“Yeah, right. Like anyone is going to believe that when you’re stalking her.”
“I’m not—” Sighing, I pinch the bridge of my nose. Two stalking allegations in one night means that I’m not being nearly as indiscreet as I’d hoped. My father’s going to explode once he finds out. “Whatever. I’m not taking her as my mate.”
A genuine smile graces the vampire’s lips, making him appear much younger than he likely is. His dark brunette hair is cut short enough that I can see his skull, meaning that he’s younger than most other vampires enrolled at Heartsflame. The older fucks love a low ponytail—or worse, a man bun. “How’s that line working for you?”
“Quite well, actually. You should try it.” Quirking an eyebrow, I jerk my chin toward the witch’s bedroom. “Telling yourself that you don’t have the hots for your sister?” I click my tongue. “Why else wouldyoube lurking outside her bedroom door at night?”
“Actually,” he scoffs, “I’m here to keep an eye onyourmate. She’s not like the other—” He stops speaking when he notices my expression and wisely changes his words. “Something’s different about her. Surely you sense it, too.”
Shrugging a shoulder, I feign ignorance and deflect as best I can. If a vampire as young as this one can sense that Sienna is not a full wolf, we’re fucked. It’s only a matter of time before someone guesses what’s different about her and she’s put on trial for a fate that’s not of her own making. “She’s wild. Of course she’s different.”
Thankfully, the vampire doesn’t push the issue, likely not knowing any better. “I’ll keep watch,” he says after a moment, “and ensure no harm comes to either of them.”
That’s the one area in which vampires have the upper hand—they don’t need to sleep like the rest of us.
Not that I’m getting much as it is.
I nod in thanks. “If she leaves that room?—”
“Push her back inside. Got it.”
A flare of anger makes my teeth clench. “Don’t touch her. But yes. Corral her back inside.” I shove past the undying one and try to breathe as I wind my way through the castle and onto the icy grounds. Being out here in the cold sucks, but I need to cool off. I need to get Sienna out of my head.
I need to stay the fuck away from her.
Sighing, I lie down on a snowbank and stare up at the clouds rolling by. Veronica should prove a much-needed distraction, but the thought of stomaching more of her thinly-veiled flirtations makes me want to gag. She nearly impaled herself on my flaccid dick at breakfast this morning. We’re still two full moons away from heat season, but she acts like she’s on the verge of breaking into one at any moment.
Maybe it’s my alpha blood that turns her on.
More than likely, it’s the Dire name that gets her going. I’m sure if my father were widowed, she’d be climbing into his lap before mine.
The thought makes me sick to my stomach.
Closing my eyes, I take deep, calming breaths. I need to sleep, but sharing the room beside Sienna’s has quickly become a nightmare. I couldn’t just hear Revyn pounding her into the mattress—and my bedroom wall—I could feel it in the marrow of my bones.
What a goddamn asshole.
A smirk curves on my lips as I picture his reaction to finding that sorry attempt at a claiming bite erased from Sienna’s neck, like it never existed in the first place. Twice, that man has failed at securing a mating bond. He should be mortified. Instead, his resolve will probably double. Still, satisfaction rolls through me at knowing a hint of my scent will be on her skin for the next few days, no matter how deeply she scrubs herself clean. If I’m lucky, it’ll remain long after Revyn’s scent has disappeared.
Then we’ll be back to an even playing field by the time the next full moon arrives...and the first event of this year’s Mating Games begins.
I’d been looking forward to them before meeting Sienna, but now that a vampire has taken an interest in her, I’m anxious. The winter event is always best for vampires to show off, and Callum will undoubtedly try to win Sienna’s favor.
It’s also a chance for me to let some of my power out and prove how viable an option I am as a mate...to whomever my father chooses for me. Resentment swirls in my gut, and the snow at my back melts as my body temperature rises. I have to be at the top of my class, which means acing every exam the academy throws at me—but it has the additional consequence of luring in potential mates for Dad to choose from.
If I’m lucky, Revyn and Callum will also attract attention during Mating Games, which means that Sienna will be left alone. I can survive the next three years if she keeps her hands to herself and stays out of trouble.
But how likely is my wildfire to blend into a crowd?
A genuine smile pulls at my lips, and I laugh for the first time in weeks.
We’re all fucking doomed.
Chapter 16
Revyn
Every musclein my body tightens as Sienna walks into class with her bare neck on display—without my bite mark. There isn’t even a scar; the old one faded once the new one healed. Fuck. If we were actively tangled in the sheets together, it wouldn’t matter because my scent would be all over her. As it stands, I haven’t touched her in over twenty-four hours, and going from having her complete surrender to having nothing at all is killing me.
