by Ginna Moran
“If we put a halt to the training program every time someone was attacked or killed, we’d never get anything done. So yes. Carry on with your day and appreciate that you didn’t succumb to the same—or a much worse fate—than Mr. King.”
This. Fucking. Academy. The last thing I want to do is to return to the list of bogus classes that teach everything I’ve spent my life standing against.
It takes Torrance touching his hand to the small of my back to get me to move my feet. The rest of his brothers watch us go, a variety of expressions marring their handsome faces. I turn away from them when we enter the hallway, and Torrance surprises me by picking me up and running at vampire speed until I find myself in the familiar lobby of the donor education wing.
The place is empty, all the classes already in session.
“Would you like me to run to the cafeteria for you to pick up a late breakfast before I go? I’m sure you’re hungry,” Torrance asks, peering at the man behind the counter.
“No.” The last thing I want to do is eat. I’ll probably barf my brains out if I even try. My stomach twists and turns, still upset by everything. It doesn’t help that the only thing it wants is some vampire blood. The pain worsens the more I think about it, so I step away from Torrance to put some space between us. If I don’t stop catching a whiff of his delectable scent, he might very well be my next victim.
“You have to eat something,” Torrance says, keeping his voice low. “It’s been too long. Proper nutrition will keep you healthy.”
“And good health assures you get all the blood you want from me.” I glower at him. “Which isn’t happening.”
He leans in with a scowl that matches mine. “Let’s get one thing straight, Fiona. You might think you’re some kind of victim, but you’re far from it. You’ve killed two vampires in only a few days, which is two more than the death count you think we carry.”
“Would you like me to make it three vampires?” I ask.
Torrance growls and knocks his hand into my shoulder. “You’re something else. You think we’re the monsters, but you haven’t shown any remorse for your actions. I was wrong to think that you deserved better. You weren’t much different than him. I don’t care if you think he deserved to die or not. Culver was still my brother. He brought our coven together. Now I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Damn him and his dark eyes. He has no idea, and I shouldn’t feel even a tiny bit bad about doing what I had to do to save myself. But just seeing the sudden spark of sadness reflect in him does make me feel bad. Just not for Culver.
I rub my lips together. “Your mind games won’t work on me, Torrance.”
He sighs. “Whatever, Fiona. Just go to class.”
“Gladly.”
Torrance disappears from in front of me, and I thrust open the door to my third class of the day—which also happens to be the weirdest and dumbest one—Human Hygiene. Everyone’s gazes dart away from the instructor, an older man with graying hair, a round belly, and a long, unkempt beard that doesn’t exactly make him look like the role model of human hygiene, and to me.
Mr. Adkins taps his cane on the floor. “Ms. King, you’re late.”
“I’m sorry.”
I slide into the only empty desk next to a guy who I think is in at least two other classes of mine. Patrick sits a few seats away, refusing to look in my direction. Mr. Adkins stares at me from my face to my feet, raising an eyebrow in the process. He couldn’t be more obvious that he’s judging my wrinkled clothes, ones that one of the Kings grabbed for me from the pile on my floor instead of the closet. It’s also now that I realize a few drops of blood spatter decorate my sleeve.
“And what is your excuse? Did you oversleep?” Mr. Adkins asks.
I sigh. “Yeah, sure.”
“And what’s the number one rule in assuring good donor hygiene?” His dull brown eyes bore into the top of my head because I refuse to look at him directly.
“I honestly don’t give a shit.” I thunk my head on the desk, letting my hair spill forward.
Mr. Adkins hits his cane to my desk. “Ensure you have enough time to properly bathe, brush your teeth and hair, and dress in clean clothes.”
“So basically be good enough to eat,” I snap. “No thanks.”
“This is about keeping your mister or mistress happy. A happy mister means a more pleasant life for you. If you find yourself in a position that you do not have the proper amount of time to follow the rules of human hygiene, then it is better to be late than to be gross for your mister. And right now, you’re disgust—”
The door to the classroom flings open and hits the wall with a clatter. Mr. Adkins startles and throws his cane in my direction. Torrance appears between us, catching the heavy wooden stick. He extends it back to Mr. Adkins without saying a word. No one moves or speaks, watching as Torrance closes the space to me. He sets a small paper bag on the desk in front of me without even reacting to everyone’s stares.
I swallow, my nerves shot from being humiliated in a room full of guys. The fact that there are very few females at the academy does not help.
Torrance turns toward the instructor. “Mr. Adkins, do you know what the number one rule is for a vampire who possesses a personal donor?”
Mr. Adkins gawks at us, a blank stare stuck on his face like he’s incapable of uttering anything incoherently. The rest of the class doesn’t fare much better. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think everyone transformed into a vampire by how silent they are.
“Anyone else?” Torrance asks, directing his attention to the guy hunkering down in the desk next to me.
“You a-are supposed to take care of their personal needs,” the guy murmurs, practically lying in his seat to get under his desk.
Torrance flashes his fangs at him and stands straight. He moves to hover behind me, resting his hands on my shoulders. “Correct. Unfortunately, Ms. King’s mister was unable to provide her proper care this early evening. Because of this, the duty fell to me, and I accidentally grabbed Ms. King improper clothing nor did I assure she ate her breakfast. I also escorted her here, late, so the fault of her unkempt appearance and tardiness falls on me.”
It’s my turn to sink lower into my seat. I thought I was embarrassed before, but I’m mortified now. This asshole just confirmed that I’m a hot mess. Even if it was no fault of my own, I can’t stop my cheeks from blushing.
“Get out, Torrance,” I mutter, training my gaze on the wall. “You’re making it worse.”
He leans down to look at me. “How so? This reprehensible supposed instructor clearly has no idea what he’s talking about in regards to you. You are far from uncleanly, and I highly doubt you could ever smell bad, or in Mr. Adkins’ crass words, disgusting. I find you quite appealing.”
I turn in my seat to look at him, his dark eyes flashing silver at me with undeniable desire. He looks at my mouth, his face close enough that all he’d have to do is close the two inches of space to kiss me.
And fuck me, do I want him to. How can I be so attracted and so pissed off at someone at the same time? He basically slapped a “property of the Kings” across my throat earlier. He accused me of screwing up his life. He blames me for Culver’s death when he should blame that dickwad for trying to mess with me.
“I look forward to claiming you, Fiona,” he murmurs, bringing his hand up to push my hair behind my ear.
His words snap me from my sudden blood lust that has me all sorts of crazy thinking about what it would be like to let him put his mouth all over me—and have him let me return the favor. But fuck it. I’m not one to be claimed. I’m more than that bullshit.
I whack his hand away from me and glare. “You’ve interrupted my class long enough. I don’t care if you think I’m still good enough to eat. I don’t need you standing up or defending me. This class is for donors, and you are sure as hell not one. So please leave.”
“Fiona, I—”
“Leave!” I screech, pointing at the door.
Torrance disappears from next to me and reappears in front of Mr. Adkins. Resting his palms on the instructor’s desk, Torrance bends down and glares at him. A blip of fear squeezes my heart. I’m afraid he’s going to do something terrible to the old man, who even though he embarrassed me was only doing what this school of vampires made him.
“Mr. Adkins, if I ever catch you speaking so obtusely to Ms. King, I will not hesitate assuring it never happens again. You do not call out and humiliate a woman in such a way. Do you understand? If you have concerns about Ms. King you will bring it up directly to her in private.”
“Yes, Mr. King,” Mr. Adkins says, lowering his gaze.
“Actually, I take that back. Do not speak to her at all. She is only in this class because it’s a requirement. You will pass her regardless.”
Mr. Adkins nods his head and glances toward me. I cover my face with my hands and take a few deep breaths, waiting for the sound of the door closing behind Torrance.
A hand knocks on my desk, drawing my attention from the imaginary hole I want to bury myself in. I look at the guy next to me, the one who answered Torrance’s question that Mr. Adkins couldn’t.
“I’ve never seen anyone correct Mr. Adkins before, which he deserved. I wonder what he said.” He smirks at me. “Hopefully something that will have him in need of focusing on his own personal hygiene.”
I raise my eyebrows and laugh. Hearing him wonder what Torrance said makes me feel tons better. I realize that my hearing must still be out of whack from the venom bite that continues to throb on my neck. “Hopefully.”
The guy offers me a wide smile and extends his hand. “I’m Ivo Nowak and hopefully the future head of daylight security of the Daybreak Hills Estate in the future King Region.”
Well, if that isn’t a mouthful. I don’t even know what the hell I’m supposed to be called besides a personal donor. “You’re going to live with the Kings?”
Ivo’s brows pinch together like I’ve said the most ridiculous thing. “I’m training to serve the Knightly Coven, not the Kings. Their city is within the future King Region. How do you not know that?”
“I’m not from this territory,” I say.
“Maybe we can meet in the library sometime. I doubt anyone will go out of their way to teach you the real things you need to know.” Ivo shifts closer, ignoring Mr. Adkins as he starts his lecture.
I look at Ivo, and I mean really look at him. He’s cute enough with his neatly combed dark hair, caramel eyes, and clean-shaven face. Something familiar lies in his gaze. He might be in one or two of my other classes. I can’t be sure since I barely paid attention.
“Do you have a death wish?” I whisper, trying to figure out if he’s messing with me.
His smile widens. “Actually no. Had it been yesterday, I wouldn’t have even considered it. But after...” He licks his lips and gets as close as possible, the scent of his minty breath slightly strange since I’m used to scents much sweeter. “I know what you are, dhampir.”
My blood cools. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He touches my knee under my desk. “It’s okay, Ms. Flamme. Your secret is safe with me.”
Chapter 12
Acceptable Compromise
THE REST OF MY NIGHT flies by without much incident. I haven’t seen any of the Kings since Torrance scared the shit out of Mr. Adkins. The guy wouldn’t look in my direction, even though I silently begged him to get Ivo to stop looking at me.
I was wrong about his familiarity from class, because I haven’t seen him past the Donor Hygiene lecture, so I must’ve just seen him around. Maybe in the dining hall. No matter what, I’m on edge. Not only because of the Kings but because Ivo left me with a ton of questions. The biggest one being how the hell he knew what I was.
So, after my Personal Donor Support Group, I wait for the lobby to clear to see if one of the Kings will show up. No one comes, and I refuse to go looking for them. Instead, I stroll to the reception counter.
Mr. Croft peers up at me with pinched brows and wrinkles lining his forehead. “How may I help you, Ms. King?” he asks, his voice sharp with annoyance like I interrupted something important, though all I see is a blank computer screen.
“I need directions to the library,” I say, resting my elbows on the counter.
He purses his lips. “You can find a map of the school on your work device.”
“I don’t have my work device.” I sigh. “You know what? It’s fine. I’ll figure it out.”
Spinning on my feet, I stomp my way toward the archway that leads to one of the grand hallways on the side I think leads to a donor commons area. I’ll probably have better luck asking someone there anyway.
“Wrong way, Fiona.” I stop in my tracks and swing my arm in an attempt to clock Torrance for startling me. He catches my fist and pulls my hand down without letting go.
I huff and yank free of him. “It’s rude to sneak up on someone.”
His jaw twitches. “It’s rude to try to punch someone trying to help. Are you this aggressive with my brothers, or is this just the way you like to act with me.”
“I’d kick all of you in the balls given the chance, so no. Don’t consider yourself special.”
I expect him to scowl at me, but his dark eyes light up with the smile that stretches across his handsome face. I get caught off guard by how hot he looks when he’s not glowering or humiliating me.
“You know, my brothers are wrong about you,” he says, motioning for me to stroll with him back into the lobby and across to the other side where another grand hallway awaits. “They think you’re a bit wild and overly confident to hide the fact that you’re scared out of your mind by being here. They also think you’re far more fragile than you let on to be.”
“I’m not afraid,” I snap.
He looks at me in his peripheral vision. “I know that. I don’t think you’re fragile either. I mean, look at that bite.” Shifting my hair from my shoulder, Torrance tries to look at the throbbing mark left behind by Culver.
I swing out and punch him in the solar plexus. He bends forward, a growl escaping his throat. I take the chance to dash away from him and deeper into the hallway. Without a sense of direction, I just keep moving and hoping to stumble somewhere familiar.
Torrance speeds in front of me and blocks my way. His fangs flash from beneath his full lips, a stark contrast from the smooth dark hue of his skin. Stepping into my space, he gets close enough for me to breathe in his mouthwatering scent. My stomach burns with hunger, my dhampir side awakening at Torrance’s presence.
I try to put more space between us, but my back hits the wall, and I have nowhere else to go. “You need to step back and learn what boundaries are.”
Torrance shifts on his feet, actually listening to me. The movement surprises me, the sudden empty air between us far greater than my body wants. Something deep-seated comes over me, and I grip onto the front of his tailored jacket with a crown crest on the breast pocket, spinning him around. He lets me cage him in, my hands digging into the taut muscles of his broad chest.
“I thought you wanted space,” he murmurs, his voice coming out in a breathy hum that sends tingles between my legs.
I inch my face closer. “I don’t like to be cornered.”
“It triggers your fear instincts.” It’s not a question. All vampires know exactly what to do to scare humans. Stalking them, cornering them, chasing them—anything that feels like they’re hunting us is enough.
“It triggers my need to bite you,” I say, stretching even closer so that we share the same breath. “It also confuses me.”
He licks his lips. “In what way?”
Without responding, I slide my hand to the back of his neck and pull him to me until our lips meet. Torrance stiffens in surprise for a second before reacting to my unexpected affection with a wild passion that sends me jumping into his arms. His tongue slips between my lips as he explores my mouth. His hands rub down the length o
f my back until he pulls me even closer by my ass.
His mouth tastes as amazing as he smells. My blood hunger shifts into blood lust, and all I can think about is figuring out how to turn a kiss into something more satiating. Torrance moans a breath into my mouth, something more intimidating than I imagined hardening against my thigh. I’m not the only one turned on.
I nip his lip, testing to see how hard he’ll let me bite him. He drops me an inch lower, flexing his raging hard-on between my legs, the fabric of our clothing seemingly not much of a barrier between us now.
Torrance bites his own lip, sending a burst of tangy yet sweet, like a citrus dessert, flavor across my tongue. And damn does it set me off.
I suck harder on his lip, not even letting him pull away from me. A hot moan vibrates across my mouth from him. “If we don’t stop, I will bite you,” I say through a kiss. “Your blood...it tastes amazing. Unlike anything.”
“You want more?” he asks, pulling back slightly to meet my gaze.
I suck my bottom lip between my teeth to bite it. “Does that weird you out?”
“That’s the last thing your desire does to me.” Torrance raises his arm to his mouth and sinks his fangs into it.
A breathless moan escapes my mouth, my hunger and need kicking my body into action. I pull his arm to my mouth without hesitating and latch my lips over his bite. Blood fills my mouth along with a wave of hot desire, and I reach down and caress my hand over his erection, just feeling exactly what I do to him.
“Just a little,” he whispers, his eyes locking onto mine. “We’re not in private.”
I draw my tongue over his skin. “And why is that?”
“Can I take you back to my room—”
Something clatters in the hallway, and I throw myself away from Torrance and land on my ass. He’s quick to help me to my feet, hooking his fingers around my waist as he pulls me protectively into his side. Rylie and Berkeley stand a few feet away. Rylie gawks at me while Berkeley glowers at his brother. My heart pounds in an attempt to escape my chest, and I try to step away from Torrance, but his hold on me, while not painful or tight, still feels unbreakable.