(PERCY POV)Waking up with Deirk holding me tightly was comforting and a reminder of the previous night. It felt like he was clinging to me like I was the only thing keeping him together, and perhaps I was at that moment. The usual tension in my chest each morning had loosened slightly, maybe because I didn't feel alone in this strange new world for the first time in a long while.Deirk's presence, a comforting constant through the night's delirium, had somehow held the shadows at bay.The nightmares had tormented me again last night, vivid and terrifying. Between the haunting replays of situations I unfortunately found myself in, I was in a dark, endless void, with eerie whispers and shadows that seemed to be closing in on me. But then, they shifted. I was back at the orphanage, surrounded by the first kindergarten class Miss Morgana had allowed me to lead after I proved to her I could. Strangely, this shift made me feel even sadder than the nightmare. I missed those kids terribly.
(DEIRK POV) Navigating the market was a familiar routine for us, but today felt different with Jo and Percy in tow. I'd always cared for females, so naturally, I didn't have a single item to suit Percy, especially given his larger build. None of my clothes would fit him.As we prepared to leave, I caught Percy eyeing Jo as she playfully snapped her collar on before leaning up and kissing Dane. His expression was somewhere between curious and totally horrified. The dynamics at play here were admittedly hard to understand.Jo, ever enthusiastic about the smaller joys, had found herself some teddy bear pajamas she adored. Percy watched, clearly surprised by her childlike delight. As for Percy, he made choices that reflected his maturity. He opted for sensible jeans and shirts, selecting a few slacks and button-downs that hinted at a preference for a more classic, understated style. His selections were practical yet smart, suitable for various occasions, and far from the whimsical choic
(PERCY POV) Returning to the townhouse, Jo was acting like a completely different person. Deirk mentioned that it was all for show, but it was still disorienting to see her behaving like a child, throwing tantrums and pouting. It didn't make sense to me, and I couldn't help but question what was really going on.We were trying to eat dinner when Jo threw her fork on the floor for the second time. Dane's eyes went dark, and he calmly stood, picked her up, and walked out of the room. Moments later, we heard the sounds. Sharp pops and anguished cries.It was clear what was happening.I turned to Deirk, confused and a bit alarmed. "Okay, explain, because I have to know what's going on here.""Look, wards are expected to act with childlike obedience after they get through the initial stages of acting out," Deirk explained, "It's all part of the academy's way of maintaining discipline and control.""So, Dane and Jo are okay with it?" I asked, trying to grasp the whole concept."Not really,
(DEIRK POV) He was turning me on, and I was honestly blown away by how much.I tried to keep my cool, to hide my reaction, but I knew I was failing miserably. When Percy kissed me on his own, without any prompting. His willingness surprised me.Kissing a vampire so soon was a shock because of the natural self-preservation humans typically have until they trust us fully.One that sent a rush of heat through my entire body.We had unleashed something uncontrollable. He slid into my lap as I kissed him passionately. He couldn't stay still, grinding against me with a hunger I hadn't experienced before. His hands roamed through my hair, shoulders, and back.His aggression caught me off guard in the best way. I liked the intensity, the urgency. It was the kind of connection I'd always hoped for but never entirely believed I'd find.Unable to contain them, my fangs popped out with force.I worried it might frighten him, that he'd pull away or hesitate, but he didn't. He kept kissing me, hi
(Dane POV) Jo was sitting on the bed totally naked, watching me as I cleaned up the room. Things had gotten a little wild. It's been a while since we'd been intimate, and she had been aggressive. It felt good to be close to her again, to feel her energy, even if it meant cleaning up afterward.I leaned in and kissed her nose, "I'm thrilled you're back. I missed your spunk."She eyed me. "I'm sure you did. You seemed to enjoy yourself. I like it when you let me be on top.""Always," I replied with a grin, unable to hide my amusement at her bluntness.Jo's smile faded slightly as she asked, "Why did you refuse to feed on me during sex? Really? Tell me the truth. I'm good to go, you know that, right? I don't want you to worry abou... Wait... where have you been feeding if not on me?""Well, I haven't," I admitted.She frowned, "You know you can't just do that. You need to feed to keep yourself steady.""No worries," I said, "Deirk helped me out a time or two to keep me straight."She
(DEIRK POV)Dane stood up from the bar. "Well, I guess I'll leave you two to talk," he said with a smirk, heading towards the door. I watched him, wishing the floor would give way and swallow me up right then and there. No, no, no… I wasn't ready for this. After 400 years, these feelings were the scariest thing I'd ever experienced. Nevertheless, I tried to prepare myself for the conversation ahead. Before leaving, Dane walked over to Percy and said, "Take it easy on him." Percy smirked in response, and I hated how my heart fluttered at that simple look. When Dane disappeared into the other room, Percy gently tugged me away from the barstool. I let him, feeling strangely weak, as he wrapped his arms around my neck and pulled me into a tight hug.I was caught off guard by the unexpected moment, frozen in his grasp. I didn't know how to respond. Percy whispered into my ear, "I'm not playing you. Please don't say anything like that ever again."I pulled away slightly, looking into
(DEIRK POV) Finally, I pulled away from the kiss, though everything in me wanted to stay locked in that moment forever. Percy whispered, "We don't have to take it any further. This must be difficult for you." I shook my head and said, "No, it's not about me. I'm scared for you." Percy chuckled. "I'm not exactly a newbie here, you know." "No, listen," I insisted, needing him to understand. "Remember how I said I thought I was in love with Dane? Well, he didn't feel the same way, and eventually, we realized my feelings were tied to the forced intimacy we had to endure for so long. In an effort to figure it out, we tried to make it work. It was the only time I ever had sex willingly, but it didn't go well. He ended up having to pin me down for hours after because of my reaction." Percy took my hands in his. "You're not there anymore. You're here with me." I nodded slowly. "I know. It's just… Magness twisted so much of what I understood about love and intimacy. I'm terrified of repe
(PERCY POV)I was jolted awake by the sound of Dane yelling at Deirk. Something was wrong with Jo.Deirk jumped up, almost tossing me off the couch in his haste. He realized what he'd done and quickly grabbed me before I hit the floor, setting me upright on my feet in a flash. It happened so fast that it left my head spinning. I wondered why he didn't use it more often.I'd only witnessed that kind of time-bending speed when a vampire was thrusting faster than I could comprehend or when one disappeared without paying after taking advantage of me. I'd never seen it used to help someone before.Dane and Deirk vanished from the living room in the blink of an eye, and I followed them into Dane's bedroom, where she lay unconscious on the bed. The room seemed to shimmer with the aftereffects of their movements. The air shifted as if it couldn't quite catch up.Deirk leaned down and put his lips to Jo's neck. As worried as I was for her, I couldn't ignore the jealousy that twisted inside