Page 44 of Guardian

If you want your brother to think you’re doing something, act like it, Alek.

Frustration welled up in my chest. Not due to Kaleb’s control but rather Ms. Eli’s resoluteness.

She didn’t cower away from her honesty nor hid herself behind lies. Her actions cemented what I could never amount to, a fight that she chased while I longed for. And her words awoke a visceral desire that was slowly etching itself into my bones. The intrigue flourished into something unprecedented, a tangible sensation that twisted my stomach until my throat swelled against a trapped breath.

Was it admiration? Jealousy? Did I want to be like her, or did I simply want her?

Don’t be absurd,I told myself, yet I couldn’t swallow it down as truth.

Between two risks, there was only one I could accept, and I escaped to find it before the brewing realization could continue descending upon me.

Noah’s arms flexed across the pool’s surface, his body turning with each motion as he swam back and forth. Since his youth, he relished competing against us until he defeated each brother. Though it’s been quite some time, he still practiced as if a competition loomed.

Water swept beyond the floor before my feet, his deep raven hair concealing his forehead as he came up. His abdomen rested along the border as he shook his head, revealing cobalt blue eyes that shimmered when they fell on me.

“Oh my.” His chest lay on the ground as he leaned closer. “What a lovely coincidence to discover you in my domain.”

Noah’s tone habitually chimed, quite unlike anyone else’s. While Christopher and Jacob were a constant drone, Jacque and Kaleb a fluctuating yet obnoxious ring, and Raphael’s a silent hum, Noah’s voice was a penetrating note, a treble that collided with my brothers.

The slightest change of tone foretold his objective. Currently, he was utterly fascinated, which was equally charming as it was horrifying.

“Tell me, Alekin, what are you seeking me out for?”

“Well, Brother—”

He waved a hand in the air and lifted from the water, his long limbs steadying on the floor. “Ah, ah! With that introduction, I’ll need a drink before we begin.” He motioned onto the left pathway and into the last door beside the feeding space’s entry. When he exited, a transparent bag rested in his palm with a straw in an opening, the blood swishing as he walked. Similarly to Kaleb, he displayed his sharpened fangs in full glory, the length extending as he slurped.

In recent years, vampires discovered the similarities between human and pig blood cells. With a simple tweak in the content and structure, it was able to provide the same nutrients as a human’s. For common vampires, it had become their staple diet due to its accessibility and affordability. But for my brothers, it was a snack.

“Not as refreshing, but this will do for now.” Noah exhaled, and the stale metallic scent lingered between us. “Now tell me, Alekin, the suspense iskillingme.”

My throat grew dry. “I would like to request a copy of the feeding log, Brother.”

He arched an eyebrow, the gleam still apparent. “Oh! To say I’m shocked is an understatement, though something I’m looking forward to. Why do you desire such a thing out of all the privileges I can bestow upon you?”

“I would like to review a few names from the previous weeks.” To give answers to Noah was to play a battle of chess— each word had to be calculated and evaluated before a move could be made because if one misinterpretation occurred, then he’d gain the advantage.

“Being cautious, I see!” He sucked the straw, his slurp blaring beside my ears. “I must admit it hurts to be kept secrets from, littlest brother.” He swished his mouth as he tapped a finger against his cheek. “Answer me this: Have you practiced swimming?”

I clenched my jaw, suppressing the bewilderment that itched to escape. “No, I haven’t, Brother.”

His appearance shifted, a serious ambiance outlining his features but not stripping the shimmer in his gaze. He stood taller, towering over me with sheer confidence that only he possessed. His voice altered, too, to one that resembled the eldest.

“Measure for measure, favor for a favor, a debt that will undoubtedly be repaid.” He slurped the last bits of his pouch, purging the drops that possibly remained. “Do you understand the terms you must uphold for such information?”

“Repaid be the debt, undoubtedly a favor for a favor, measure to measure,” I repeated, followed by a nod, the words a seal to the agreement. It hadn’t been my first time undergoing such an arrangement, yet unlike the past, this wouldn’t be a foolish mistake or a learning curve.

His mouth widened into a vile smile, and his stained fangs lapped over his lips. “Then the debt you will owe me is a race in the lake,” he stated, his fruity tone resurfacing. “There will be no definite date or time for such an event, so I expect you to be on your toes, just like the good old days, Alekin!”

My stomach tensed as my tongue slipped, “That’s all?”

“Remarkable, isn’t it? I continue to outspend myself with such charity.” He crossed his arms over his chest and rocked from side to side. “If only my lovely Bethany would admire such heart-stirring qualities.”

He handed me the emptied bag and turned toward the pool, the water swallowing his body as he broke through the surface. When his head appeared abruptly, he tilted his head toward my direction.

“Why?”

It was a forthright question, one that I wasn’t expecting an answer to.

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