(DANE POV)A chill enveloped me, as if the mere mention summoned the darkness of that night. Summoned him. "No," I said, more sternly than intended. "You will never see that one."Her face fell into a pout, but this was one area where my resolve was ironclad. "Jo," I started, struggling to keep my voice even, "my transformation into what I am was... violent. Revisiting that memory requires a strength I can't muster at the moment." The truth was, some scars ran too deep, their edges frayed with a violence that threatened to unravel at the slightest touch. "And besides, it awakens certain... impulses that are better left dormant."The warning in my voice was clear, a boundary drawn from years of wrestling with the beast that transformation had birthed within me.As our argument unfolded within the bounds of our shared dreamscape, I realized the intensity of our connection. My finger remained in her mouth, drawing upon the essence of my being long after the wound had sealed. The realiza

JO POVThe week flew past, a whirlwind of learning and adapting to the academy's pace. To my surprise, with Dane there constantly encouraging me and pushing me to do better, I wasn't just keeping up. I was excelling. The curious glances and nods of approval from teachers and fellow students were a testament to my hard work and dedication. I had never received this much acknowledgment for doing the right things instead of the wrong.Throughout the week, our most persistent argument revolved around those dreaded collars. The notion of being collared struck a chord in me, igniting a refusal that resonated through my being few other things in this created. Dane attempted to secure the collar around my neck each morning and after naps. Anytime he let me take it off, he had to know how hard it would be to get it back on. Our struggles peaked when, in a moment of extreme frustration, he clasped it so swiftly I had no chance to resist. The act led to a punishment after I tore it off in defi

(DANE POV)As we arrived, Magness awaited us, his youthful appearance and demeanor strikingly different from Jo's expectations. "Wow, I thought he would be... older. Well, turned older? I don't know. I didn't picture him so young," Jo remarked."Yeah, he was turned when he was barely 15," I replied, watching Magness closely. He was laying it on thick, his actions meticulously crafted to appear welcoming and kind. The smile plastered on his face, and his arm wrapped around Katerine as they waited for us at the courtyard gate was so fake it should have glowed. With his overly smooth, clearly rehearsed charm, Magness made every effort to enchant Jo with his graciousness. "Ah, my dearest Jo, my first princess, welcome to my home. Your sleeping chamber has been arranged with the utmost care, just for you. And do anticipate a dining experience tailored to delight your senses," Magness cooed, his tone saturated with an excessive sweetness that seemed to drip from each word like honey.Sick,

(DANE POV) I stood, mechanically pulling my tattered clothes over a body marred by countless slowly healing bite marks. "Shh, kitten, I'm okay. No need to worry. I heal really fast," I reassured Jo, even as I fought to hide the deeper wounds that no amount of vampire speed could quickly repair. With every step, I struggled to move without betraying the pain I felt inside. Thankfully, Jo had missed the part that caused all the internal injuries, where my punishment for resisting him all night came by way of a sharp 17th-century blade he favored for moments like this. I'd noticed the bloody knife lying on the floor as I got dressed and kicked it under the bed so she wouldn't see it. "Let's go back to your room, okay?" I proposed as I pulled her up from the bed. "Stop calling it my room," she remarked. "Okay, let's return to the pink... princess room?" I asked, happy to see a speck of her spirit peeking through. She just nodded in response. Katherine was still waiting out

(JO POV) On the last day of our retreat at the castle, Magness's return abruptly disrupted the fragile peace we had fostered. His presence alone reignited a caution within me, a guarded stance I couldn't shake off even if I wanted to. During dinner, the atmosphere was charged with underlying tensions and unsaid grievances. "We should dine together, Katherine, Jo. A proper meal for you both while he and I will partake in my wide array of donors," Magness announced. Dane, catching my quick glance, leaned in slightly. "It's going to be okay. It'll be a male donor again, I promise," he whispered, attempting to address the silent worry he saw in me. Yet, his words did little to ease my anxiety. The thought of him with someone else, even in such a context, unsettled me deeply. As we settled into the ornate dining room for what Magness insisted was a 'celebratory' dinner, the atmosphere was filled with an unspoken tension. Ever the picture of grandeur, Magness spared no expense in showc