Academy of Vampire Heirs: Dhampirs 101

by Ginna Moran

  He tries to grab my wrist, but I swing out my fist and don’t give him a chance to grab me unless he wants to get punched. “Fiona, wait. What’s wrong? What did I do?”

  I throw my hands into the air. “You somehow think it’s okay to discuss my personal business with your brothers. That’s not cool. It’s—it’s—I have to go.”

  Spinning away from him, I dash down the hallway and toward where I know I’ll find the elevator to take me up. I get on alone and lean my back on the wall, feeling stupider than ever. I’m never going to be more than just a donor. More than just a possession they share.

  Why is it so hard for me to accept that this is my life now?

  Because I know I need more.

  I deserve more.

  ***

  I hit my back on the mat and gasp a breath. Hudson lands on top of me and pins me down. The sound of his fangs clicking in my ear unintentionally turns me on instead of scares me, which I know was his intent. For the last hour, he’s been purposely setting off my fear instincts—per our instructor’s command.

  “Shit,” he says, breathing into my ear. “You’re supposed to try to push me off you and not surrender. Definitely not expose your neck like that. Or hold me in place with your legs. Now isn’t the time to express your needs. You know I can’t properly fulfill them. You got pissed off just by me talking about them with my brothers.”

  His words knock some sense into my head, and I take advantage of the fact that he relaxes on top of me, totally turned on himself too, to break my arms free. I swing out and punch him in the throat. He gasps and falls onto his back. Rolling, I get on top of him and aim my imaginary dagger at him. I won’t get a real one until Mr. Jimenez can trust me enough not to try to cut out the heart of every vampire in the room.

  “You know, Mr. King, letting Ms. King win won’t help her if someone starts a blood feud with your coven.” Mr. Jimenez crosses his arms and stares at us. So does the rest of the class, the first one I’ve been in that contains both donors and vampires.

  “I wouldn’t expect her to fight,” Hudson says, pushing up despite my being on top of him. He lifts me in his arms as he stands and sets me on my feet.

  The class continues to gawk at the two of us.

  From this class so far, I’ve learned that the vampires who work on the security forces, like Hudson, must learn to work with donors. It took me by surprise, and annoyed the hell out of me when I had to partner with Hudson after storming out on him, but he’s let me burn off my anger by letting me get some punches in.

  “Even so, she needs to know how. Why your coven didn’t immediately enroll her in this class baffles me. As a personal donor of someone from a prestigious coven such as yours, she has a target on her. The fact that she’s female...just don’t take it so easy on her. She’ll never learn if you coddle her.” The instructor notices the silence and turns toward the rest of the class. “This isn’t rest time. Come on, donors. Show your potential employers what you’ve got.”

  I watch a burly human launch at a vampire only to be knocked on his ass. The humans in the class are all training for daylight security positions. It gives each coven a chance to see if they’re worth being part of their staff.

  And for the first time, I actually doubt my skills. The students here are far better trained than I am even if I’ve been practicing combat with the Blood Rebels for most of my life. It doesn’t help that I never had access to equipment that could build my muscles and strength. The only thing I seem to excel at is endurance. I still feel as I did the moment I stepped into the room while the rest of the donors are sweaty and struggling to catch their breaths.

  “All right, Ms. King. Let’s try something different.” Mr. Jimenez turns toward an open door that leads to his office. “Mr. Nowak!” he yells. “Come join us for a moment, will you?”

  I groan under my breath as Ivo strides from the office. His gaze darts to me like he might’ve known that I was part of this class now. Mr. Jimenez turns to look at me as well, his fangs peeking out from beneath his lips. Unlike the other vampires, he doesn’t retract them, probably as his way of intimidating the donors in the room.

  “Mr. Nowak, I’d like you to work with Ms. King for the rest of class,” Mr. Jimenez says.

  Hudson releases a growl. “No. I don’t fucking think so.”

  “If you have a problem with my teaching methods, you can take it up with the headmistress, Mr. King,” the instructor snaps. “If you feel you can’t control yourself, then you can leave. It’s not like I ask that you allow Ms. King to work with someone from the Powers or Saint Covens.”

  Mr. Jimenez’s comment tugs another growl from Hudson, but he doesn’t argue and instead heads out of the room. I gape at the door closing behind him in surprise. I try not to react at suddenly being abandoned, because I shouldn’t care, but now I’m nervous as hell.

  “Hello again, Ms.—” Ivo leans closer, lowering his voice. “Ms. Flamme.”

  Without waiting, I launch at Ivo and knock him on his back before he can even put up a fight. I swing my arm to punch him in the nose, but a cool hand locks around my fist, stopping me from clobbering Ivo.

  “How about we try that again when Mr. Nowak is ready, shall we?” Mr. Jimenez says, smirking at me.

  I glower at Ivo and shove my hands into his chest to push off of him. Mr. Jimenez calls the class to watch us. Annoyance rushes over me at being forced into the center of attention, the last place I want to be.

  “All right, Mr. Nowak. You know the rules. No combat. Ms. King must learn how to free herself first to be able to fight.”

  I position my body, dreading that Ivo will lock his arms around me at any second. It was a bit harder for Hudson to set off my fear instincts because my mind kept wandering into fantasy mode because of our kiss in bed this evening. Even if I’m still angry about the whole kiss and tell closeness of his brothers, I’m still attracted to him.

  Ivo’s presence sets off my fear real quick, probably since he’s human. I’m not used to feeling threatened by them. It helps that I don’t trust the guy. He was instructed by the elders to take me. What if he realizes it’s more than about Rylie behind my reason for not wanting to go?

  Ivo comes at me. I scream, scrambling away from him, my body not wanting him to touch me at all. The door clatters open, and Hudson fills the frame, his eyes flashing silver as he enters attack mode. Mr. Jimenez intercepts Hudson, stopping him from reaching me. It’s enough to make Ivo hesitate.

  “You okay, Fiona?” Hudson asks, pushing slightly against the instructor. I have a feeling that Hudson could easily outmatch the vampire and only the fact that everyone in the room watches him might be the only reason he doesn’t.

  I take a few deep breaths. “I’m fine. I was just startled is all.” And creeped out.

  Mr. Jimenez shifts out of Hudson’s way. “Go on and reassure Ms. King that she is safe here. It seems that your absence did the trick to prod at her natural fear instincts, though I’m surprised she reacted so heavily to a donor.” His low words are intended only for vampire ears. “Take note and respect the bonds your donors create, class. In Ms. King’s case, she already relies on Mr. King to protect her.”

  Come the hell on. I do not rely on Hudson to protect me. It takes everything in me not to react to the instructor’s words. Hudson raises his eyebrows at me, a cocky smile crossing his face. He knows I heard the instructor and loves every second of the fact that my supposed nature doesn’t want me to be without him. That’s far from the case. I just don’t want Ivo getting within a foot of me.

  Engulfing me in a hug, Hudson turns me away from the class and snuggles his face into the crook of my neck before I can fend off his affection. Not because I don’t want it. I want way too much of it. And he knows it.

  “I’m sorry I abandoned you, love. I was standing right outside the door. The only time I’d actually leave you was if you were spending time with one of my brothers.” His soft voice tickles my skin. “But I had to leave. I don’
t like seeing others put their hands on you. It makes me want to kill everyone in the room, and that would guarantee expulsion from the program.”

  Ah, hell. How can he piss me off and make me swoon at the same time?

  I groan. “It’s fine. I’m not some damsel. I just—go sit in the corner and face the wall.”

  He chuckles. “You better kick that prick’s ass. I don’t like the way he looks at you. Since I can’t do it, you have to.”

  I tilt my head up and grin at him. “Gladly.”

  He surprises me with a quick kiss, leaving my body buzzing as he disappears to do what I asked him. He stands rigid, his broad back and muscular arms rippling as he flexes. I drink him in for a moment, totally checking him out. He must feel my gaze on him, because he shifts and smiles at me over his shoulder.

  “All right. Let’s try this again,” Mr. Jimenez calls. “Mr. Nowak, Ms. King, please take your positions.”

  I tighten my jaw and shift to face Ivo. His smug expression morphs to something darker, probably because of the small exchange Hudson and I shared. I can read the Blood Rebel’s face clearly. He’s disgusted that I even let Hudson touch me, let alone kiss me.

  “I need to get you out of here,” Ivo mouths. “You deserve better.”

  I guess I read him wrong. He knows I’m a dhampir after all. He’d think the same as Rylie, and that I do what I do because I have to. He’d probably attempt to kill me right now if he knew I do what I do because I want to. I’ve never been so attracted to anyone like I am to all four of the King brothers. It’s strange and exciting, especially because I know they want me back.

  I don’t respond to Ivo and instead tense in preparation for his attack. He steps forward to lock his arms around me again. My fear instincts scream like crazy, causing me to yell. Someone grabs me from behind, locking their fingers into my hair while covering my mouth with a hand.

  “Mr. Knightly. Release Ms. King immediately,” Mr. Jimenez says.

  A guttural growl, along with the click of extending fangs, cools my blood.

  Hudson flies at me from across the room, dodging a few guys that try to get in his way.

  But he’s not fast enough.

  I close my eyes and prepare to get bitten.

  Chapter 15

  Blood Feud

  IVO RIPS ME AWAY FROM a scary-ass vampire who is part of the Knightly Coven. Hudson collides into the asshole, sending both of them sprawling. Growls sound through the air, and the vampires blur in a fight. The donors rush to get out of the way.

  “Settle down!” Mr. Jimenez hollers, attempting to break up the fight closest to him.

  Ivo yanks me off the ground and drags me toward the door. Reaching for his belt, he unsheathes a dagger to protect us. Hudson yells my name, distracted by Ivo rushing me from the room, and the vampire punches him in the nose, sending his blood spraying.

  “Hudson!”

  My scream rips through the air, drawing the attention of another vampire, sending him my way. The asshole blond guy from the Knightly coven rushes at me, fangs extended and ready to snap his teeth into me. Ivo shoves me out the door and jabs his dagger, catching the vampire in the side. The move surprises the vampire enough to stop him in his tracks. I bet he never expected a human to injure him.

  “Come on, you have to run,” Ivo says, locking his fingers around my wrist. “They’ll kill us otherwise.”

  Ivo doesn’t give me a chance to hesitate, dragging me away with him. Other donors scramble out of the way as a team of vampire security personnel flood the hallway to enter the fight behind us.

  “This way.” Ivo points to a door on the right. “It leads to the tunnels.”

  “The tunnels to where?”

  A figure materializes in front of the door, blocking our way. Ivo pulls me to a halt and stands protectively in front of me like any good soldier of the resistance would do. I tense for only a second until my brain catches up with me to register that Aspen stands in front of me, and he’s most definitely not a threat.

  “I’ve got it from here, Mr. Nowak,” Aspen says, his light blue eyes flashing.

  I push past Ivo and throw myself at Aspen, whose arms feel so utterly safe the second they wrap around me and lift me off my feet. He releases a small chuckle into my hair, stroking his hand over the length of my back in an attempt to stop my body from trembling.

  “Get me out of here,” I whisper to Aspen, brushing my lips to his ear. “I want to go to our room.”

  “Soon. First, cover your ears,” Aspen says, setting me back on my feet.

  The second my hands cup over my ears, Aspen’s hands join them, muffling the world around me. A blaring alarm rings through the air, the sound intense and jarring despite the fact that I protect my eardrums. Aspen cringes slightly, but he doesn’t pull his hands away to cover his own. Ivo drops to his knees, the sound loud enough to even hurt his human ears. The method to break up a vampire fight isn’t so different than when Rylie used the horn to slow down the vampire who attacked us outside the city.

  After what feels like an eternity to my sensitive ears, the alarm shuts off, though my ears still ring. Aspen pulls me back to him, engulfing me in another hug like he can’t resist himself. I stay glued to his side, ignoring Ivo’s gaze as it burns into me as he manages to get his shit together to get off the floor. He quickly softens his face under Aspen’s scrutiny and bows his head.

  “My apologies, Mr. King. I was only trying to protect Ms. King. She was nearly attacked by two members of the Knightly Coven.” Ivo flicks his attention toward the classroom where guards lead beaten and bloodied students, including Hudson, into the hallway.

  Hudson breaks away from the group to rush to me. I reach up and touch his chin, inspecting his split lip. A bruise starts to shadow over his right eye, and I can’t stop from gawking at the bite mark that tore through his white dress shirt, staining the fabric with blood.

  I touch the spot and automatically bring my bloody finger to my mouth. “Ouch. That looks painful.”

  Hudson’s eyes flash silver at my gesture, but he doesn’t react otherwise. “Fuck, Fiona. I’m so sorry,” he finally says, ignoring my comment while giving me a long once-over. “Are you hurt?”

  I shake my head. “I think I’m okay. Just shook up.”

  Hudson turns to Aspen. “Take her to Berkeley anyway. I want to be sure.”

  “Mr. King. Mr. Nowak. Please join us. Ms. King can meet us in the headmistress’s office once she gets the medical exam you feel she requires.” Mr. Jimenez waves to Hudson and Ivo, but only Ivo shuffles forward with his head bowed.

  Hudson cups my cheeks and leans in to kiss me on the lips right in front of Aspen. I stand on my tiptoes and unashamedly caress my mouth to his before sucking his split lip between my teeth.

  “You’re going to get me in trouble if you keep kissing me like this,” Hudson murmurs.

  “Then maybe you shouldn’t taste so good.”

  “I never expected to love a little role playing with you. Maybe you can bite me later.” He detaches from my sudden death grip on him, my body buzzing as his words totally turn me on.

  I stare after him as he returns to the group of vampires that vanish a split second later, taking a few donors with them. I shudder a small breath and shiver. Aspen slides his fingers through mine, drawing my attention to him. I shake off the desire Hudson abandoned me with to deal with on my own, and I bare my teeth in an awkward smile.

  “You better not pull that shit with me,” I say, swinging his arm with mine.

  He grins at me, sliding his free hand around to the small of my back to pull me flush against him. “I’d never.”

  He lifts me up by my ass, and I automatically curl my body around his. The world blurs with his vampire speed. I find myself straddling him while he plops down on the couch in our living room.

  I don’t get the chance to catch my breath before he kisses me. I smile into his mouth, enjoying his sudden affection. His hands play with the strands of my hair cascading
down my back, and I shift on his lap to press harder into him, letting my desire carry me away.

  “I can’t wait for our time together,” he murmurs, tightening his hands around my waist to slow me down as I grind against him.

  “When is that?” I ask, pulling back. “Do you have a schedule or something, or will it be a surprise every day for me?”

  He shrugs. “Not sure yet. We haven’t had time to discuss anything. Hudson got the first day with you because...of reasons.”

  I roll my eyes and shift off him. “Okay, whatever.”

  He sighs. “I’m sorry, Fiona. I’ll be honest with you. My brothers and I talk, and from what Hudson told us about your fight this morning, we agreed to wait until we can all sit down together before we decide anything.”

  “And what about me? Do I get to decide anything?”

  “I did say we, didn’t I?” He reaches for me and pulls me closer like he can’t stand letting space get between us. “And for this to work, you need to be included. I don’t know if you realize this, but I enjoy everything about you. I don’t want you to be just a blood source.”

  I lift my gaze from our intertwined fingers and to his sky eyes. “You want me to be your bed companion. We’ve discussed those in the Personal Donor Support Group.”

  The face he gives me, wide eyes and crinkled nose, a tint of blush crossing his cheeks, makes me bubble with laughter. I reach up and feel a spot of warmth on his face. How I made this hard-ass, intimidating vampire flush makes me all sorts of excited.

  “Or am I assuming wrong?” I add.

  “You’re teasing me,” he says, mostly to himself.

  I smile. “Gotta entertain myself somehow.”

  “I look forward to helping to entertain you too.” Berkeley stands in the doorway, a soft smile on his face, though his eyes don’t light up. He shares a look with Aspen, who tightens his jaw. “As soon as I give you a quick exam and escort you to a shit show of a gathering happening right now.”