Page 16 of Mortal Blood
“Breakfast?” he suggested, reaching past me to grab his schedule from the small table beside the mirror.
“I wish,” I said, picking up mine and holding it up for his inspection. “We don’t quite match up this year.”
“What…the…fuck,” he snarled, every muscle in his body abruptly tense as he glared at my schedule like he was imagining a thousand torments on it—and I knew it wasn’t because our classes didn’t line up. It was because of the reason our classes didn’t line up. My new addition.
I couldn’t say I was any happier about it than he was.
“I’m going to speak to Astor,” he said, curling his hand into a fist, but not before I saw several elongated nails. “Right now.”
I planted my hand firmly on his chest. “Right now you need to get back control of yourself before you shift and shred your clothes.”
He didn’t seem particularly swayed by that argument, and granted, the idea of him standing here naked was no real deterrent to me, either.
“Look, Astor’s not going to change her mind about this. She wants to rub my nose in what I am, and make sure everyone in the academy knows.” If they don’t already. “What better way than assigning me lessons in the feeding den?”
“Fine.” No part of his body became less tense. “Then I’ll tell her she’s putting me in that lesson, too.”
“No-one other than vampires and feeders are allowed in that room, you know that. And it didn’t end so well for me last time I went there uninvited.”
Which was the understatement of the year. It had ended with me being very publicly fed on by Thade by way of punishment—concluding with me orgasming in response in front of the entire academy.
“Let them try to feed on me, and it won’t be human blood spilling,” he snarled.
“Cole, leave it. Please. For me.”
Some of the tension eased from his shoulders just a fraction, and I caught his chin, turning him to meet my eye.
“Astor wants this to be a big deal. She wants everyone staring at me, because she knows I hate it. So no way in hell am I going to let her know it’s getting to me.”
“You shouldn’t have to go through this alone,” he said, catching my hand in his, and kissing my fingertips lightly.
“I’ll never be alone. You’re in here, remember?” I tapped my chest once, and he pouted adorably.
“If we sealed the mate bond, I’d be in there properly.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yes, let’s ignite civil war in your pack.”
“I told you once, I’d burn the world down for you.”
“Actually,” I said, planting a teasing kiss on his lips, “I think you vowed to teach me to burn the world down…but there’ll be time for that later. I’d better get to class.”
“You’re sure?” he asked, searching my face. I nodded.
“I’m sure. You think I can’t handle a couple of vampires?”
He threw his head back and laughed. “I’m more worried that there’ll be none left by sunset.”
Chapter Six
Vote of confidenceand tough words aside, it took every ounce of courage I possessed to reach my hand up and touch the door to the feeding den…and for a moment I didn’t think I’d be able to push it open. And then I remembered the cruel look on Astor’s face yesterday. I’d meant everything I’d said to Cole. I wasn’t letting her win this one. I gritted my teeth, and shoved the door open.
Silence spread like ripples on a lake as each student noticed my presence and stopped what they were doing to turn and stare at me, freezing me to the spot. These people had not been my allies last year, and now I was walking into the heart of their territory in Darkveil.
As sharply as the silence had taken hold, clusters of whispers broke out amongst the gathered vamps, each becoming louder than the last as they grew in confidence.
“I heard she…”
“…disgrace they even let her…”
