They really were quite predictable. "You guys do not have the attention span to shit talk," I commented boorishly. Alec smirked, my support adding to his glory.

I had earned myself the role of being the new target as Demetri pointed accusingly at me. "I want five sentences before I kick both their assess in this game, or it's detention for you, kid." Ignoring both Alec and Felix's protests against the claim, I grinned smugly.

"Deal."

Easier said than done.

~•~•~•~

It was all Alec's fault.

Stupid face Alec only needed one hand on the controller, and when I felt the first few taps below my knee, I knew I was screwed. I kept my head buried in the book, trying to ignore his roguish nature and the sparks that lit from every tap of his fingertips. But he was ingenious about it, timing them with every time I switched my gaze from my paper to the book and even as I tried to write. I shot him a glare, but he feigned ignorance, eyes focused on the screen.

Finally, his hand paused against my skin. His fingers glided like spiders to wrap around my ankle. I swallowed. It sent me spinning. Felix and Demetri were none the wiser to my erratically beating heart. Surely they would have said something by now if they weren't so invested in their game.

Alec began to caress his thumb back and forth over the thin fabric of my tights. I kicked my leg, trying to get him to knock it off, but he only tightened his grip. My complaint caught in my throat as his eyes demanded mine.

"Alright," Felix declared, tossing his controller to me. I hardly caught it, tearing my eyes from Alec as the action sent the Italian to English translation book and my papers to the floor. "My bad, kiddo."

Demetri stood as well, stretching his arms over his head.

"Where are you two going?"

"To work," Demetri stole my work from the ground, scrutinizing my progress. "Which is not your forte."

Instead of arguing, "I'll tell you where Heidi's furniture is if you tell Caius I did it all."

"Nope."

"Perhaps you two are merely poor instructors." My eyes shifted to see Alec's smug smirk as he stole the fairytale book, the one thing that remained on the couch.

"And you could do better?"

Jeering, Alec determined, "She needs stronger motivation, clearly."

"Oh yeah," Felix snorted. "I'm sure you could find a few ways to keep her motivated –" Even I was not so naive as to miss the innuendo. I retaliated before Alec could, snatching my legs off his lap and tossing the remaining couch pillow at Felix's head. He dodged it with a knowing grin. "There is nothing wrong with a little support between mates."

I scoffed, my slight embarrassment pushing me to stand and steal my work back from Demetri. "Just because you've got that dumb betting pool on us –"

"FIYA," Demetri hissed, but I had already realized my mistake. I'd told Alec the topic but not the stakes they'd placed on our 'first' kiss.

Alec was now standing too, and the worst part was – he didn't look upset.

"Saffiya?"

I assumed he asked me to keep himself calm if he didn't like the answer. But I stumbled because 'betting pool' was pretty straightforward. And even if I did manage a believable lie, I didn't want to lie to him. Especially not in front of other people.

Alec wet his lips, dropping his gaze as if disappointed in my silence. My heart began beating erratically in my ears as he pushed the cuffs of his shirt up to his elbows, straightened up, and folded his arms across his chest. His stern expression returned, fixated on me.

I suddenly felt a bit light-headed.

Felix tried to help, but it was a near-fatal mistake. "It's not what it sounds like."

Alec's eyes had narrowed into tight slits, snapping over to Felix. His eyes darted between me and Alec before lifting his hands as if to protect himself from an attack.

In my peripheral, I saw Demetri step away from Felix with a grim expression. Alec's eyes held a brownish-red hue, swirling to encompass his irises as they zeroed in on Felix. Yet, he hadn't moved. His frame was still relaxed (as relaxed as Alec's posture could ever look, which was not much) and unassuming. Until the corners of his lips pulled up into that boyish smirk identical to his sister's. The one that swore their sins to the highest bidder.

By the time Felix opened his mouth, he was already gagging on an apology. He grasped at his throat, eyes pleading with the boy who fed on the suffering. Even now, dear Reader, I believe Alec could survive on his victims' agony in place of the burgundy liquid. No. More than survive.

He would thrive.

Demetri finally caught my attention, as I had been transfixed by the effect of the numbing gift. My friend's eyes frantically pleaded with me as if I were Felix's only hope. It wasn't as if Alec was going to kill him, but with sense knocked back into me, I moved back to Alec's side and reached for his forearm.

Alongside the usual stone hardness was the one thing that distinguished vampires from real marble; they still had human figures. His muscles were flexed despite the tranquil exterior, hiding the underlying anger that triggered his aggression leaving him more than ready to pounce. They twitched at my touch.

My eyes trailed up along his arm, where the vampire traits had sculped his biceps in subtle dips and curves. Not so noticeable as Felix, who was practically crafted from the same clay as Dwayne Johnson, nor as Demetri, who would tuck his hands into his pockets and roll his shoulders back in tapered shirts that made 'no shirt, no shoes, no service' a cruel standard.

The gathered fabric around Alec's abdomen was unintentionally unimaginative. Without an overlayer to cover the tighter fit around his upper chest, the combination with his current demeanor made these features impossible to ignore. I'd noticed before, of course, but maybe the films I'd watched the last few days made me hyperaware of what made him so attractive.

Felix dropped to his knees with a small bang, his pupils now swatting about in his eyes as if vying for some corner of light.

In light of my failed attempt, Demetri tried, "Alec, the Masters are expecting us."

He stumbled back a second later, eyes on the floor, and I deduced that Alec had allowed his gift to drift toward the older man. Luckily, Demetri caught on; as he raised his hands and backed away again, I assumed Alec let the threat stand.

My friend again looked to me. Damn it.

"He's right. This can wait," I murmured lowly, unsure of what I meant. I'd never talked Alec down before. What part of Felix's comment had set him off, and how did I avoid making it worse?

I shifted to block him from the other two, sliding my hand down to intertwine my fingers with his cold ones. Alec's unbothered expression gained a slight crease between his eyebrows as if I'd disrupted his concentration. However, like a true predator, his eyes remained on his target.

"Alec," I tried, but he cut me off with a low warning growl. Technically, that was acknowledgment. I could work with that. "Alec…baby," I insisted patiently. His eyes darted to mine. "I'm hungry."

There was a desperate gasp for air behind me, meaning he'd released Felix. Unintentionally, it seemed, as the sound drew another glare and Alec's attention. Before he could call upon his gift again, I placed a small fist firmly against his solid abdomen, stopping him in his tracks. "We're going to the kitchens."

Alec tilted his head as he took in my expression, likely assessing how invested I was in the situation before his shoulders relaxed. The two doofuses decided to cut in.

"That's a good idea."

"Such a good idea."

"Stay healthy, kiddo."

Then, they just had to push it, "Yeah, take a short break from your homework."

I whipped my head around, hair flicking onto my face. "Don't you two have somewhere to be?" They didn't hang around.

As soon as the door closed, Alec wrapped his hand around mine before gently removing it from his body. He manoeuvred past me to pick up the controllers and return them under the television. Instead of coming back, he collected the pillows. He was tidying up.

"You know," I jested softly, "if you throw sand on the playground, the other kids won't want to play with you."

With a sharp tone, he defended, "He was out of line."

"Felix is always out of line."

"Perhaps that is the problem," he spits. I leaned back, startled by his tone.

"Look at it this way. When he gets a mate, we can return the favour."

Alec scoffed, "As if anyone would want to spend eternity with –"

I almost asked why Felix's comments made him so mad. Which would have been an appropriate question. Instead, my darker curiosities were brought forward, "How long have you kept him under before?"

Alec's eyes narrowed as he considered my question. A flicker of fascination crossed his features, and I half expected a snarky, 'not long enough.' Instead, his eyes ran over my figure as if contemplating what my response would be to any answer. Contemplating why I'd asked it, and why I no longer seemed to fear the gift he'd been born with. He'd given me the same look the night I decided Travis' fate.

I caught myself fiddling with the edge of my skirt under his stare. His lips curled into a knowing smirk, "a few days or so." His voice dipped seductively as he locked eyes with me, sending a shiver down my spine. "Does that intrigue you, my darling?"

"I –"

His fingers suddenly pressed into my hips, cutting me off as he lowered his face into the crook of my neck.

My chest rose and fell with heavy breaths as he slowly – excessively and unnecessarily slow – teased along my neck with barely a whisper of his lips. Each brush against my skin was as amatory as they were perilous. Alec tightened his grip, curving my body into his as my hands moved to his chest.

He was gone too soon, bringing us face to face as he asked me in an undertone, "Tell me about the bet."

I bit my lip as Alec fixed me with a dark stare, and a second later, my back hit the wall. I loosened my grip on his shirt as I tried to figure out how to slyly slip out of his arms. "Darling," he coaxed with a low growl. The sound reached my fingertips on his chest. I removed them like lightning had struck.

But between his body inches from mine and the wall supporting my back, there was no way I was getting out of this without a little creativity. Before I could even come up with a lie, Alec's breath coated the side of my neck again. I managed to hold in another gasp, but my opponent was a goddamn sociopath.

It was practically torture. I couldn't take it. I tilted my head up to try and catch his mouth with mine. He quickly apprehended me, leaning back and keeping me on the wall.

Alec's eyes searched mine, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. I glared at him, but he remained unbothered. His hand moved from my back to the nape of my neck, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. My hands went to his chest, and he allowed me to bring him back to me.

He didn't even need to ask again before I caved. "Remember when I told them we were just friends?" Alec raised an eyebrow. "I guess it's some ongoing bet on when we kiss rather than if it happens."

There was no immediate reaction, and I pulled back with the bit of space I had to see his eyelashes gracing his cheeks, lids shut. He reclaimed the distance, his cheek brushing mine as he appeared to take a deep breath.

"Are you trying not to kill them?"

He gave a little laugh, sending another shiver down my spine, and I couldn't help but shift a bit beneath him.

"Another time." I raised an eyebrow to question him. "It seems I've proven his theory."

Alec collected me again, almost lazily, with an arm wrapping around my waist as he leaned in. But he stopped, closing his eyes and tensing his chest.

I breathed out, "Please."

He tightened his grip on my waist, and the feeling of his hand splayed across my spine made my chest tighten. He confessed, "I cannot." And yet his nose nuzzled against mine, and I found it harder to breathe as the air grew thicker, like an irresistible molasses.

I made a slight sound, a disappointed whimper, and while it hardly registered for me, it meant a lot more to Alec. A sound, somewhere between a groan and a growl, reverberated in his chest as he pressed against mine. "You are ruinous, my darling. Irresistible." His fingers claimed a fistful of my hair, wishful to connect our lips and searching for some other avenue of release.

"May I –" The rest of his sentence didn't even reach my ears as his lips traveled below my ear. I didn't need the rest of the sentence. A little pressure and a rush of energy crashed over me with the simple graze of his bottom lip. My chest keeled into him, and my fingertips pressed into his bicep. In my head, this was permission enough, but Alec required more. He nipped at the sensitive spot and hummed in appreciation of the slight whine this earned him.

I managed to breathe out, "You said –"

"I know what I said," he said impatiently, the husky sound vibrating through his chest again. "I am in control. My mate is adorably sensitive," He focused on the same spot, tugging my skin between his plump lips before releasing it. I only barely held back the sound that built in my lungs. He growled when I refused to release it, "And I asked you a question."

I tried to breathe, my natural stubbornness attempting to ignore his effect on me as I struggled to answer the question I could hardly process the first time.

"Darling," he said firmer, and as if that wasn't enough, his lips graced my neck, sending my senses into overdrive with the subtle contact of his tongue as it tasted the curve up my throat. My arms slid over his shoulders and pulled him closer.

I reminded him, "They'll see it."

His hands moved up to my waist, fisting the fabric of my shirt between his fingers to eliminate the space between us. I was aware of the avoidance of my actual body, but I was more than willing to take what I could get.

"Good," he growled, his lips finding the delicate skin at the base of my jaw. A mix of anticipation and trepidation surged within me, and instinctively, my teeth sank into my bottom lip, attempting to stifle the response that threatened to escape. But my feeble attempt at restraint was in vain. A soft, uncontrollable moan slipped past my lips, exposing a desire that had remained elusive even to myself.

His mouth curved into a knowing smirk against my skin, his every movement reflecting the satisfaction he derived from my reaction. The pride radiating from him only fueled the intensity of the moment. It was as if his very presence had ignited a fire within me, setting my butterflies into a wild frenzy, their wings beating in sync with the rapid drumming of my heart. All the while, a tingling sensation rippled through me, heightening the connection we shared and sending waves of electric anticipation coursing through my veins.

His teeth delicately nipped at the area as he parted, soothing the mark with his tongue and nearly making my knees buckle before he began to move lower, not daring to travel below my collarbone. I flexed into his touch the instant he did with a soft gasp. To which he growled, reminding himself of the control he'd needed to get this far. I laced my fingers through his hair to distract him from his own mind, and grateful, he kissed back up my throat and, finally, finally

Stopped.

But not for the reason I expected.

"Your tights are ripped," he rasped breathily as he stepped away. Naively, I glanced down but noticed no rip, brushing my hand over my lower thigh. Alec's hand appeared on mine, delicately moving it up and under the skirt of my dress where his hand had been only moments ago. "There," he breathed out. He wouldn't meet my eyes as his hand abandoned mine. I raised my eyebrows, sliding my skirt up only slightly. I slipped my fingers under the fabric of the tights before realizing why he thought he'd ripped them. "Did I harm you?"

The concern in his eyes was adorably innocent. I couldn't stop the adoring laugh that burst forth. Alec's fear turned into a frown.

"Why are you laughing?"

I reached for his hand, but he stubbornly pulled the limb away. I rolled my eyes, lifting the end of my skirt to reveal the lace pattern at the top of my stockings. It was undoubtedly higher than he likely planned or expected to venture, mid-thigh, and I didn't exactly have a problem with it. "You do know what lace feels like, right?"

My teasing tone didn't make it to his ears. His focus remained on the lacey design hugging my leg. The hand that had previously retreated brushed lightly against the tights, two fingers trailing back down to my knee and returning to my upper thigh. His skin never directly made contact with mine, the thin fabric serving as a barrier. A safety that kept a line from being drawn.

I placed my hand on his jaw, and he faltered but stayed. His eyes rose to mine, his pupils dilated, and the bright red slightly darkened with a smoldering intensity from beneath long lashes. My thumb stroked back and forth over his cheek as I took in his appearance. His hair had fallen out of place, with his bangs draped over his forehead, giving him an alluringly disheveled look.

I had been so caught up in our dizzying exchange I'd hardly processed the evidence of my own actions. Alec's black turtleneck was now crumpled and untucked, a detail that made my eyes widen. I had no memory nor intention of starting something like that, but it drew my attention back to his face with timid curiosity.

His unwavering attention had not left me as he tenderly caressed my tights-clad skin. The realization instantly pulled my bottom lip between my teeth, a mixture of anticipation and desire coursing through me, causing Alec's grip on my thigh to tighten possessively. The effect was like a chain reaction, evoking yet another gasp from me, and his eyes were immediately drawn to my barely parted lips.

His gaze rose from his handiwork on my neck, his eyes dilated and surrounded by an encompassing red as he took me in. I could still feel the rhythm of my heavy breaths, but I felt his desperate struggle for control as if it were my own.

"You know," I said to him after a moment. "If you don't stop thinking you're gonna kill me every time we almost kiss, I might start taking it personally."

He didn't laugh.

"Alec. We've agreed to go slow, established boundaries, which, for some reason, you made us define –"

"Yes." He raised a playful eyebrow, "Because we placed no such limits on your 'time and space' request, and look where that got us." I bit my lip as I considered this and then threw my head back with a bright laugh.

"Whoops." Alec rolled his eyes as I began messing with the extra fabric around his abdomen.

"Such as rule number three?" I shrugged, my attention strictly on his chest. He removed my hand from his shirt with a smirk. "Clothing is not to be removed."

"I wasn't trying –!" He placed a light squeeze to my side, making me squirm with laughter but agree. "Prude," I teased.

"These are important, Saffiya."

"You're pretty when you lecture me."

His eyes narrowed playfully, "as opposed to?" Literally never.

"I'll get back to you on that." He tried to look stern but caved and went to tickle me again. I narrowly avoided the reach, only for him to pull me right back in. The chill of his hands at the base of my spine seeped through the material of my shirt. My breath hitched, and my hand cupped his cheek.

"Alec," I exhaled. "Kiss me."

"Saffiya–"

"Not like that. I mean…" Alec hesitated before he leaned in slowly, each centimeter a deliberate exploration. Then, his soft lips met mine, and his hand molded my body into his. It was fleeting yet electrifying, and I couldn't believe that even a simple act like this still had the power to transport me to the stars.

My eyes fluttered open, only to find his eyes still closed, immersed in the moment.

"Are you okay?" My guilt was already on standby if something so simple had only exacerbated the effects he was already feeling, but he nodded.

"Actually…it is easier," he admitted.

His hands rose up my sides patiently, a gentle touch that belied the intensity in his eyes. They had tinted, glassed over as something primal took over. A startled yelp escaped my lips as my feet left the ground, instinctively wrapping my arms around Alec's neck as he spun me against the wall, securing my legs around his waist.

His face was mere inches from mine, our breaths mingling in the air heavy with anticipation. I whimpered, my control slipping away under the weight of the desire that pulsed between us, leaving me utterly defenseless. I was unable to maintain the control in which he'd become so well-versed.

His grip tightened on my thighs at the vulnerable sound, a mix of possession and tenderness evident in his touch. With a tilt of his head, our lips hovered impossibly close, his lips nearly sticking to mine with the barest touch in the humidity between us. It was a tantalizing tease, not enough to satiate the craving that surged within us, but it poured gasoline over a raging forest fire.

"I am trying," he confessed, his breaths ragged and heavy.

I nodded once, a resigned acceptance settling within me. "We have time."

His lips curved into that rare, beautiful smile I cherished, but I had only a second to admire it. The gentleness dissolved into a deep frown as he tilted his head as if to catch the whispers of a distant conversation somewhere in the castle.

Slowly, he lowered me to the floor, his eyebrows knitting together in a furrowed expression as he struggled to discern what might be happening elsewhere.

Gruffly, Alec ordered, "Get behind me." With swift movements, he swept me to the side just as the main doors flung open, a solid form hurtling through the air and landing haphazardly in the entryway. I gasped, covering my mouth as I watched the figure remain still for a moment, then spring into action on two legs, colliding with a force of royal blue.

The two collided, equally matched, until their next pause in speed, allowing me to see the unfamiliar vampire was bent over Talib with one hand holding my guard against the unforgiving stone floor.

Alec snarled, launching himself forward as Talib was thrown back.

As he did, a second intruder was thrown against the wide doors with an echoing bang and was swiftly restrained by Percy. The simultaneous fights failed to distract their counterparts. Alec remained undeterred, his focus solely on his opponent.

In a flash, Talib appeared in front of me, serving as a shield against the chaos. Percy managed to overpower her assailant effortlessly – though, honestly, I don't think the other vampire even laid a hand on her. Talib's posture straightened, caught off guard as Percy politely offered a hand to the woman.

"Long time no see, Perce!" Her bright greeting was met with a narrowed stare from Prosper, his arms crossed over his broad chest.

In the other corner of the room, Alec lifted the other man from the ground, his hand firmly wrapped around his throat. He slammed the vampire against the furthest wall. I could've sworn the stone trembled from the force, but I was too far to see if any damage had been done.

If it hadn't been enough the first time, Alec repeated the move, practically launching the man towards the door. The unknown vampire slid across the floor on his back, skillfully recovering and catching himself, somehow landing on his feet in front of his nonviolent companion.

The man attempted to stand, but with one step from Alec, he dropped back in defeat. "You win again, comrade."

Alec snarled, swiftly returning to stand protectively in front of me. Talib stepped aside, his vigilant gaze shifting between the man slowly rising from the floor and the figure waiting in the doorway. The newcomer resembled a young sailor, boasting a barrel-chested physique and dirty blond locks that fell neatly across his face as he stood.

The girl grinned, nonchalant gestures adding a playful air to her demeanor. "Oh, come now, it's only a little fun," she remarked, and I refrained from rolling my eyes. She was almost too happy." Garrow and I wanted to help test your defenses."

With a deadpan expression, Percy shifted to flank our other side, sarcasm dripping from her words. "How altruistic of you."

Impatient, Alec demanded, "Why are you here?"

The bystander took the lead, stepping forward in an attempt to de-escalate the tension. "We're here to help."

~•~•~•~

A/N: Thank you for being so patient!

There are a few transitions and follies that I wanted to change, but I can no longer ignore the desire to post this for you guys. So, if you notice a few changes or shifts at a later date, just go with me.

Ro