Chapter 4. Claim

Azrael’s POV

I stood in the corner of the upstairs corridor, leaning lazily against the wall, watching the chaos of students rushing about. Their scents mixed together—wolf, fae, witch, shifter, each one ordinary, dull. None of them interested me.

Until my eyes found her.

Good Lord.

She was beautiful in a way that hurt to look at. Pale skin that almost glowed under the dim torchlight, hair that shimmered like strands of silk. Her presence was delicate, otherworldly. She looked like she had stepped straight out of a fairy tale.

And when I inhaled deeply, I caught it.

Fae.

But not fully.

Half blood. A hybrid.

My lips curled into a slow, wicked grin. Hybrids were rare. Dangerous. Precious. And the scent rolling off her made my throat burn. My gaze fell on her neck, so soft, so inviting. What would it take for me to sink my fangs into her? To bite deep and taste the blood rushing through her veins?

The thought made my fangs slip down, sharp and ready.

I always get what I want. And right now, I wanted her.

She was walking with another girl, clearly a low rank, but she didn’t seem to notice how everyone else was watching her. No, she was too new, too innocent. My eyes tracked her every step, hunger twisting through me, clawing at my control.

There was something more. Something supernatural inside her that called to me, louder than anything I had ever felt.

I had to have her.

Slowly, I moved. Silent steps. Careful. My boots touched the stone floor as I descended the stairs, my gaze never leaving her. The crowd parted for me without me having to say a word. They always did. And I vanished into a dark corner.

Raven’s POV

Monica walked beside me, pointing out halls and stairways like she’d done this a hundred times. Her voice was calm, but I caught the edge in her tone every time someone looked at us. She was like me, low rank, unwanted but at least she knew how to survive here.

“You’ll get used to the stares,” she said after a moment. “They think we’re filth. Don’t take it personal.”

I shivered anyway. The way the royals looked at us… like we weren’t even human.

We turned a corner and two fae girls stopped us in our tracks. Royal. I could tell instantly. Their gowns shimmered faintly, their skin flawless, their beauty sharp enough to cut.

“Are you new?” one of them asked, her nose wrinkling like I smelled bad.

I nodded slowly.

Her eyes narrowed. “You’re not full fae… but you look almost too pretty for one.”

The other scoffed. “There’s nothing pretty here. Not at all.”

The first girl stepped closer, her eyes cold. “Know your place. Know your limits. Don’t cross us. And don’t ever forget, you’re not a fae.”

They turned in perfect unison and marched off, leaving the air heavy behind them.

My fists clenched. My mouth opened, a comeback ready to snap off my tongue.

But Monica grabbed my wrist, shaking her head hard. “Don’t even think of it, Raven. You’ll regret it. Trust me.”

I bit down the words and let out a long sigh. “If my mouth doesn’t move first, I’ll choke.”

Monica gave me a tiny smile. “Sometimes silence saves your life.” She checked her wristwatch, then looked up at me. “I have to go. I’ll see you later, okay?”

I nodded, forcing a smile. Then I turned back toward the low rank dorms, alone now, the halls darker, quieter.

That’s when it happened.

A hand shot out of nowhere, yanking me into the shadows. I gasped, my scream muffled by a palm pressed hard against my mouth. My back slammed into a chest that felt like solid stone.

I thrashed, but the grip was iron.

Then I smelled him.

Not wolf. Not fae.

Vampire.

The scent was thick, manly, dangerous. My whole body reacted before my brain caught up.

Hot breath brushed my ear. His mouth lowered to my neck, tongue dragging slow along my skin. A helpless sound slipped out of me—a moan.

“No…” I whispered, shaking my head.

He pulled back just enough for me to see his eyes. Red. Burning. His lips curled into a smirk that made my stomach twist.

“I want you,” he growled. “And I claim you as mine.”

My heart slammed in my chest. His grip tightened.

“You’re low rank,” he continued, his voice deep, final. “That means I have every right over you.”

Monica’s warning echoed in my head. Give them whatever they want. Even if it’s your body.

My blood ran cold. Damn it. Damn it, she was right.

I was f*cked.

The vampire lifted me easily, like I weighed nothing. He kicked open a door, dragging me inside. The dim light in the corner barely lit the room, but I saw enough.

His face.

Bloody hell. He was handsome. No, more than handsome. He was the kind of man you couldn’t forget, the kind that followed you into your sleep and haunted you. Sharp jawline, pale perfect skin, lips made for sin.

He stepped closer, and I couldn’t move.

“You smell so good,” he groaned, his eyes locked on my neck like a predator.

Before I could fight, he scooped me up and carried me to his bed. My heart slammed faster, but my body betrayed me. Heat coiled low in my stomach.

He laid me down, hovering above me, his breath hot against my skin. Then his mouth was there again, trailing rough, needy fangs along my throat.

I gasped, my fingers clutching the sheets.

His fangs grazed me, sharp points teasing, nipping just enough to make me shiver violently. He wanted to sink them in. I knew it.

And the worst part? A piece of me wanted him to.

No. I shouldn’t. I couldn’t.

But his voice was a command, dark and demanding, dripping with hunger.

“I want you, female,” the vampire croaked, his lips brushing mine, his eyes glowing.

“All of you.”