(JO POV)The trauma of what transpired in the dining room lingered with me, a haunting memory I couldn't shake off. Virginia, the girl from the newbie dorm, her cries of pain as she was bitten repeatedly up and down her thigh, echoed in my mind. Despite Dane's efforts to shield me from the worst of it, I had seen and heard too much. The raw anguish of those moments was indelibly etched into my consciousness.Dane did everything within his power to protect me amid the chaos and predatory frenzy that engulfed the room. Yet, despite his best efforts, I wasn't completely spared; three others managed to bite me—two of them barely breaking the skin, but one bit me with a force that surpassed anything I had felt from Dane... that is, until he decided to bite into my wrist, apologizing beforehand, insisting it was the only way to stop this.It was evident that his treatment of me differed from how other vampires treated their humans. I was lucky, acutely aware of the contrast in our situatio

(DANE POV)As she slept in my arms throughout the night, I was deeply attuned to her every breath and subtle movement. It was a rare moment of tranquility in the otherwise turbulent life within the academy's walls and otherwise. I could sense the peacefulness of her rest, a precious respite so few of our kind and the humans among us were afforded.Whenever the shadows of a nightmare began to creep into her subconscious, I gently nudged them away, replacing them with lighter, more serene thoughts. While I could have influenced the direction of her dreams, I refrained, choosing instead to let her mind wander to whatever brought her comfort and joy. It was surprising yet profoundly touching to find my own face frequently appearing among the various scenes that seemed to comfort her: fishing in her younger years, reading in a hammock, and a cute, tattered teddy bear on a bed.As dawn approached and the blinds snapped closed, signaling the start of another day shielded from the sun's ray

(JO POV)Sitting in the dining hall, the scene before me was unsettling. The vampire Dane clearly had issues with was treating his slave harshly, and the sounds of her distress filled the air. My butt still burned from Dane's discipline. The impact felt more intense, making me wonder if it was because we were in front of others or if he'd really popped me that much harder. Despite my irritation with him, I had to concede he was right about insisting I wear the underwear. Without it, I would have been utterly exposed."Can we go back to the room yet?" I whispered to Dane. He leaned back deliberately, maintaining a distance between us, and responded, "In a few minutes, kitten." I cringed as Dominic's slave cried out again, and I thought I saw Dane's eyes soften just a bit."Do you want to sit in my lap, kitten?" he offered. I lunged toward him, and he caught me, positioning me so I faced the room but was securely in his lap. This wasn't exactly what I had in mind, and I began to pout.

(DANE POV)Getting Jo ready for her first class was an exercise in precision and care. I braided her hair, meticulously ensuring each strand fell perfectly into place. She needed to look flawless, the epitome of perfection. Beneath my meticulous preparations, I harbored a quiet optimism that she would embrace her role more gracefully today.I couldn't help but amuse myself by her reluctance to tell me anything about her dream. She didn't know it and hadn't mentioned it, but I was already privy to its contents.I'm the one who created the content. The realization that I had the power to shape her dreams and was acutely aware of them was something she hadn't pieced together yet. In time, she would understand that there were few secrets she could keep from me, least of all those firmly in the fabric of her subconscious.Stepping into her first class with her was an experience that bordered on the ethereal. I quietly observed, a silent guardian in the background, watching her assimilate

(DANE POV)The entire ordeal was tearing me apart inside. Every fiber of my being screamed to go to her, to wrap her in my arms and assure her that everything would be fine. Yet, I lay rooted, constrained by the necessity of the lesson at hand. While her rebellious spirit was one of the traits that drew me to her, it now posed a risk to our future within these walls. Her defiance and her unfiltered expressions of anger could jeopardize our chances of leaving this place behind. If any trait needed curbing to ensure our success and safety, it was her tendency to speak without restraint.As Jo's tears began, my resolve began to erode. I told myself that this harsh lesson was necessary, that it was for her own good in a world that wouldn't coddle her. But as the minutes ticked by, each second heavy with her quiet sobs, the consequence of my actions pressed down on me.For an hour, I listened to the sound of her crying, each sob a crack in my facade. I knew I had to maintain a pretense o