Academy of Vampire Heirs: Dhampirs 101

by Ginna Moran

  “We had an agreement not to touch her until the final decision about her contract was made,” Berkeley says, his voice soft and even, his mouth unmoving.

  I realize he’s doing that whisper thing that prevents ordinary humans from hearing vampires when they don’t want to be heard. I remain expressionless. I bet Berkeley hasn’t considered the possibility that the side effects of Culver’s bite might not have worn off like he thought. And there is no way I’m going to tell him. Hearing them speak about me gives me an advantage.

  “I didn’t touch her first. She came on to me,” Torrance says just as lowly.

  Berkeley’s eyes flash silver in anger. “You could’ve denied her.”

  Torrance growls. “Bullshit. You wouldn’t have, brother. I know how much she gets to you. I’m nearly certain you’re not even broken up about the death of our brother.”

  “Like you are—”

  “Rylie, what are you doing with Berkeley?” I can’t take the whispering argument between the two of them about me, so I break their supposed silence.

  Berkeley automatically steps away from Rylie and crosses his arms over his chest. I raise my eyebrows at his sudden movement. He obviously doesn’t want me to assume anything, but I don’t know why. Maybe he thinks giving her even an ounce of attention will push me back into Torrance’s arms. At this point, I think only another offering of his blood will do that, because the look Rylie gives me makes me feel like a traitor to humanity.

  “I was escorting her to our meeting with the headmistress,” Berkeley says, answering for her.

  “Oh, okay.” I grab Torrance’s hand and manage to detach it from my side. “I was just on my way to the library.”

  “The library? No. Torrance was supposed to escort you to the same meeting, considering it involves you, Fi.” Berkeley flicks his gaze from his brother to me. “And so you know, the library is down the other hall.”

  I tighten my jaw and jerk my attention to Torrance, who surprisingly meets my gaze. Any other person would probably look elsewhere considering my annoyance twists my features into a scowl. “You told me I was heading the wrong way.”

  He doesn’t react. “You were...for our meeting.”

  I backhand him across the shoulder. “You should’ve told me.”

  His lips pull up on one side in a half smile. “You looked like you’d put up a fight, so I went with the surprise approach.” Reaching up, he caresses his knuckles across my cheek like he can’t resist touching me. “Surprise. We’re going to find out who gets to claim your contra—”

  I swing my arm, whacking Torrance in the shoulder again. He doesn’t move out of my way, just letting me, and it pisses me off more than it should. I can’t help the reminder that he could’ve moved and didn’t, in a twisted attempt to make me feel like I’m the one in control.

  Raising my arm, I prepare for another punch. I’ll keep doing it until he stops me if I have to. It’s Berkeley who intervenes, stepping up behind me to lock his fingers around my wrist. I try to elbow him, but he shifts and presses his chest into my back. Torrance doesn’t move either, the two of them squishing me into an infuriating vampire sandwich. And my rebel body. I like being between them way too much. My stomach growls obnoxiously loud, exclaiming that I better take my chance and try to devour them.

  “Did you not feed her?” Berkeley whispers to Torrance from over my shoulder.

  I groan and knock my head into his bone-hard peck. I thought the super hearing was cool, but now I’m just annoyed. “Someone better step back and give me some space.”

  They both ignore me, and Torrance says, “I watched her eat lunch in the donor hall.”

  “And what did she have?”

  I shove myself back into Berkeley because the two of them continue to whisper about me. If I couldn’t hear them, standing here in their supposed silence would be creepy as hell. And by the quiet scuff of Rylie’s shoes on the floor, I know I’m not the only one who thinks so.

  “Are we just going to stand here or are we going to meet with the headmistress?” I ask, raising my voice a little louder so that they can’t ignore me. “I have a lot of assignments to complete and really do need to head to the library.” Not that I actually want to do the work. I just can’t get what Ivo said in class off my mind. He knew what I was, and the only people I know of who know that sort of information are Blood Rebels. It wouldn’t be too shocking to discover another one here. Blood Rebels are everywhere. Soldiers sometimes hide in plain sight.

  Berkeley and Torrance both extend their hands out to me. “Sorry, yes. We should be going,” they say in unison.

  I frown. “God, you guys are creepy as hell sometimes.”

  Torrance chuckles. “When you live with someone so long, sometimes you have the same thought.”

  “It’s obnoxious,” Berkeley adds.

  They both keep their hands out, waiting for me to choose who I want escorting me to the headmistress’s office. Rylie stares at me in silence, the same question crossing her tired features. I consider ignoring both of them, but their eagerness digs into me, and even though I shouldn’t—and I mean, really fucking shouldn’t—give either of them more of my attention, I relent and take both their hands.

  “This is new.” The voice comes from behind me, and I twist my neck to glance over my shoulder at Hudson. He stands next to Aspen, and the two of them stare at the three of us. “I didn’t think either of you would ever dare try sharing.”

  I twist my lips in a scowl. “Sharing?”

  No one responds to me. Hudson and Aspen close the space, and Aspen motions for Rylie to walk ahead of him. I don’t get the chance to repeat my question. Berkeley and Torrance pull me along with them, forcing me to keep a brisk pace that I nearly have to run between them to keep up.

  “This shouldn’t take long,” Berkeley says, glancing at me. “We’ve already submitted our applications to transfer your contract. Headmistress Rasmussen will take into account the history we share, so the likelihood of becoming my personal donor is quite high. You will be able to start providing your blood immediately.”

  I flare my nostrils with my deep breath. “Great.” Sarcasm drips in my voice. He sounds way too excited, which annoys the hell out of me. This isn’t some matching game. I don’t want to be anyone’s personal donor.

  Torrance squeezes my hand. “Don’t mind my brother’s wishful thinking. The headmistress will assure you are placed with someone you’ll be happy with.”

  “Which is hopefully me.” Hudson winks at me from over his shoulder. “I haven’t been able to get you out of my head since our little fall together.”

  Fuck me. How the hell they can go from being pissed and angry earlier to practically jumping over one another for my attention is beyond me.

  “I don’t even know what you’re talking about,” I say to Hudson, purposely lying. I don’t think I’ll ever forget smooshing him with my boobs and how close we came to kissing, but there is no way in hell that I’m going to let him know that.

  Hudson fake-glares at me, seeing right through my words. “Careful, love. I’m fully prepared to remind you the second I sign my name to your contract and make you mine. I’d love to finish what we started.”

  I open my mouth to tell him that his fantasy will remain just that, but we enter the small lobby outside the headmistress’s office. The receptionist buzzes us in, and I find Headmistress Rasmussen sitting at her desk with four stacks of papers in front of her. She tilts her head up to glance at us but doesn’t give us an ounce of expression to give away what is going through her mind.

  “Ms. King, Ms. Reynolds. Please take a seat,” she says, motioning to the two chairs in front of her desk. Looking to the Kings, she nods her head toward the sitting area and adds, “The four of you can wait over there. I have a few things I’d like to discuss with your staff before I finalize my decision.”

  None of them argue, but each of them takes a moment to touch my shoulder. It’s the oddest thing. They obviously don’t see
the imaginary wall I put around myself to assure my personal space from others, and it seems worse right now, like they’re silently claiming me.

  Headmistress Rasmussen turns her attention to Rylie first. “Ms. Reynolds, not much will change with your staff contract, though as restitution for your injuries, they’d like to offer you the opportunity to decide on the final staff member they’ll be adding to your daylight household in the coming year.”

  “So you basically want me to punish someone else as a way of making it up to me.” Rylie directs her attention to the Kings instead of the headmistress.

  Headmistress Rasmussen taps her nails on the glass top of her desk. “I don’t think you understand the generosity of their offer, Ms. Reynolds. The position of a household staff of the King Coven happens to be coveted by many. All of our current donor students have not been sorted into households yet apart from you. If you happen to enjoy someone’s company, now would be the chance to solidify his or her position. Transfers between covens tend to be denied.”

  Rylie side-glances me. “Let me get this straight. The offer is meant to be personal? I’ve been here for like two seconds. What if I end up hating the person I pick? Again, not exactly making up for this shit show.”

  I can’t stop the bubbling laughter from escaping my throat. Because she’s right. “This is ridiculous. Why not offer her something more valuable?”

  “This is the most expensive thing we can offer,” Berkeley says, scrunching his nose like I’ve insulted him.

  “Clueless bastards,” Rylie whispers under her breath.

  Hudson growls. “You don’t have to accept the offer, but perhaps you can talk to your classmates and get their opinions. A certain male seems to have a thing for you and would probably love to be asked.”

  My mouth forms an O as I realize exactly the meaning behind the offer. “Seriously? You want her to pick someone with the intention of a union?”

  “That tends to make happy households, which is something we desire,” Aspen says, speaking up.

  “And what about me? Do I get the same offer? I did not leave home just to end up somewhere else with the same procreation expectations.” I lean back in my chair and cross my arms.

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” Headmistress Rasmussen says, drawing my attention to her. “Such scenarios would never be risked. Pregnant donors cannot provide blood.”

  Rylie and I look to each other. If only something like that wouldn’t mean expanding the donor population. That’s the difference between the Blood Rebels and Blood Life Corp. Rebels want to assure we survive outside of the cities. Larger numbers mean more people to fight. But for vampires? It means assuring a future food source.

  “Fuck. Is she considering what I think she is?” Hudson whispers under his breath to his brothers.

  “No male donor in this school would be that stupid,” Torrance responds.

  I twist in my seat and glare at the four of them. “So I’d actually get contraception if I find someone I like?” I know the answer already—that there is no way I’m allowed ever to be intimate with a donor, but it’s way too good of an opportunity to screw with them after everything.

  Headmistress Rasmussen presses her lips together. “Ms. King, such radical ideas cannot come to fruition in your case. You have been claimed by the King Coven. If you feel like you need more from your contract outside of the basic needs that must be provided to you, you can discuss such things with your mister.”

  I rub my lips together. “So intimacy isn’t considered a basic need?”

  Rylie grimaces at my remark. “Fiona.”

  It takes everything in me not to react. “It takes more than food, clothing, and conversation to assure my happiness, which according to the Personal Donors Support Group is what you teach vampires to be the key to their own happiness with a personal blood source.” I glance over my shoulder, noticing that the four brothers cling onto my every word.

  “That is correct, Ms. King. We find unwilling blood sources to be quite exhausting, and we are not barbaric. We believe the key to civility lies in how well we treat the donor population. Why do you think I put the no-bite clause on your contract? I fully believe you’ll grow out of your disdain toward the idea.” The headmistress smirks at the Kings. “And from the applications on my desk, it sounds like I was right.”

  Damn her. Damn them.

  “It’s only been a few days, so I can’t be so certain.”

  Berkeley softly growls, the noise low and barely audible that I shouldn’t be able to hear it. But I’m glad I can. There’s something satisfying to my dhampir side about the intense attention they give me in this moment.

  I decide to push my luck and add, “While the Kings are pleasant enough, I don’t know if they actually understand the concept of a woman’s needs. They are quite insistent about their desire for me to fill their...insatiable hunger that I don’t think I could ever be truly happy. And since that’s your teachings here for a blood donor...maybe you’ll find it in your heart not to force me into a situation I hate.”

  “Is she fucking kidding? All I can think about are the hundreds of different ways I can make her cu—”

  Berkeley whacks Hudson on the shoulder. “Headmistress Rasmussen, I’d like to point out that Fiona has only ever vocalized her dissatisfaction with Culver. She cannot possibly know that she’d hate her life as a King with one of us.”

  The headmistress turns her attention to me. “I have to agree, Mr. King. My decision stands on her contract remaining with your coven.”

  “Shit,” I mutter.

  “But, since Ms. King has gone through the trouble to express her desire of a life where her personal needs encompass more than what must be done for her survival, I will include that in her contract based on what she wants and agrees to.” She turns to me. “I hope you find that an acceptable compromise.”

  I nearly fall out of my chair at her words.

  And then I nearly die at the sexy grin each of the King brothers gives me. They are far too happy about the task.

  “So, if that’s all settled, we’d like to know who will acquire Fiona’s contract,” Aspen says, flashing his fangs at me in a way that totally makes me unintentionally smile.

  Ah, hell.

  “Due to these unconventional circumstances, I’ve decided to let Ms. King choose between you.” Headmistress Rasmussen waves her hand. “Now, go on, Ms. King. Tell me who you’d like to establish a personal donor relationship with.”

  What the hell? I get to choose? That concept goes against everything I know about Blood Life Corp and donors. We’re not supposed to have the ability to make these types of life-changing decisions.

  My heart thrums wildly under the sudden silence and anticipation. Turning to Rylie, I meet her gaze. She searches my face, trying to figure out who I’ll pick before I say the words. I shrug my shoulders without looking at the guys. I don’t know who I should pick. I don’t want any of them to claim me.

  “Pick who you think can provide everything you need,” Rylie says, reaching over to rest her hand on mine. She’s talking about blood. And right now, I’m pretty sure I could get it from any of them. None of them act like the idea repels them. Hell, Torrance wanted to take me back to his room so I could drink as much as I liked.

  The memory sends a shiver through me, and I meet his dark gaze. He smiles at me like he knows exactly what I’m thinking about. Blush crawls up my neck, and I avert my eyes to Berkeley. He cocks an eyebrow, daring me to even try forgetting our moment of passion together. Aspen leans forward, his blue eyes begging me for attention. He licks his lips, reminding me of our hot kiss outside of class and how he unintentionally satiated my dhampir need by trying to help my donor side after the blood loss. He seems like the type to care for me on every level I need.

  Hudson clears his throat to get me to meet his penetrating gaze. “I know we haven’t gotten to know each other like you have my brothers, but I can promise you that our relationship will be nothing short of blissful
, love.”

  His words make me want to find out exactly what he means. Because he stopped by to offer me his blood to protect me from Culver, I can’t shrug him off without consideration. Our attraction helps.

  “Well, Ms. King?” Headmistress Rasmussen asks, tapping her nails on her desk again. “We don’t have all night.”

  I take a deep breath. “No.”

  She frowns. “What do you mean no? No isn’t a choice.”

  “You asked me to pick, and so I’m picking no one.” I cross my arms and lean back in my chair, turning my gaze to the ceiling.

  Headmistress Rasmussen flies from her desk and yanks me from my chair. I don’t get a chance to fight before I find myself pinned to the wall. Four distinct growls sound through the air, and she twists her neck to snarl at the King brothers closing in around us like they’d risk fighting the headmistress for me.

  Turning back to me, Headmistress Rasmussen attempts to lock me in a mind manipulating gaze. I automatically force my body to relax in an attempt to fake my way through it, considering I just drank Torrance’s blood. I’m shocked as hell that none of them mention it. I know Berkeley saw.

  “Ms. King, tell me which of the King brothers you want to take your contract,” the headmistress says, leaning in so close that her silver flashing eyes are the only things I can see.

  “I don’t know,” I say, keeping my voice even.

  “Ms. King—”

  Soft murmurs whisper to me as Berkeley, Torrance, Aspen, and Hudson all talk among themselves too quietly for us to hear.

  Berkeley clears his throat. “Would it be unrealistic to request that we split her contract and share her as a part-time personal donor?”

  Headmistress Rasmussen sets me on my feet to turn to face them. “That’s a bit dangerous, considering our possessive nature, don’t you think.”

  “I’m good with sharing,” Hudson says, smirking at me. “I trust my brothers to play fair. We wouldn’t have gotten to our position as future region heads otherwise.”

  Oh, shit.