I inhaled in a staccato breath, a cold flush going through my veins in stark contrast to the warmth spreading across my cheeks. His touch lingered, thumb and forefinger taking hold of my chin. With an incredible amount of effort, I managed to lift my arm to push his hand away. His arm fell back to his side, but I knew he moved by choice. Had he wished it, he would still be holding on to me.

It took everything in me to bite back any sharp remarks. His actions made it clear he viewed me as no more than an inconvenience. He didn’t approve of me being here—

which meant my assignment had just become even more difficult. I couldn’t give him any more cause to hold me in disfavor. Getting close to him would prove impossible.

Instead, I begrudgingly inclined my head. “It’s an honor to be in your presence, Prince Claude.”

“You’re mistaken if you think I’ll fall for that act.”

I pinched my lips together, glaring at my reflection in the glossy tiles. This would be frustrating, but I grew up to have perseverance. An unpleasant personality wouldn’t deter me. Failing had dangerous consequences. I would not let it come to that.

Another pair of flurried footfalls met my ears and I twisted my neck to see Kaz bursting into the hall, the belt to his black dust coat flapping after him. As soon as he glimpsed Claude, he came to a quick stop, combat boots sliding and squeaking as he crumpled into a bow. He made eye contact with me, eyebrows shooting up on his forehead.

I hoped my face screamed get me out of this.

“Kaz, what is your hurry?” Claude asked, angling his body away from me.

Instantly my body felt relief. The heaviness disappeared along with the Sway. I knew I could climb to my feet now but chose to stay as I was, lest regain Claude’s attention.

Kaz grinned. “Late for a date, your majesty.” The way he enunciated majesty made it sound like an insult.

“Date?”

“With Cleo. I’m going to show her around.”

“How benevolent.”

I hated them talking like I wasn’t standing right there. Well, kneeling. My knees were beginning to hurt.

Claude strode forward, giving Kaz a displeased glance before disappearing around the corner. Kaz let out a short breath before rushing up to me and offering his hand. “What are you doing down there?”

I let him help me up. “I was tying my shoe when Claude came out. How do you deal with that Sway? I feel so trapped.”

I regretted saying that instantly. Another weakness I’d said aloud to Kaz. I hoped he wouldn’t use it against me.

Kaz tilted his head to the side, his gold earring dangling down to his shoulder. “Well, for vampires the effects of Sway lessen the more you endure it. It also depends on how much Claude pushes onto you.”

“He can control that?”

“Yep. The royal family has always used it as an intimidation tactic among other things.”

“That’s just wrong.”

Kaz shrugged. “It’s normal here. I wouldn’t say Claude goes out of his way to use it. Most of the time I think he just doesn’t realize what he’s doing. He’s a bit mindless sometimes.”

I folded my arms over my chest. I wouldn’t call that mindless. Cruel. Or unjust, maybe. “Is there anything I can do to make it affect me less?”

“I’m not sure. Sorry. You’re the only human who has lived long enough in his presence to make anyone even consider thinking about that.”

“…Lovely.”

Kaz scratched the back of his head, the hem of his black turtle neck raising to show the planes of his stomach. “Aha… It’s because those humans were vampire hunters.”

I stared at him pointedly.

He swallowed visibly. “Well, I think you’re safe. Probably.”

I knew those vampire hunters probably had been after Claude’s life, but the idea of him striking them down made my skin crawl. Did they even stand a chance? Had the Sway simply held them still while he killed them mercilessly? Would that happen to me if I made a wrong move?

“If it makes you feel any better, I don’t sense any hostility from you,” Kaz continued, trying to backpedal. “I mean, I can tell you’re human, but you don’t seem much different than anyone else here.”

“How do you recognize me as human?” I asked curiously. I knew the traits that helped me decipher between human and vampires, but what about vampires? What did they notice?

Kaz pointed at the hollow of my neck. “Your scent.”

I self-consciously smelled myself, only getting a whiff of the deodorant I’d put on earlier. “What kind of scent?”

“Bacteria, maybe?”

“You’re a charmer, aren’t you?”

He winced. “I’ll just stop talking. It’s not a bad scent, though. Just different. It stands out.”

Of course, it stood out. I was the only human here.

“Anyway, I’m going to change and then we can do the tour. Wait here for a second.”

As soon as Claude disappeared into his dorm, I quickly readjusted my dagger holster, tying it tightly to my calf so the blade wouldn’t stab me. Although a dagger wouldn’t do much of the Sway could keep me subdued. I had more reason to find a library now. Maybe the history books would hold other secrets as well.

Though the grounds were massive, they were organized in a way where I didn’t think I would become lost when on my own. There were paths and signs to every building and facility, lampposts lining those paths, and surveillance cameras attached to the lampposts. I was both annoyed and relieved by the cameras. If something happened to me, it would be caught on video. But if I were caught sneaking around, I’d have to come up with a good lie.

There weren’t many students milling about the lush courtyard, but those who were watched me curiously as I strode by them, hiding in the shade of the pear trees. No one came close to me. Only scrutinized, like I was some kind of zoo animal. Kaz either didn’t notice this or didn’t care, because he just kept going on with his spiel about the academy campus rules and regulations, pointing out his favorite architectural components of the campus.

I’d have to read the handbook later. I was too distracted by my inspection to listen to Kaz’s chatter. Nothing was out of the ordinary or suspicious. Maiestas Regia was just a normal academy… only be it one full of blood-sucking vampires. There weren’t even any prohibited buildings. The students could roam wherever they wanted.

“This path is kind of spooky at night, but it’s well lit,” Kaz said as we came to a fork on the white stone path. A weathered wood sign read Library and had an arrow pointing in the same direction Kaz nodded toward. High red maple trees surrounded the route to the library, blocking out most of the sunlight.

“Can we check it out?”

“Sorry, the campus library is closed on the weekends, but it’s open twenty-four hours during the week. There’s a lake next to it though if you’re interested in seeing that?”

I tried to hide my disappointment. I wouldn’t have been able to check for anything with Kaz with me, but that meant that tomorrow I couldn’t do anything either. Waiting gave me anxiety. Especially now that getting close to Claude appeared out of the question. I wanted to find something, anything that would satisfy my father if he decided to check up on me.

He won’t, I told myself. We weren’t supposed to have contact. I would have months to find this information. I could take my time. Investigating too soon would draw attention, anyway.

“Let’s go to the lake,” I said. I could at least check out the area.

Leaves crunched under our feet as we continued into the canopy. Scattered sunlight filtered through the leaves, enhancing their ruby color, and creating a beautiful scenery. How many years had passed for those trees to grow to their full height? How long ago had they built this path? Were the vampires who did it still alive to see how charming it came out?

My father had said vampires lived extended lifespans, but I didn’t think I could believe in anything he told me anymore.

The library appeared in the distance as we grew closer. Like the rest of the premises, it was tall and grand, sweeping upward with ornate carvings. The doorways stood under tall, arched entrances. An ornamental fence surrounded it, padlocked at the gate. That made me pause. If all other buildings had unrestricted access, why did the library have to be locked while closed?

We went left, passing the library. A lush, green yard spread out to the shores of the vast lake. The lake itself mirrored the cerulean sky, lying flat and calm. Curved stone half walls created semi-secluded sitting areas with picnic tables and benches. Some students milled about in them, spread out either eating or studying.

“In the summer you can go swimming, but right now it’s obviously too cold,” Kaz said as we came to the sandy waterside. “Sucks you had to transfer in the middle of the semester.”

As I opened my mouth to answer a pair of hands pushed hard on my upper back, causing me to go stumbling forward. I regained my balance quickly and twisted around, hunching down a little in case I needed to grab my dagger.

A shock of red hair met my gaze, then an equally surprised expression. Hands still suspended in mid-air, the guy who shoved me moved forward and I took a step back, hardening my look.

“That was an accident,” he explained in a rush, biting on his lip, clearly trying to hold back his amusement. “Man, you guys are seriously delicate, aren’t you?”

“San,” Kaz said disapprovingly.

“I only wanted to scare her a little!”

“I sense that’s a commonly reoccurring theme with you vampires,” I said, still not letting my guard down.

Kaz smiled guiltily.

“I’m San,” the man with blood-red hair said, holding out his hand. He had to at least be over six feet. He towered over both Kaz and me. Slender, but I could see the muscles in his forearm even in his relaxed stance. “I’m this guy right here’s best friend. And I am sorry for shoving you. However, it was a little funny.”

I hesitantly took it. Thinking of me as entertainment was still better than thinking of me as an enemy. Better to remain easygoing. “I’m sure you know, but I’m Cleo.”

San gave me an open-mouthed smile, the sharp edges of his fangs coming into sight. I tried not to focus on them, but they still made my heart skip a beat. Sharp. Sharper than any knife I’d ever seen. No wonder they were used as deadly weapons. I figured if I ran my fingers across the tip, it would slice my skin like butter.

“I like your hair,” he spoke slowly. “If you need a touch-up, a student here actually does mine, I can introduce her to you if you want! She’s young, but does a great job.”

I watched his fangs, almost mesmerized. “Oh, uh, that’d be great, actually.”

When he ran a tongue over them, I realized he was doing this on purpose. Still trying to make me sweat.

He was still holding my hand, so I tried to slide it out of his hold, but he held onto it tightly, that same smile on his face. Yes, he was definitely trying to get a reaction out of me. And I would give it to him.

I shifted my weight onto my right foot and brought up my left, sending the point of my shoe into his upper abdomen. He released me, groaning.

“Humans may be delicate, but don’t forget you share the same organs as us and their frailty. I know where to aim to incapacitate you if it came to it.”

San nodded his head. “Got it. Okay. Good. I’m glad you can protect yourself. I would have been worried after seeing your tiny self.”

“Worried?” I echoed.

“You better be careful here, Cleo. A lot of us want you dead.”