still didn’t change, but Kol could tell something struck him. “Please do not use that word. What happened to you and Charlotte was abhorrent.” His voice was even. “I am not the monster Draven is. I am not a psychopathic vampire.”
“And about that too,” Kol said. “Why didn’t you come for us?” He gestured to Char. “Why didn’t you send a team? Hell, why didn’t you come rescue us yourself?” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Was running your military school too damned important? More important than your own flesh and blood?”
That struck a nerve. He would never admit it, but Eduard finally realized he’d been in the wrong. He should’ve done something to save them. “I knew you’d make it out,” he said quietly. “You’re a Dracul.”
“I’m a seventeen-year-old kid, Dad.”
Eduard nodded. “Your mother is on her way,” he said, his voice suddenly more chipper. “She’ll be here by tonight, I suspect, and she wishes to see you. She’s been worried sick.”
“Is that wise?” Kol asked, but then realized that his father might not worry about his mom’s safety the way he did. “Aren’t we prepping for Draven’s attack?”
“I couldn’t convince her to stay.” Something about Eduard’s eyebrows and the way his mouth slackened slightly was strange. “When that woman gets it into her head that she wants something...” he trailed off, shaking his head and... smiling? “Let’s just say that nothing I could’ve said or done would’ve made her stay away. Even the likelihood of another vampire attack.”
Kol kept his stance and expression the same. This was not the Eduard Dracul he was used to. This was not the father he remembered. Sure, he’d been furious with his dad moments ago in the
ir little stand-off, but this was not the general, the Lord Dracul, he knew.
And he didn’t know quite how to react.
Eduard sobered after a few seconds and shook his head. “And you’re right, Malkolm. Victoria, your mother, pleaded with me to come to you or send another team. And I should’ve. You and Charlotte could’ve died and it would have been on my head.”
Kol resisted the urge to allow his jaw to slacken, to scrape the floor with this sudden change in his rigid and stern parent.
“I can’t imagine what it would’ve done to your mother if things had turned out differently. And it would have been my fault.” Eduard took a step toward Kol, placing a hand on each of his shoulders. “It would’ve broken me to see that sort of pain on her face.”
Kol stood as stone when his father turned and left the way he’d come. Had Draven’s torture techniques messed with his head? He doubted his words miraculously changed his father’s heart and wondered what had. He couldn’t believe the turn of the conversation had actually happened.
But when he finally thawed and looked at the faces of his friends—Nik and Brett, Char and Juliet—he knew he hadn’t imagined it.
Kol lifted his shoulders before saying, “Hopefully that helped?”
Nik and Brett began talking at once, marveling at the scene they’d witnessed. Even Juliet was in awe, proving that she’d had enough run-ins with Eduard to know he’d somehow changed.
“Do you think he’ll bring back the art and music classes?” she asked.
Chapter 43: Myreen
Morning—or was it after noon, now?—brought fresh sorrow.
They’d all escaped... all except Ty.
Myreen blamed herself. She’d tried to use her siren powers, rather than explaining things to Ty, like Kenzie had said. He’d been confused and upset when he realized they were traveling with shifters. And understandably so, since he thought shifters had killed his mom. Myreen doubted the truth of that story, since it had come from Draven, but it didn’t make Ty’s pain any less real.
And so they’d argued, and he escaped. Myreen couldn’t blame him, but her heart still hurt to think of him under Draven’s care, still preparing to become the new Denholm heir and leader of the vampires.
Myreen pulled on some jeans and soft shirt, then went looking for food. Her stomach rumbled—apparently it was more awake than she was. She thought about seeing if Kenzie was still in her room, but she didn’t want to wake her friend. Food first. She’d catch up with Kenzie later.
The lunch buffet was almost through by the time she arrived, and she gladly got her food in peace. She found an out-of-the-way spot to sit, avoiding the dwindling number of students who seemed to watch her with weary expressions. If anything, things had grown more awkward since her return to the Dome.
She stared at her food as she ate, eavesdropping on nearby conversations. Some of the students were talking about some confrontation between Kol and his father. Myreen wasn’t sure she believed it. At least there was no talk about her destroying school property or being the daughter of Draven.
Suddenly, Myreen was flanked by two bodies. Hopeful it was Juliet or someone else she knew, she was surprised when she looked up to see Trish and Alessandra sitting on either side of her. A moment later, Joanna was seated across from Myreen.
“If you’re looking for trouble, you’ve come to the wrong place,” Myreen said, sticking her fork in her cooling lunch.
“Chill,” Alessandra said, rolling her eyes. “We didn’t come over here to pummel you, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
Trish let out a humorless laugh. “Yeah, I don’t know what you did to me, little miss mer-out-of-water, but I can’t even think of looking at someone cross-eyed without putting myself in their shoes.”
“Sucks for you,” Myreen mumbled.
Joanna let out an amused chuckle. “To be honest, we’re here to apologize.”
“For what, exactly?” Myreen hoped they hadn’t gone in her room and trashed it while she was eating.
Joanna looked at the table. “For telling you you should go with Draven.”
“And for the teasing when you first came, though I’m sure you deserved some of it,” Trish added, sincerity lacing her attempt at humor.
“I finally convinced these two that you didn’t have me attacked by those stupid vampires,” Alessandra said, a haunted look in her gray eyes.
Myreen’s brows rose. “Seriously?”
Trish and Joanna nodded.
“You surrendered yourself to Draven for us. For all of us. And we saw those videos with Kol... So, sorry.”
Myreen gave them a half-smile. “Thanks.” She looked around at the thinning crowd. “You know, I’m kind of surprised you’re still here, with General Dracul turning this into a military school, and all.”
Alessandra shrugged and Joanna smiled, but it was Trish who spoke. “You think that man can drive out the mer? This is our school, after all.”
Myreen laughed, shaking her head. Same girls, different day.
“So, you wanna come back to the mer dorms?” Trish asked, pushing a strand of her perfectly-styled strawberry blond hair behind her ear.
Myreen took a deep breath. “I think I’m good where I’m at.”
Alessandra nodded. “That’s fine, too. But if Headphones ever ticks you off, you’re welcome with us.”
Joanna smirked. “Or maybe bring Headphones with you.”
Myreen laughed. “Thanks. That means a lot. To both of us.”
The trio stood and turned to leave.
“Where are you all going?” Myreen asked.
“Class,” Trish said, turning back with a smirk. “Some of us still have work to do. And instructors to piss off.”
As Myreen polished off the rest of her plate, a tray dropped to the table next to hers. Kol. Her heart gave a stutter
“I see you’ve surfaced.”
Myreen swallowed and set her fork down, pushing her empty plate away. “It was a long flight. I’m surprised we were able to do all that in one day.”
Kol nodded, his mouth set in a grim line. “You didn’t have to fly the whole way. I could’ve carried you.”
Heat rose in Myreen’s cheeks, and she waved Kol away. “You were already carrying Kenzie.”
“I could’ve handled two,” Kol said. The words hung between them, full of promises and regrets. “Do you still want to talk?”
Myreen nodded. “But let’s go somewhere else.” She looked around at the few remaining students, many of whom ducked their heads when her gaze came their way.
“Yeah. That’s probably a good idea.” Kol stood and held out his hand, a question in his golden eyes.
Myreen looked at his outstretched hand for a long moment, chewing on her lower lip. She finally took it, needing to feel the warmth of another, desperately hoping it wouldn’t lead her to ruin.
As his hand enveloped her, a certain giddiness returned. The feeling was nothing like what she’d felt before—before she felt the sting of his betrayal, before she lost faith that the robot he pretended to be was all for show, before she’d come to doubt everything they had between them. But it was something, and she was glad to know she wasn’t completely broken by everything that had transpired.
Her heart hammering against her chest like a bird trying to escape its cage, she followed Kol through the Grand Hall and then up to the avian wing. She cast a glance behind her as they headed toward his room, wondering if there was a better place to go. But no, his room would be private. They could talk freely. And if things went poorly, she could always head to the girl’s side and see if she could find Kenzie or Juliet. Though, Juliet was probably attending classes. It was strange to think it was still mid-week. It had been so long since Myreen had attended a class that she’d lost track of time.
As the door clicked closed behind them, Kol let out a deep breath. He let go of her hand as he sat on the edge of the bed, offering her the spot next to him.
Myreen remained standing an
d folded her arms. “So there was a curse.”
Kol bowed his head, looking at his hands. “Yes.”
“That if you fell in love with someone, then they’d hate you.”
“Yes.” His voice was small, and she felt herself softening.
But dread pooled in her stomach. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It’s not exactly something we Draculs talk about.” He let out a bitter laugh. “In fact, I spent most of my life trying to avoid it.”
“And how did that work out for you?”
“Oh, it worked. Until you.”
Myreen drew in a breath. “But your dad said—”
“What my dad said was all true.” He lowered his head more and grabbed a fistful of his hair. She wasn’t sure why he did that. But then he let go and lifted his head to look at her. “I was supposed to befriend you. He wouldn’t say it out loud, but he wanted me to... seduce you. I tried to resist, but you were so...”
“Fragile?”
“No. Persistent? Strong? But more than anything, you demanded my respect. And you earned it. Every scrap.”
Did his voice catch there at the end?
“And then he told you to break up with me.”
“Yes. But I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t lose you. And then I realized that your selkie friend might be able to help me. And she did. But when I got back to the Dome, you hated me. I thought for sure I triggered the curse.”
“But now you’re not so sure?” Myreen’s arms had fallen to her sides, and she sat next to Kol, feeling the warmth of his arm pressed against hers.
“I think... I think the curse has been lifted. The way you...” he paused. “You have to understand, I watched my mom for years, her loving my dad and him despising her. There was respect, but not love. Never love. It killed me to see her like that. I didn’t want that for you. For me.” He took a breath. “But you aren’t looking at me the way my dad has always looked at mom.”
Myreen nodded, letting her fingers weave through Kol’s. “And Char?”
“To keep the Dracul line going, we had to arrange marriages. She was my arrangement. I’ll always care for Char, but I don’t love her. Not like that. Not like...” Kol’s amber eyes searched hers, the depths reflecting more emotion than words alone could convey. “Myreen Fairchild, I fought my love for you until I could stand it no more. And then I fought to love you until I thought I would break. I don’t expect you to love me in return, not after everything that’s happened—”