Chapter 4 #2
“You must be new here, then,” I say, taking pity on the poor girl.
She bites her lip. “I am. I arrived merely an hour ago and I have yet to find anyone who can tell me where my dorm is or—”
I could just walk away from her, leave her to her wandering and eventually she would discover her destination. And sometimes, it is best to do these things on our own, but there is also a small ember inside of me, sparking. Not a full blown fire, but a desire to help this poor girl.
Because I know what it is like to be a fish out of water, to be sent here. Everyone who’s sent here has sustained some form of rejection, and judging by her tone, I could see why she might be here.
Why some poor asshole may have rejected her based on her attitude alone.
And maybe it’s because I’m out of sorts because of Wes’s words, or perhaps it’s exhaustion from an intense workout, or maybe it’s just my melancholic disposition and preference for solitude have taken a siesta at the moment, but I sigh, relenting.
“All vampires share the same dormitory. I am headed there, myself. You may follow me, if you wish.”
I don’t waste time waiting for her response, because I really am quite tired, and I have an early class tomorrow. Mental Manipulation, second year.
That class is draining and I need my mental rest as much as my physical rest.
Her shoes clatter against the floor as she catches up to me.
“Thank you,” she says, her voice strangely warm and soft. The ember inside heats from the tone of her voice.
Yup, definitely exhaustion.
“Ivy,” she says carefully as she catches up to my side. I know she’s staring at me, at my exposed chest. For starters, I can feel the heat of her gaze, but I can also smell her. Beyond her deathsday floral scent. I can smell her bloodheat, sharp and tangy with a hint of sugar, like burned caramel.
My cock twitches, knowing that scent well. But my body does not understand this scent belongs to a woman and not Wes, though their bloodheat smells almost indistinguishable, save for the fact Wes’s bloodheat carries a hint of cinnamon and cayenne amidst the tart scent of his arousal.
I do my best to ignore her arousal and my twitching cock, and keep my eye on the hallway.
“My name is Ivy Elara Reign. I am—”
“The princess of Reign, huh?” I drawl with disdain. I’ve heard the name, mostly in passing from my father’s mouth in hushed whispers with his councilmen. Ivy Reign was prophesied to be Wyatt Castor’s vampiress, that much I knew.
I cast her a glare as I chew on the fact she’s here. Which means she has been rejected, by a prince no less.
“So you do know my name,” she says plainly.
“I know of you, yes. Just as I know of your prince charming, Wyatt Castor.”
The man who stole my lover’s entire life.
“He is not my prince charming,” she bites.
I raise an eyebrow at her. “Clearly, since you are here. Annoying the ever loving fuck out of me at ten thirty at night.”
She has the audacity to cross her arms and pout like a child, as if I have upset her.
Good, I hope I pissed her off. She’s pissing me off the more she speaks, making me reconsider my momentary lapse in judgment.
“You did not tell me your name. Should I just call you asshole?”
I smirk and let out a chuckle at that. Petulant and mouthy.
What a combination for a princess. If I liked pussy, perhaps I’d find her appealing.
Lord knows I love a good attitude. I find the banter and challenge most desirable. Wesley likes to be sarcastic, too. Mostly because he knows the harder he pushes me, the rougher I will get with him behind closed doors. And that’s what he wants, because he is a little bloodslut if I ever met one.
I find myself wondering if Ivy is the same, and the thought nearly makes me stop in my tracks.
What the fuck?
I brush it off, intrusive thoughts be damned. I’m just tired, and I need to get some sleep.
“Asshole works. Or you can be a polite little princess and call me by my name. Adrien.”
“Adrien,” she murmurs, and I can’t help but feel a ripple in my blood, a warmth spreading in my chest. Probably just spasms and heat left over from my work out.
“Well, thank you, Adrien. For your assistance. It is greatly appreciated.”
“Mhmm,” I mutter as we approach the vampire dormitory. The lights are low, candles flickering in the foyer. I stop at the edge of the stairs, waiting for her to stop gawking and find her way to me.
But there is also a part of me that feels nostalgic at the way she looks at the room. I have been here for two years, so there is no newness or excitement left within me and there was not when I came here, either.
I came here with my fangs bared, my heart broken, and my cock starved. I came here alone, feeling as if I was being condemned for not being enough for them.
And then I’d found Wesley, and everything just… changed.
I watch as she spins around, and finally she comes back to center, her gaze settling on me.
“Do you know your number?” I ask nonchalantly.
“Six,” she says, taking slow strides towards me.
“Over there.” I point to the other staircase, across from where I stand. She looks between it and me, her eyebrows furrowing.
“Would you walk me?” she asks, and I see the hint of fear in her face. The worry.
Something about that strikes me and as much as I don’t want to, I know I’m going to.
Because despite what people may think, I’m not an asshole. Most of the time, anyway.
“Fine,” I growl as I saunter over to her and lead the way. When we come to room six, we both stand there, frozen for a moment, the strangest tension between us. She looks up at me with those ruby eyes, searching my gaze for something I can’t quite place.
“Well, this is you,” I say, forcing a smile. She tucks some dark strands behind her ear.
“Yes,” she murmurs, her gaze drifting to my lips.
Her cloying bloodheat hits me as she parts her lips, showcasing her sharp fangs.
She licks them, her pupils dilating and I step back immediately because I know that look.
I know what Ivy wants, and she’s barking up the wrong tree, for sure, and I’ve got enough problems on my own, without a bloody cock-thirsty vampiress on my case.
“Good night, Ivy,” I say, much harsher than I mean to. I don’t wait for her response. I turn around and give her my back, adjust my cock and head for my dorm.