Chapter 13

A full year had passed, and I’d grown fully accustomed to this house and its rules. I’d made plenty of friends here, yet Beatriz, Alleandro and Olonso remained my closest companions.

Thanks to them, I’d lived safely within these walls for months. I still held no official duties in the clan. A formal initiation ceremony, which would bind me truly to this household and to Master Mateus, would only take place once my one-year stay came to an end. Mateus had always been kind to me. But the one who constantly threw my emotions into turmoil was Nicholas — and he acted as if I barely existed at all.

He haunted my dreams night after night, while in reality, I kept my distance from him. Ever since that awkward night in the car, when I’d kissed him and he’d pulled away, we rarely spoke. We might catch each other’s gaze briefly in the hallway, or I would see him lingering like a shadow beside Mateus whenever I went to see the Master. His eyes would always land on me: cold, distant, and sharp, leaving me flustered and nervous. It felt as though he could peer straight into my thoughts.

One day, I hurried down the stairs, skipping two steps at a time, eager to speak with Mateus. Olonso suddenly stepped in my way. He wrapped an arm around my waist, making me let out a small yelp, and pressed a light kiss to my cheek.

“We’re heading out to watch a movie. Wanna come?” He raised his brows playfully. “It’s a vampire film.”

I laughed right away. Everyone knew I was obsessed with vampire and werewolf movies, and I never turned down a chance to watch one. My quirky taste had been the butt of many jokes at first, but my friends had long since stopped teasing me about it.

“Of course I’m in.” I kissed his cheek in return. “I’d never miss this.”

“Go get ready then. We leave at nine.” He let me go, winked, and darted off at supernatural speed.

I shook my head and smiled, grateful to have finally found a place where I belonged. I continued toward the main office. The door stood ajar, so I knocked gently before pushing it open. The room was dim and quiet, save for soft sighs drifting from near the window. Moonlight spilled through the glass, and I could see clearly what was happening.

Nicholas had his arms wrapped around a woman whose back was turned to me. His hand slid up to cup the nape of her neck, then tangled roughly in her hair, tilting her head to the side. In the next instant, he sank his fangs into her jugular vein to feed.

A sharp, piercing pain exploded in my chest, as if my heart were being torn apart. He’d rejected me so coldly that night in the car, yet here he was, eager and unhesitant with another vampire woman. I’d been right all along — a dhampir like me was simply not good enough for him.

A quiet whimper escaped my lips. At the sound, Nicholas lifted his head and locked his eyes directly on mine. Surprise and irritation flickered across his face.

I turned and ran without a second thought, hiding myself in the shadows of the backyard garden. I took deep, ragged breaths, struggling to hold back the tears burning in my eyes.

I told myself I would never cry over a man again. This pain was my own doing. She was only letting him feed. And I was fool enough to love him. If Eduardo ever found out about my feelings for Nicholas, he would kill him without mercy. That was one reason I’d tried so hard to stay away. The other was simple: Nicholas did not love me back.

After pulling myself together, my stomach growled loudly. I realized I hadn’t eaten anything in hours. Still, every thought of food brought back the painful scene I’d just witnessed.

Eventually, I gave in to my hunger and headed for the kitchen to make dinner. I was nearly finished eating when Nicholas walked in. He grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and drank it in long gulps, his gaze never leaving me.

My muscles tensed up. I stood to wash my plate and glass, nodded awkwardly, and prepared to leave.

He stepped forward instantly, blocking my path, and pressed me gently against the kitchen sink. My heart hammered wildly in my chest as I met his warm gaze. He parted his lips as if to speak, but then glanced over his shoulder and stepped back at once.

Moments later, Alleandro and Olonso walked in. They nodded to Nicholas, then smiled and kissed my cheek. Beatriz joined them soon after.

“Ready to go?” Beatriz greeted Nicholas respectfully before turning to me.

I glanced past her and saw Nicholas sitting on a sofa with a book in his hands. Our eyes met for a brief moment.

“Sorry, I didn’t realize you weren’t alone,” I stammered, my heartbeat speeding up. “My apologies, Nicholas.”

“It’s fine.” His voice was low and firm.

“You can begin training,” Mateus spoke up after a pause, “with Nicholas.”

“With Nicholas? W-why me?” I blurted out before I could stop myself, a strange tingling spreading all over my body. “I’d only disrupt his usual training routine. I’ll just be a burden to him.”

“Six o’clock to seven every morning.” Nicholas set his book down and stood, striding toward me with long steps. His tone left no room for argument. “Be at the gym tomorrow morning. Don’t be late.” With that, he turned and left.

“It’s all settled then.” Mateus smiled warmly. “You couldn’t ask for a better instructor.”

“Thank you.” I stood there dazedly, still processing what had just happened.

Technically, I was not yet an official member of the household, and my request could easily have been turned down. Even so, a foolish spark of joy bubbled up inside me. I didn’t know whether to laugh or groan. I’d been trying so hard to avoid Nicholas, and now I would have to see him every single day. Worse still, hand-to-hand combat meant constant physical contact between us.

“Damn it,” I muttered under my breath.