(JO POV) Retreating to the bathroom, a sanctuary Deirk had introduced me to, I sought comfort in the sunlight. It was a small solace, feeling the warmth against my skin, a brief escape from the turmoil unfurling within the townhouse. The simple joy of basking in the sunlight, something so mundane yet profoundly missed, enveloped me in a moment of peace.When Dane knocked, signaling his presence, I reluctantly closed off my connection to the sunlight, sealing the window.He immediately surrounded me in a desperate hug. I noticed him smelling my forehead. "Oh my, he told you to smell me, didn't he?" I couldn't help but laugh a little."Yeah, he was pretty adamant about it. Made me promise I would," Dane admitted."I noticed him doing it, but he never told me why," I recalled Deirk's peculiar actions and occasional deep breaths when close."It's the sun, kitten. We can smell it on you," Dane explained."That's amazing. Can you smell it in your... sun garden too?" The curiosity was gen
(JO POV) Drifting in a void of darkness, I was caught between consciousness and something else entirely. It was as if I were floating in an endless, dark sea, occasionally brushed by echoes of the familiar. Voices, distant yet distinct, pierced the silence around me, their words reaching me through the fog that clouded my mind.I experienced fleeting glimpses of the room around me in this strange limbo. How, I couldn't fathom, my eyes remained firmly shut. There was a peculiar comfort that came each time I felt Dane's lips firmly against my neck. This sensation grounded me and tethered me to a reality I was struggling to grasp. I longed to voice how much his presence soothed me, but my body refused to cooperate, leaving me trapped within myself.Magness's firm and authoritative voice cut through the haze. "Relax. We have medical equipment for that. She's doing fine."Dane's response was filled with a stubborn adherence to the old ways. "I know, but feeling her pulse myself... it's r
(DANE POV) Watching her motionless on the bed, a wave of shame washed over me. I berated myself for letting the situation spiral to such a dire point. Her hand remained in mine, a connection to the bond I was so afraid of breaking now. I held on, desperate for any sign of her awareness and needs, any slight response to my presence. Deirk broke my cycle of remorse the second he walked back in. "Well, she has color again," he remarked. His observation, though meant to be reassuring, only reminded me of how pale I'd let her become under my care. The irony that I had always prided myself on being able to protect those I cared about, and I ultimately ended up endangering her, was not lost on me. The mishap had been a close call, too close. Failing to notice the disconnect when my wound healed, leaving us no longer linked in that crucial moment, nearly cost her life. It was a lapse that forced me to summon Magness for help. A decision made in utter desperation. "Yeah, and there
As Dane's whisper filtered through the darkness, confessing his reluctance yet the necessity to give me more of Magness's blood to hasten my recovery, I yearned to communicate my consent. Trapped in this void, anything to quicken my return to reality was a lifeline I desperately wanted. Anything. Even that assholes blood. "I know this isn't ideal, but it's necessary," Dane's voice was a soft echo in the void, "Mag's blood... it'll help speed up your return to us." Though meant to comfort, it carried a resignation I could sense even in my disoriented state. The sensation of a needle piercing my arm jolted me. Dane's excitement at my physical response to the discomfort was the most hopeful sound I'd heard in an eternity. "You're starting to come back to us. This should help you open your eyes soon," he encouraged. I clung to Dane's words, imagining the moment I could see again, be part of the world I was so abruptly torn from. As Dane checked my pulse, his lips on my neck fe
(DEIRK POV) I couldn't shake the feeling that Camilla had a hand in orchestrating this entire situation just for me. The tailored suit I donned, a gift from Dane years ago, was supposed to instill confidence, but instead, it served as a reminder of the facades we often hide behind. Reflecting on the past month spent with Jo, I realized there was never a moment of desire beyond brotherly protection. My heart didn't race from our closeness, not in the way one might expect. Yes, I admired and cared for her, but the absence of any deeper romantic or sexual inclination towards her was a truth I could no longer ignore. Despite my affection for the company of women, my heart veered in a different direction. Perhaps my upbringing, surrounded by women with a stark absence of male companionship, influenced my inclinations more than I cared to admit. Dane wrapped me in a hug, his confidence in me unshaken. "Little lord, you've got this," he encouraged. His casual use of the nickname didn't
(DEIRK POV) "We've got this under control, thank you," I stated firmly, trying to keep the situation from escalating with Magness's involvement."Nonsense. I'm already here," Magness countered smoothly. I might as well lend a hand."I scrutinized him carefully, always wary of his intentions. Freed from his direct influence, I observed him through a lens of wary independence, yet the scars of past manipulations lingered. My detachment from Magness was a bittersweet liberation, the freedom tainted by the deep-seated wounds of our dark history I was forced to often revisit. Dane remained entangled in Magness's web, a connection I resented for keeping me tethered to a past I yearned to forget. My loyalty to Dane was unwavering, but it tethered me to the creature responsible for my deepest traumas.Effortlessly, Magness dealt with a couple of the resisting wards, their feet barely touching the ground as he escorted them to the dining hall. With his unparalleled charm, Jax persuaded anoth
(DEIRK POV) I caught Cami's eye, signaling for a moment of her attention. When she approached, I suggested, under the guise of the overcrowded room, that Percy and I step aside to solidify our newfound bond in a quieter setting. "You know he will try to follow. It would be best if you had Dane," she cautioned quietly.I responded, "Can't, Jo's awake already."Cami's frustration was evident. "This is why I wanted you all in the west wing. I can't let you take him off grounds, not right now. If he tries to escape..."Percy began to interject, but Cami firmly silenced him with a hard slap. I felt a protective instinct kick in, and I wrapped my arm around Percy, which drew a knowing smile from Cami.She leaned in, whispering, "I was worried you were just claiming him to keep him from Mag, but I can see that's not the case. Three days, Deirk. Three days, and you keep control of him. If he runs away, I will have your head. Do you hear me? And in those three days, I need you to convince D
(PERCY POV)I never imagined my life taking such a drastic turn. Hunger gnawed at me relentlessly. It had been days since I last ate, pushing me to the brink. Stealing from the gas station wasn't exactly my proudest moment, but desperation had a funny way of narrowing down choices.It was either that or resorting to grazing on the grass like livestock.I had been selling myself again, trading my blood for cash in a bid to satiate my hunger. But I knew the vampires wouldn't appreciate a donor fed on vegetation. So, I stole those noodles, hoping to restore some semblance of nutritional value to my blood, to remain enticing to my nocturnal customers.Yet, in a twist of fate, my theft didn't lead me back to the shadows of the street but into the presence of vampire royalty. The irony wasn't lost on me. Standing before the vampire king's son, I couldn't help but reflect on the bizarre events that led me here.Turning to Deirk, I asked, "Wait, if the king is your marker and your brother is
(DEIRK POV) The struggle had been almost overwhelming for hours. Mag was vulnerable and weak, and all I could think about was how easy it would be to rip him apart. Every time I tried to push the thoughts away, the memories came flooding back, vivid and sharp, slicing through my mind like the knives he used on me for centuries.I leaned back, trying to escape the constant loop of flashbacks. Percy lay beside me, close enough that I could feel his heartbeat against me. He always knew when I was close to breaking. His touch was steady, tracing shapes across my chest.He was trying to remind me I was still here, still in control. But the memories were relentless.The first time Mag strapped me down, I thought I'd die from the pain. I could still feel the cold metal biting into my wrists, the restraints cutting into my skin as he stood over me. The blade he used wasn't sharp. It was dull, dragging across my chest just deep enough to make me scream but not enough to kill. He enjoyed it
(DANE POV) I stood outside the room where Mag was held, feeling the moment's gravity. For 1,200 years, this man had been my "Daddy," inflicting pain, manipulating me, and shaping my life in his twisted image. Yet, there were times when he provided care and shelter, giving me some stability in the chaos. Now, the roles were reversed, and it was my turn to take care of him. A responsibility I never imagined. I opened the door and stepped inside. The air was thick with the smell of blood, remnants of the recent horrors that had unfolded. Mag lay on the floor, battered and broken, his once formidable presence reduced to a fragile shell. "Mag," I said as I approached. "It's time to get you cleaned up." He didn't respond, his vacant stare fixed on the ceiling. The man who once controlled everything now seemed utterly defeated. I crouched beside him. "Let's get you up and into the shower," I said, offering my hand. "I'll make sure it doesn't hurt more than it has to." Mag's eyes f
(DANE POV)I didn't want her to deal with my insecurities right now. She had enough on her plate. Between last night's chaos and everything still unresolved, burdening her with my doubts felt selfish. But I couldn't shake the nagging thought clawing at me for what seemed like forever.She pulled away slightly, her expression shifting as she processed what I had said. "What? No, Dane, you know I chose you. How long have you been dealing with that and not said anything? What the hell?"Oddly enough, seeing her getting worked up over this made me feel a little better. It was like a reminder that she did care, that this wasn't just something trivial to her. I shrugged, trying to downplay the unease that had been messing with me for days. "I didn't want to upset you more."Without hesitation, she pulled me down until I was practically kneeling in front of her so we were at eye level. She gripped my shoulders, and the intensity in her eyes forced me to focus on her and nothing else. "I ch
I left Deirk, Jo, and Percy curled up in bed asleep, intertwined after the chaotic night. They refused to sleep in different rooms, insisting on sticking together. They insisted on the same during sex with us, effectively turning it into our first foursome. I didn't dwell on why. Maybe they sought comfort, or perhaps they were afraid of us. Nevertheless, it was the right decision. I had to restrain Deirk more than once to prevent things from escalating. I hoped I had done it subtly enough that Jo and Percy didn't notice, but I wasn't so sure. They seemed more aware than they let on.As I stepped out of the room, I found Dom and Marshall loitering in the hallway. Seeing them there so early wasn't surprising, but there was something different about them. There was a hunger and eagerness in their eyes that I hadn't seen before. Lately, they had been pushing boundaries and testing limits, as usual, but this time it felt different."What's up?" I asked, heading toward my office. I had a
(JO POV) I woke up to the unsettling emptiness beside me. Percy was still there, deep in sleep. Dane and Deirk were gone. I slipped out of bed. The silence weighed heavily, broken only by a distant, rhythmic sound that made my skin crawl.As I moved closer, the noise became unmistakable.Agonized groans accompanied the sharp crack of a whip. My heart pounded as the sound pulled me toward a door I had never noticed before. It was slightly ajar, with a sickly maroon light spilling into the hallway. I pushed it open and stepped inside.The room was a nightmare. Mag knelt in the center, shackled and bleeding. His body was crisscrossed with fresh wounds. Dane and Deirk stood over him, their eyes solid black, their faces crawling with red veins that pulsed with rage. Their need for total vengeance was consuming them. The brutality was terrifying to witness."Did you think you'd escape this, Mag?" Dane snarled in that thick accent, lashing the whip across Mag's back. "That we would just o
(DEIRK POV)The moment I saw Marshall with those knives, everything I thought I had buried came surging back, tearing through the mental walls I had so carefully constructed.I was thrust back into the nightmare, and suddenly, it wasn't Marshall holding the blade...it was Mag.His twisted grin, the way he'd relish in our pain, the unbearable torture that followed. Mag didn't just inflict physical wounds. He cut into our very souls, leaving scars that never truly healed.He always started slow, like he was savoring the moment. The first cut was an intro, a reminder that the nightmare was beginning all over again. He'd look me in the eye, a sickening smile, and then drag the blade across my skin, just deep enough to make me scream but not deep enough to be fatal. The real agony came later, drawn out over hours, sometimes days.The burn of silver seared through my skin, leaving marks that would never fade. The scent of burning flesh, my own flesh, still haunted me. Mag would just laugh,
(DANE POV)Marshall had always claimed to be bisexual, so I decided it was time to let him prove it. It was the only way I'd consider letting him continue attending the male events he enjoyed so much. Tonight was his test, and Mag was about to become his plaything.I turned to Marshall, who was already eyeing Mag with a dark gleam that matched the twisted grin spreading across his face."Have your way with him," I said as I tossed him a set of knives. He caught them mid-air with ease, his excitement noticeable. "Break him from the inside out. Make it count, and don't hold back. You might want to stretch him a bit, loosen up... you know, to get things going in easily."Mag's eyes went wide, his bravado shattering as the reality of his situation hit him. The fear consumed him, and the blackness in his eyes betrayed his panic. He began to unravel, his desperation flooding the room."Dane, please! You don't have to do this!" he stammered out in a rush. "I didn't mean it... I was just tryi
(DANE POV)Mag slid into the leather jacket, his excitement radiating off him like heat from a fire. He looked at me, his eyes gleaming with what he believed was shared anticipation. "I knew you'd like it," I said, forcing a smile that didn't reach my eyes. "Figured it would help you settle in before you dive into things at the school."He beamed, completely convinced that he had finally won me over. Inside, though, all I felt was cold resolve. I might have been excited...if he hadn't crossed the line, if he hadn't forced Jo into that unbearable situation. But he had, and now, he had to pay.Deirk played his role perfectly, not giving anything away as Mag eagerly shrugged off his sports coat and slid into the jacket like it was a badge of honor. It fit him like a second skin, making him look every bit the predator he fancied himself to be. Deirk and I exchanged a brief knowing glance. The first part of our plan had succeeded. Mag, completely oblivious, was wrapped up in his delusions
(DANE POV) I slammed my phone down, the sharp sound breaking the silence. Two weeks had passed since we found out Jo was pregnant, and now, after what seemed like forever, the message I'd been waiting for finally came through. Mag was coming home.Tonight.Deirk looked up from across the room, his eyes meeting mine. He didn't need to ask what had me on edge, but he did anyway. "What now?""It's happening," I replied, leaning back in my chair. "He's coming tonight.""Tonight," Deirk echoed, a slow smile creeping onto his face. "Perfect. Full moon and all.""Yeah," I agreed, the plan solidifying in my mind. "We're going all out."The hunt had been meticulously crafted, not just as a hunt but as a punishment. Tonight, the academy's halls would become a battlefield. Slaves and wards who had stepped out of line, or those whose masters wanted to teach them a brutal lesson, would be let loose. They could run, they could hide, but escape wasn't an option. The vampires would be released to hu