Chapter 2​

The next morning, a gentle knock interrupted my restless thoughts. "Elara, breakfast is ready," Lillian's melodic voice called through the door.

I quickly washed up and dressed. Downstairs, the Ashford family had already gathered around the dining table. Cassian occupied the far end, absorbed in his tablet, not bothering to acknowledge my presence.

"Good morning, sweetheart," Lillian said warmly, ladling creamy oatmeal into a delicate porcelain bowl. "I hope you managed some rest."

"Yes, thank you," I replied, settling into my chair. My eyes kept drifting toward Cassian despite myself. His expression remained utterly unreadable—impossible to believe this was the same vampire who'd whispered promises of protection outside my door.

Seraphina bounced into the seat beside me, radiating sunshine. "Elara, I'm taking you to the academy today! Make sure you stay close to me, okay?"

I studied her bright smile, remembering her urgent warning from the night before. "Seraphina, last night you mentioned—"

"Last night?" She tilted her head with genuine confusion. "What about last night?"

"You said this family was—"

"Oh!" She burst into melodic laughter, tapping her forehead. "I'm so sorry, Elara! I had some blood wine yesterday evening. I probably said all sorts of ridiculous things. Please don't pay attention to my rambling."

Her eyes sparkled with innocent clarity, as if she truly had no memory of our conversation. But I was absolutely certain she'd been stone-cold sober.

"Right... of course," I murmured, focusing on my breakfast while my mind raced. She was definitely playing dumb.

"Cassian will drive you both to the academy," Draven announced, his commanding voice cutting through the morning quiet. "Elara's still unfamiliar with Silver Hollow. Take care on the roads."

Cassian finally lifted his gaze, spearing me with those arctic blue eyes. "We leave in five minutes." He abandoned his untouched breakfast and strode out.

"Don't take it personally," Seraphina whispered conspiratorially. "That's just Cassian's way."

The car ride was suffocating. Cassian gripped the steering wheel with white knuckles while Seraphina and I sat in tense silence in the back. The only sounds were the engine's purr and the occasional turn signal.

"Elara, try not to be nervous at the academy," Seraphina said, squeezing my hand with surprising strength. "Some vampires harbor prejudices against humans, but no one would dare cross me."

"I appreciate that."

Her smile was sugar-sweet. "We're family now, after all."

In the rearview mirror, I caught Cassian's jaw tightening almost imperceptibly.

Twenty minutes later, we pulled up to imposing iron gates: Nightshade Academy. Gothic spires pierced the gray sky, and uniformed vampire students moved like shadows across the courtyard.

The moment I stepped out, every conversation died.

"Is that the human?"

"A pureblood actually dared show up here?"

"I heard the Ashfords are keeping her as some kind of pet..."

The whispers hit me like physical blows.

Cassian strode ahead, his intimidating presence parting the crowd like Moses splitting the sea. Seraphina linked her arm through mine, her smile never wavering.

"Ignore the gossip," she murmured.

We entered the main building, where Cassian stopped outside an administrative office. "After registration, go directly to class," he told Seraphina curtly. "Keep her out of trouble." Without another word, he vanished down the corridor.

"See?" Seraphina whispered in my ear. "Cassian acts cold, but he's already looking out for you."

Was he? It felt more like damage control than genuine concern.

Registration passed without incident, but the moment I stepped into my first classroom, the temperature seemed to plummet. Thirty-plus vampire students turned to stare in perfect, predatory unison.

The professor—an elegant vampiress with silver hair—barely glanced my way. "Miss Thorne, you'll take the back row."

I walked the gauntlet with burning cheeks, feeling their hungry gazes like brands on my skin. Seraphina, seated in the middle section, flashed me an encouraging thumbs-up.

I absorbed exactly nothing from the lecture.

When the bell chimed, I'd barely stood when three female vampires materialized around my desk. Their leader had flame-red hair and the classic crimson eyes of her kind. She looked me over like I was something she'd scraped off her shoe.

"So you're the famous pureblood human," she purred.

I clutched my bag strap. "Can I help you with something?"

"Oh, absolutely," she said, jabbing my shoulder with one sharp fingernail. "I can practically taste your blood from here. You do realize that to us, humans are nothing more than walking meals, right?"

Her companions snickered like hyenas.

"Victoria, that's enough," Seraphina said, sliding between us with practiced grace. "Elara is under Ashford protection."

"Ashford protection?" Victoria's laugh was razor-sharp. "Since when do humans deserve that honor?"

Before I could react, she hurled a cup of crimson liquid across my uniform. Artificial blood—thick, cold, and utterly revolting.

The classroom exploded in cruel laughter.

I stood frozen, trembling with humiliation and rage.

"Victoria! You've gone too far!" Seraphina snapped, frantically dabbing at my stained clothes with tissues.

"Oops," Victoria smirked, not looking sorry at all. "Clumsy me. But honestly, aren't pureblood humans supposed to be more... resilient?"

I clenched my fists, every instinct screaming to fight back, but Seraphina's grip on my arm was like iron.

"Elara, don't," she hissed. "You're outnumbered here."

"Come on," she said louder, steering me toward the door. "Let's get you cleaned up."

Victoria's taunts followed us into the hallway. "Run along, little blood bag!"

In the restroom, I scrubbed desperately at the stains while Seraphina watched with apparent sympathy.

"Elara, I warned you this wouldn't be easy," she sighed.

"Then what exactly do you suggest I do?" I met her gaze in the mirror.

She hesitated, her perfect smile flickering. "I... I mean, you need to learn to defend yourself."

"How? I'm one human against an entire academy of vampires."

"You have me," she said, grasping my hands. "Elara, I'm the only one who can truly protect you here. You have to trust me completely."

I searched her eyes for any hint of deception, but her expression was flawlessly sincere.

"Okay," I said finally. "I trust you."

Relief flooded her features. "Good. We should hurry—we'll be late for next period."

During lunch, I sat alone in a corner while Seraphina attended some teacher meeting. The other students gave me a wide berth, as if I carried some contagious disease.

I was picking at the unappetizing cafeteria food when the intercom crackled to life.

"Victoria Blackwood, report to the principal's office immediately."

I looked up to see Victoria's face drain of color. She shot me a venomous glare before reluctantly leaving the cafeteria.

When she returned ten minutes later, she wouldn't meet my eyes.

I caught fragments of whispered conversations from nearby tables.

"I heard Prince Cassian personally intervened..."

"For the human? Prince Cassian actually..."

"Shh, keep your voice down. Victoria looks ready to murder someone."

Cassian? He'd stepped in for me again?

After classes ended, I deliberately lingered, hoping to piece together what had happened. Seraphina mentioned club obligations and suggested I wait in the library.

I wandered aimlessly through the towering stacks when hushed voices drew my attention. Following the sound, I spotted Seraphina in a secluded alcove, speaking quietly into her phone.

I crept closer, pressing myself against the nearest bookshelf.

"Everything's proceeding as planned," Seraphina murmured, her sweet voice now cold and calculating. "She needs to be gone within the month."

My blood turned to ice.

"That idiot Victoria nearly ruined everything... No, Cassian hasn't suspected anything yet..."

She was talking about me. She had to be.

"Don't worry, I'll make her leave voluntarily," Seraphina continued. "Destroy her reputation, turn the family against her... it'll be simple enough."

I pressed my hand over my mouth to stifle a gasp.

Seraphina ended the call and glanced around suspiciously. I ducked deeper behind the shelf, my heart hammering so loudly I was sure she'd hear it.

When her footsteps finally faded, I slumped against the books, my legs suddenly weak. Seraphina's warnings, her sisterly concern, her promises of protection—all of it had been an elaborate lie.

But why did she want me gone? And more importantly... who had she been reporting to?