RAEI watched Professor Morrigan's face harden as she stared at Kieran. The air in the classroom still felt thick from whatever he'd done to Jessica, who was now slumped in her chair, wiping blood from her nose with a tissue someone had given her."That was completely unacceptable," Professor Morrigan said, her voice cutting through the silence. "Using magic to harm another student is grounds for immediate suspension."Without thinking, I stood up. Suspension sounded extreme. "He was just defending me."The words tumbled out before I could stop them. Everyone turned to look at me, including Kieran, whose eyes widened in surprise.Professor Morrigan's gaze shifted to me, and something dangerous flickered in her expression. "Defending you? Miss Vale, are you seriously condoning what just happened?""She was being cruel," I said, my voice stronger now. "Jessica was attacking me for no reason, making fun of my dead sister, calling me names. He was just standing up for me. I know what he d
RAEI was sitting in the courtyard, picking at my lunch; an energy bar and a bottle of water while trying not to think about what had happened with Annalise earlier, when Kieran found me."We need to talk," he said, dropping into the seat across from me without invitation.I looked up at him. His dark hair caught the afternoon light, and those strange eyes of his seemed more intense than usual. "About what?""About you taking witchcraft as a class."I almost choked on my water. "Absolutely not.""Rae—""I said no." I stood up, grabbing my stuff. "I'm not putting myself on display for everyone to stare at and judge."Kieran caught my wrist before I could walk away. His touch was warm, sending that familiar jolt through me that I still didn't understand. "You can't harness your powers without professional help. You know that, right?"I yanked my hand free. "I don't want to harness them.They are fine the way they are. What I want is for you to leave me alone.""That's not how magic works
LUCAI stood frozen in Miyori's office, watching her eyes calculate something behind that serene mask she always wore. The air felt thick, suffocating."Luca," she said, her voice taking on that maternal tone that made my skin crawl. "I understand your anger. But consider what pursuing this will cost.""Cost?" I laughed, but there was no humor in it. "What could possibly cost more than letting a murderer walk free?"She moved around her desk slowly, like a predator circling prey. "You think because you're Declan Ashborne's son that you're untouchable. That your father's wrath will only fall on those who wronged you."My jaw tightened. "This isn't about my father.""Isn't it?" Miyori tilted her head. "When has your father ever let you truly suffer consequences for your actions? When you act out, when you push boundaries, who pays the price? You?" She shook her head. "Or does he find someone else to blame? Someone more... vulnerable?"Something cold settled in my stomach. "What are you
CONRADSeventeen had always been my number. Not because I chose it, but because it chose me. Seventeen attempts. That's how many times my father tried before he got what he wanted. A son.I wasn't planned. I wasn't wanted. I was the accident that happened when an Alpha's rut collided with an Omega's heat, and the only reason I drew breath was because I came out male. My father called it divine intervention. I called it a cosmic joke.The other sixteen tries had been daughters. Disappointments, according to him. They were scattered across the country now, raised by relatives or foster families, their names repeatedly scrubbed from our family records like father never wanted them to exist at all. I was the miracle child. The one who would carry on the Firstchild name.The irony burned. I was the product of everything my father despised. Omega blood ran through my veins, no matter how many inhibitors I swallowed or how perfectly I played the Alpha role. I was living proof that his precio
ANNALISEI watched Luca storm out of the storage room, his rage still crackling in the air like electricity. My back ached where he’d slammed me against the wall, and my throat burned from swallowing screams.Conrad stepped further inside, shutting the door with a soft click that seemed louder than it should have. His face was pale, his usual easy smile gone, like it had never existed at all.“Are you okay?” he asked.I straightened my shoulders, smoothed my hair with shaking hands. “Yeah.”His sharp eyes scanned me, missing nothing. “Luca’s not right, right? You didn’t let Seraphina die, right?”The question hit me like a slap. My stomach dropped. I lifted my chin, forcing myself to meet his gaze. “You’re the last person that should be judging me.”His eyebrows shot up. “Why… why is that?”I almost laughed. The hypocrisy was suffocating.He continued. “Being a bystander to murder can’t be comparable to being gay.”“Goddess, this isn’t about homophobia.”My voice was flat, stripped of
KIERANI knocked twice on Miyori’s office door before her voice called me in. The air was heavy with jasmine tea, threaded with something sharper that pulled at old memories. It reminded me of my father’s study, where the air often carried the stink of dried blood and the soft moans of whatever woman he was draining that night."Kieran." She didn't look up from the papers scattered across her mahogany desk. "Please, sit."I settled into the leather chair across from her, watching as she finished whatever she was writing. Her violet eyes finally met mine, and I felt that familiar chill that came with being under her scrutiny. Being half-vampire meant I could sense predators, and Miyori was definitely one of them, even if she wore the mask of an educator. She reminded me a lot of my father. She just had a less violent disposition."I wanted to discuss Rae Vale with you," she said, setting down her fountain pen.My jaw tightened. I should have expected this. "What about her?""Did you kn