( DANE POV )
Lying there, with a human nestled securely in my arms, I was grappling with an upheaval of emotions that had no right to exist within me.
Not after centuries of disciplined existence.
For me, feeding on humans has always been a matter of necessity, devoid of any emotional entanglement. It is transactional, a simple exchange between predator and prey.
Yet, what transpired with Jo was different. It transcended the mere act of nourishment. It was intimate, filled with an intensity that resonated deep within my ancient soul.
As I felt her breathing even out, drifting between wakefulness and sleep, I marveled at the trust she exhibited. To fall asleep in the presence of a vampire, especially after sharing such an intense experience, spoke volumes of her exhaustion...or perhaps her comfort in my presence.
My presence, the oldest and likely the most dangerous vampire at the academy. The thought was both baffling and intriguing.
Jo was here as a form of punishment, a detail that had initially led me to vow to keep a certain distance. The complications that could arise from becoming too involved with a human under such circumstances are numerous and fraught with potential issues.
I broke that vow pretty much immediately.
Now, as I lay in bed feeling her warmth against me, I couldn't deny the pull, the inexplicable connection that seemed to draw me to her.
She wasn't a troublemaker in the traditional sense. Her defiance seemed more a shield against the world than any genuine desire to cause chaos.
Her sharp tongue would undoubtedly cause her problems within the academy. It was an issue that needed to be addressed, yet as I pondered our interaction, I couldn't help but admire her spirit.
Total obedience and quiet submission were dull. I realized I craved her wit, her sharp tongue. Her challenges.
I craved her.
These reflections were abruptly interrupted by a loud knock at the door. The sound startled Jo, pulling her momentarily from the edge of sleep. "Shh, just stay here, okay?" I whispered, lightly kissing her forehead. She nodded before turning over and closing her eyes once more. I could feel how fast her pulse was now... She wasn't going back to sleep.
I rose from bed and composed myself before answering the door. Camilla stood before me, her expression roaring, a reminder of the delicate balance of power within the academy.
"Camilla," I greeted, my tone measured, the weight of centuries of etiquette and diplomacy leveling my voice. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Her glare was penetrating, a silent testament to the severity of the situation that had drawn her to my door. I braced myself, aware that the tranquility of the moment shared with Jo was about to be challenged. Whatever the reason for Camilla's anger, I prepared to defend what had transpired between us.
A stance that, until tonight, I would never have anticipated taking for a human.
"Remember, Dane, the academy has rules and expectations for both our kind and the humans under our care. This," she pointed to the bed, "is a serious breach of those protocols. Miss Fisher is here as a form of correction, not for... romantic entanglements. Especially not before she's even been properly introduced. She needs to be in the newbie dorm."
"I understand that," I conceded, recognizing the validity of her concerns while remaining firm in my actions. "But I explained everything she needed to know and provided aftercare. This is her first time being fed on, so please, give her some grace and maybe some time."
"Fine, Sire. Get her to the newbie dorm within the hour," Camilla said through gritted teeth before turning on her 6-inch heel.
Her concession was reluctant, granted more due to my position and lineage than any argument I could have made. As a prince, I wielded a certain level of influence that, while powerful, was not a tool I was keen to overuse.
The balance of power within the academy was delicate, and I always preferred to navigate these waters with care and respect for all involved. The whole charade of masquerading as mafia families back in the 20th century might not have nailed the control aspect we were aiming for, but it did hammer home one lesson: A touch of class can make even the messiest situations look more polished, more palatable.
I returned to Jo. "I got you into trouble," she whispered.
"Ehh, maybe a little," I admitted. I pulled her closer, wrapping my arms around her with a reassurance that was as much for her as it was for myself. "Luckily for you, I'm kind of a big deal around here." The attempt at silliness was genuine, an effort to ease the anxiety that had undoubtedly built in my absence, listening to Camilla scream about protocol.
"Why?" Her curiosity was a flicker of light in the darkness of my life, a sign of her interest in me and my world.
"Well... to start with, I'm the oldest here... by about 400 years or so." Her gasp was unexpectedly pleasing, making me grin as I continued, "I'm just over 1200. I was born in...well, around 880 AD." The numbers were drastic, a testament to the centuries I had traversed and the epochs of human history I had witnessed. To her, my age was a concept as foreign and vast as the night sky, filled with stars and untold stories.
Curled up beside her, the warmth of her body seeping into mine under the covers, I didn't want this moment to end. As much as she needed to sleep, I would only have so long to hear her voice now. "What did you do to get punished?" I quickly asked, trying to distract her and keep her awake.
Her response was filled with defiance. "Why does it matter to you? I taste the same no matter what, right?" The lippiness in her voice, the challenge, provoked something within me. A reaction that was both immediate and fierce.
My eyes darkened, a physical manifestation of the dominant nature I often kept restrained. "You cannot speak to anyone here like that," I told her, "Considering how accommodating I have been to you, it's quite appalling that you continue to act this way. You deserve to be punished, and if you were with any other master and dared to speak like that... you'd be in tears, in pain."
It was against my nature to intimidate over something so small, but the ingrained response to human disrespect was something I couldn't quickly suppress. It was a warning, a reminder of the reality of our world, where consequences are often swift and severe.
Seeing her reaction...shaking, wide-eyed...filled me with regret. It was never my intention to frighten her to such an extent. I closed my eyes to allow them to return to normal and softened my approach. "Sorry, kitten. You can't talk to me like that. It won't end well for anyone, I promise you."
Her voice was low. "I... I took my stepdad's car. I drove it right into a tree. I just... I had to get away from him," she confessed, each word filled with desperation and pain, the story behind them echoing louder than the words themselves.
"Why?" I asked gently, sensing there was more to the story than a simple act of rebellion.
"To get away from him," she repeated.
I chose not to press further, recognizing the emotional disaster she was already navigating.
The realization that I needed to return her to the newbie dorm loomed over us.
"Can I just stay here with you?" she asked, her voice small. Her fear, previously masked by defiance, now surfaced unmistakably as she contemplated being left alone.
The denial pained me as much as it did her. "No, you can't. Do you want me to carry you, or will you walk?"
Her loss of security was clear, a mirror of my own reluctance to part ways. Yet, the academy's rules were unyielding. As much as I wanted to keep her by my side, I knew it wasn't possible if we were to navigate this delicate situation without further complications.
(DANE POV) I extended my hand to her as we made our way to the newbie dorm, a seemingly small gesture but one heavy with significance. "Hold my hand," I proposed, aiming to ward off any potential suitors with a clear signal of my interest, a protective stance against those I deemed unworthy of her.It worked. This act of holding hands transcended mere physical contact. It became our silent assertion of connection. The masters we encountered paid their respects with curtsies, their glances lingering just a bit too long on our joined hands, recognizing the claim I was laying without a need for words.With every step toward the dorm, my protective instincts screamed louder. I fought the duty I owed to the academy and its stringent rules against my urge to assure her of her safety in my absence. Leaving her there clashed violently with everything in me, yet obligations and expectations forced my hand. Still, this fragile yet undeniable bond we'd started to form was not something I was r
(JO POV) Walking into the newbie dorm was a scene straight out of a nightmare. The other girls, like me, were fresh into this twisted reality, huddled in their beds. Their soft sobs pierced the haunting silence, a chilling symphony of despair. Close to my assigned spot was a tiny brunette, her body quaking beneath a blanket too thin to offer any genuine warmth.Gathering every ounce of bravery I possessed, I leaned in and whispered, "What happened to you?"Her answer was a descent into a horror I didn't want to imagine. "They... they just kept biting. Everywhere, even inside," she stammered, the agony in her voice painting pictures darker than the night itself. "And they... didn't stop there..." Her words faded into a silence heavy with unspoken terror. I couldn't help but scan her body, noting the brutal tapestry of bite marks that embellished her skin, each one a testament to the savagery she endured. Seeing those marks, particularly the clusters that marred her inner thighs, sent
(JO POV) When Dane's eyes finally flickered open, the shift was dramatic. The storm I had anticipated and prepared to weather seemed to dissipate as if it had never been. "As much as I'd relish the chance to stay like this, today isn't the day for such indulgences," he remarked.My response, a pout, caught me off guard. My behavior mirrored something far less mature than the seriousness of our situation warranted."Today is pivotal, and I must prepare you for what lies ahead," he elaborated, each word underscoring the seriousness of the impending day, sending an involuntary shiver through me."What's wrong, kitten?" he asked as he observed my reaction. "It's the girls... from the dorm. They shared... their experiences. It's terrifying... what they went through..." I stumbled over the words, the memories of their haunted faces and whispered fears clawing to the surface."Shhh, you're under my care. That won't happen to you," he soothed."But how can you be so sure?" My question was l
(DANE POV) The significance of my responsibility to Jo pressed heavily on me, constantly reminding me of the delicate balance I had to maintain. Given our circumstances, I was acutely aware of the potential for her resentment. Yet, deep down, I hoped that perhaps the structure and discipline I was poised to introduce into her life could prove to be constructive. It was entirely different from her natural inclinations, but there was a chance it could offer her something she had been missing.Feeding was an ever-present concern, yet I found myself treading cautiously, keen not to alarm her further. The act, though essential for me, demanded a sensitive approach to preserve the fragile trust developing between us.Cami's arrival brought with it an anxiety that was hard to ignore. Her barely veiled disdain for Jo didn't escape notice, casting a critical glance my way. "Sire, keeping her isolated isn't a solution. She must come to grips with our world. There are no exceptions," she decla
(DANE POV) As the Masters filed into the room, their eyes momentarily landed on Jo. My posture stiffened, a subtle but clear warning. A low growl escaped, a primal signal that she was under my protection, something I rarely did. The message only took a short time to resonate. Soon, no eyes dared linger on her.Camilla initiated the ceremony. "Does any human wish to declare their Master?" The question hung heavily, an invitation to solidify bonds I'm certain none of these humans actually wanted yet. Among the responses, one of Jo's fellow newcomers chose Dominic. Swiftly, he cloaked her in a robe and presented his wrist, signifying the sealing of their connection.When Camilla demanded the humans disrobe and present themselves, I found myself in a dilemma. With a hesitant motion, I helped Jo shed her robe before swiftly pulling her back into the safety of my arms. It wasn't time for her to stand exposed, not until she was ready, not until she chose me openly as her guardian in this
(DANE POV)"I'll take care of her now. No need for the nurse," I told Cami, lifting Jo into my arms to carry her back to my room.Once we were alone, Jo's pent-up emotions erupted. Overwhelmed by the night's events, she yelled and screamed. I was also shaken, upset that things had escalated beyond my control despite my promises to protect her.Noticing the blood trickling down her body from the bites, I pulled her into my lap, determined to tend to her wounds. Starting with the bite on her wrist, I began to lick the injuries. An instinct to heal her overtaking all other senses. She resisted at first, her body rigid."Just let me do it," I urged her. She reluctantly allowed me to lick her wrist. I continued until I was sure it was no longer bleeding. It would finish healing from my blood flowing in her system. My frustration was real. My eyes were black, and the red veins pulsated rapidly, indicating my internal distress. Noticing Jo's reaction to my state, I halted my actions and apo
(JO POV)The trauma of what transpired in the dining room lingered with me, a haunting memory I couldn't shake off. Virginia, the girl from the newbie dorm, her cries of pain as she was bitten repeatedly up and down her thigh, echoed in my mind. Despite Dane's efforts to shield me from the worst of it, I had seen and heard too much. The raw anguish of those moments was indelibly etched into my consciousness.Dane did everything within his power to protect me amid the chaos and predatory frenzy that engulfed the room. Yet, despite his best efforts, I wasn't completely spared; three others managed to bite me—two of them barely breaking the skin, but one bit me with a force that surpassed anything I had felt from Dane... that is, until he decided to bite into my wrist, apologizing beforehand, insisting it was the only way to stop this.It was evident that his treatment of me differed from how other vampires treated their humans. I was lucky, acutely aware of the contrast in our situatio
(JO POV) The discipline continued, and five more pops landed firmly. By now, I was a total mess, the sobs overwhelming any attempt at composure. When I could no longer form the words, Dane began counting for me, his voice steady amid my distress.The ordeal left me emotionally and physically spent, the fire on my skin matched only by the restlessness within. His actions, though harsh, were underscored by a sense of duty, a lesson he felt compelled to impart. As his fingers slipped beneath the fabric, grazing the sensitive skin that was now tender from his discipline, an intense and unfamiliar sensation coursed through me. The unexpected contact, meant to soothe, instead sparked a complex cascade of feelings...surprise, confusion, and an acute awareness of the intimacy of his touch.After a moment of that bewildering contact, he withdrew his fingers and delivered another hard pop, abruptly shifting the atmosphere back to discipline. The sudden return to the reality of the situation