Page 19 of Ashvale: The Vampire's Thrall

"Creepy much," I muttered and his face remained blank. "What do you want?"

"I'm coming to class with you," he said, voice even and deep, and completely at odds with the emotion I could sense coming from our bond. I couldn't pinpoint the actual emotion, it was like a wave I could easily drown in, making me dizzy.

Hayes' hand on my arm centred me as he peered down with something almost like concern before he let go like my arm was on fire. "Let's go."

I didn't say anything, just followed him down the corridor to the stairs that would take us to the classroom I'd been in yesterday. But, to my surprise, he led us outside instead.

"Where are we going?"

"Out."

I rolled my eyes. Dick.

A small smirk ghosted across his mouth like he'd heard my comment and enjoyed it, and I didn't want to look into that too closely. I had enough on my mind.

"Why are we goingoutwhen the classroom is back there?"

"They'll be out here too in a minute. The fresh air helps people stay in control."

I swallowed hard. Great. I could admit that the thought of losing myself like I had when Hayes had found me was terrifying. I had murdered an innocent girl. I'd attacked Hayes. He was an arsehole, but he didn't deserve to have his throat ripped out—mostly, anyway.

The main doors to the castle were open and we stepped out onto the green without seeing anyone else. Maybe everyone knew to steer clear of this area for newbie feeding day.

The cool air hit me and I relaxed slightly before immediately tensing again when Hayes turned to face me, taking in my bare arms and the designs that intertwined on them with something unreadable on his face.

"Don't embarrass us."

"Me?" I scoffed. "Right. Sure. I guess killing you would only be a minor issue. Slight embarrassment."

He rolled his eyes and didn't have time to reply before the rest of our class filed out. Lark wasn't there this time and I felt my brows furrow in concern. They weren't going to let us try this without supervision, right? Living vampires didn'tneedblood, but they could still fall into bloodlust and drinking blood could be pleasurable for each party too. It would be far too easy to lose yourself.

Hayes stepped closer, like he could sense my worry, and I looked at him in surprise. He stared straight ahead, studious and seemingly oblivious. A moment later Elowen strolled out of the castle doors too, clad in dark jeans and boots similar to mine. She smiled around at us as she took her place before the class, but there was something cold, stilted about it. Like she'd forgotten how to feel long ago and had just been going through the motions ever since. I could only hope that I wouldn't become like that—empty, distant. That wasn't living, not really.

“You're very philosophical in the morning," Hayes muttered and I hissed at him, making his body shake with concealed laughter at my side. Bastard. How was it fair that he could hear my thoughts whenever he wanted and yet I could barely work out what he was feeling? “I’m older,” he murmured before Elowen started speaking. “I have more power, more skill, and a natural affinity for telepathy.”

Showoff.

"Good morning," Elowen said, clasping a black umbrella above her head to shield herself from the weak sunlight attempting to filter through the thick grey clouds. "You'll notice these sessions are outside. We've found it to be a successful method of helping contain any group bloodlust. That said, please do your best to stay in control and remove yourself from the immediate area if you become overwhelmed." Nods responded to her words and she smiled slightly, revealing a glimpse of fang. "Very good. For this exercise you will begin in pairs of your choice. Leonora, you will work with Hayes from here on out due to your bond."

Great. I hadn't expected any less when I'd found him outside my door, but it worried me nonetheless. Things between us tended to get a little... tense, when blood was involved.

A small shuffle broke out as the group found partners and we lined up as directed, facing each other.

"Excellent. Now, in your next session we will teach you how to enthral your chosen." Chosen. Such a diplomatic way of sayingvictim."But for now, we want you to focus on your control and this will be easier to do if your partner isn't quite as agreeable."

Enthrallment—was that what Elowen had mentioned in her office my first day? Everything from that day felt like a haze, an uncomfortable blur, but I was certain she'd mentioned me accidentally enthralling Hayes.

"Unless you're aiming to kill, the first thing you must do is be aware of your chosen. Their heartbeat, their breathing, this will be easier when your senses become heightened as an undead. Close your eyes, familiarise yourself with your chosen until you can pick their heart out from a crowd."

Didn't all hearts sound the same? I closed my eyes nonetheless and focused on Hayes in front of me, the bond giving me a better-than-usual sense of him. Now I was focusing on it, I could even parse out some of what he'd been feeling before. Excitement. Anticipation. A small slither of fear, but not of me. Rather,forme. He was worried about what I'd do if I lost control and killed him. That it would… hurt me.

My eyes flew open and Hayes' were already on me, the ice in them having thawed slightly while he'd watched me.

"Step closer to your chosen once you're sure you're in sync with them—their breaths are your breaths. Their heart is your heart."

My heart no longer beat, but I could feel Hayes' inside me, like it could work hard enough for the two of us.

"Take in their scent. If you go too far and you lose control, their scent is the first thing that will change. Fear is tangy, you will learn to recognise it."

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