Chapter Thirty-Six

My heart pounded as, hand in hand, Cole and I made our way to Astor's office. This was it: the moment we would find out our final scores for the year. Surviving the final assessment wasn't enough—though I already knew several people hadn't managed it—we needed to score highly enough to meet Astor's standard, too. And, of course, pass the theory tests we'd sat yesterday morning, and Cole's shifting assessment.

We weren't the only people to have the idea, and there were already several other people clustered around the results notice pinned on the board outside Astor's office. It wasn't until we got closer that I realized who they were.

"Kallan," Cole ground out, and Kallan turned on him with a sneer.

"You made it then. Shame."

"The only shame is that my mate was interrupted before she could gut you and the rest of your cowardly sheep." Cole closed the gap between them. "That's twice you've come after us. Make no mistake, if there's a third I will end you. If my mate doesn't get there first."

Kallan eyeballed us both, and then snorted. "Whatever." He flicked a glance at the three figures with him, without ever taking his eyes fully from Cole. "Come on, let's get out of here."

I watched him go, and then Cole gave my hand a gentle squeeze.

"Come on, princess. Let's check our scores."

I nodded, my throat suddenly dry, and I let him lead us the rest of the way to the board.

My heart stuttered. Taking a deep breath, I edged closer, scanning down the list of names. Some were marked out in red ink—failed. I didn't let my eyes linger on those, frantically seeking the names I cared about.

Finally I found them clustered near the bottom, Cole's name above mine. He'd scored a near perfect score on his theory and shifting assessments.

"Swot," I muttered under my breath, and he chuckled. His scores were less impressive for the final assessment, but then, he had spent a good portion of it unconscious. But he'd passed, and that was all that mattered. Jax and Alina, too. I skipped down a line to my own name. Reasonable pass for the theory, and a good score for the final assessment. And a question mark in the column under my feeding exam. I swallowed and turned to Cole.

"What if I screw it up?"

"What are you screwing up now, sweetness?"

I whirled round to scowl at a smirking Thaden. "Could you maybe stop sneaking up on people?"

"Nope. Good to see you looking better, Bryant."

"Thanks to you, I hear," he said, extending a hand. The pair of them fist bumped. "Cali's worried about failing her feeding assessment."

"With good reason," I said. "Thaden, you saw my last attempt. And Cole, you saw me trying to feed from Alina and I wasn't even touching her. I'm going to screw it up, and all of this," I flung a hand at the scoreboard, "won't count for anything."

Thaden caught my hand, and skimmed his nose along my pulse. "Control is easy, sweetness," he murmured.

"For you, maybe."

He locked eyes with Cole over my arm, a wicked gleam in his eye. Nothing good could come from that expression.

"What say we help your mate, Bryant?"

Cole crowned me from the other side, lowering his nose hair and inhaling deeply. "What does my mate say?" he asked, his voice a seductive growl that sent a shot of heat between my legs.

"Okay," I whispered.

Cole whisked me into his arms, and it seemed only seconds later we were inside our quarters, Thaden clicking the door softly shut and throwing the lock, while Cole lowered me reverently onto his bed.

Cole stood over me, his eyes dark and intense as he watched every move I made. I shivered under his scrutiny, but it didn't stop the desire that burned in my core. Every inch of my body tingled with anticipation as I reached up and started to unbutton his shirt slowly, taking my time to tease him, to feel him. His muscles rippled beneath my touch, and I traced the lines of his abdomen with my fingertips, enjoying the way they flexed slightly at my touch. The soft cotton slid off his shoulders, revealing his toned body that was as familiar to me as the back of my own hand, and that I would never get tired of looking at.

"You're so beautiful," I breathed out, leaning forward to trace a finger down his pecs before moving lower to trace tracks on his abs with my tongue. His skin was warm and salty against my lips, sending a jolt of arousal through my body. Cole let out a low groan that vibrated against my lips as I explored him further down, tracing patterns on his firm stomach until I reached the edge of his pants.

Thaden circled around us with predatory grace, watching our every move. He stepped in, hesitating for just a second as his hand found my jaw, and I gave him a small nod. His fingers trailed south, releasing the buttons of my shirt as he went with effortless grace.

"Hey!" I scowled at him. "You've done that before."

"Jealous, sweetness?"

"No," I lied.

"Good. Because I meant everything I said to you yesterday. Now relax." He moved his hand further down, unbuttoning my pants. "We're going to make you feel good."

"And how is that going to help me control my feeding?"

He shot me a mischievous grin. "You'll see. Cole, your mate needs you."

Cole climbed onto the bed and his hand slid in to take the place of Thaden's, his fingers ghosting across my panties and making me moan with need. Thaden chuckled darkly and then tutted.

"Nice try, but your mate is learning to feed." His voice dropped an octave. "You're the food."

He shoved Cole onto his back, and Cole went willingly, his eyes never leaving me for a second. Thaden's hand slipped inside my panties, and his expression heated as he found me already wet.

I gasped as his fingers teased me, brushing against my clit. My core clenched as anticipation pulsed through me.

"I've wanted to do this for a long time," Thaden said. "Ever since that day in the library, I haven't been able to get you out of my mind. Your taste, your scent, the sound of screaming as you orgasm." His fingers stroked me as he spoke, working around my clit, testing and teasing. "Only when I think about it, I think about you screaming my name. And today, sweetness, that's exactly what you're going to do."

My head rolled back as his fingernail scraped deliciously across me, and then I levelled my head with a mischievous grin.

"Cole," I moaned as he pinched me, and heat flashed through his eyes.

"Is that a challenge, sweetness?"

Cole chuckled from the bed, his hand reaching up to catch mine. Thaden's hand vanished from between my legs and he flipped me over as though I weighed nothing, then spanked my ass with his hand.

Cole let out a low groan, his eyes never leaving me as Thaden ripped my pants away and pinched my ass cheeks. I gasped in surprise and then moaned as he rubbed my newly sensitive cheeks. Cole worked my shirt loose and tossed it aside, then reached inside my bra to brush his thumb across my nipple. I groaned and arched into his touch, and Thaden swatted my ass again. I yelped, and his throaty chuckle made heat pool in my belly.

"I do so love your sexy ass in this thong, sweetness…but if you leave it on display like this, I'm going to spend all morning seeing what delightful shade I can make it."

I scrambled away and Cole caught me, rolling me so my back was against his chest. He caught my chin between his thumb and forefinger and turned my face to him, then caught my lips with his.

His hand trailed the length of my naked body, nudging my panties aside to stroke between my legs. He found me already slick and wet, and the feeling of his rough fingers brushing against my clit sent electric shockwaves through me. I groaned into his mouth.

"Our girl is ready, Thaden," Cole growled, as he broke the kiss. Our girl. I liked the sound of that.

Thaden grinned wickedly, his dark eyes locked on mine as he slowly removed my panties, tossing them aside. The cool air against my bare skin made me shiver as he positioned himself between my legs, his head dipping down to take a taste. His hot breath blew across my folds, sending shivers down my spine as he lapped at me. With one swift flick of his tongue, he delved inside me, exploring every inch until I was writhing beneath him. My hips bucked up against him, seeking more as his fingers teased my entrance. Then he pushed two of them inside me.

"Fuck," I whispered, arching into him as he hit that sweet spot, and again. "Thaden..." My voice trailed off into a moan as I felt Cole's hands cup my breasts to tease my hardening nipples.

Thaden chuckled darkly against me before pulling away suddenly, causing a whimper to escape me.

"Wouldn't want you too ‘relaxed' to focus, sweetness," he said, and I whined in response. "Oh, don't worry, we're going to make sure you feel good."

"So good," Cole agreed, stroking his hand down the flat of my stomach. Thaden swatted his hand away.

"But you're going to have to work for it. It's time to taste your mate, sweetness."

Panic fluttered in my throat. "I'm not…I can't…"

"Yes, you can," Cole murmured in my ear. "You did it before, remember? Just you and me."

I stilled, recalling that moment, and Cole flicked his tongue across the shell of my ear.

"Control is about desire, sweetness." Thaden's hand stroked my inner thigh. "And there are things your body desires more than blood."

He leaned over me and slashed his fangs across Cole's pec, opening a small wound. My body quivered as the scent of blood hit my nostrils.

"Go ahead," Thaden said, tracing featherlight circles on my thigh. "Taste him."

I hesitated, torn between desire and fear.

"It's okay, princess," Cole murmured, stroking my breast. "I trust you. Now you need to trust us. Feed."

Cole adjusted his position so that my head was by his pec, his thumb playing across my tight nipple as he kept stoking me. Slowly, hesitantly, I moved my lips closer to the small wound. My tongue darted out, swiping across the delicious red trail, and at once something primal inside me came to the surface. Need. Desire.

Thaden's hand moved between my legs, pinching my clit. I arched my back with a gasp of sheer pleasure.

"Good girl," Thaden said, stroking me gently, his fingers brushing my entrance. "And again."

Heart hammering wildly, I tasted Cole's blood again, the delicious, rich liquid coating my tongue and trickling down my throat. I closed my lips over the wound, sucking greedily, and Cole let out a ragged gasp beneath me. Thaden squeezed my clit again, and I bucked against his hand, my moan muffled by Cole's chest.

My mate held me close, stroking and pinching my nipples as Thaden teased and tormented my clit, and I squirmed between them as the pressure, the need, built between my legs. The taste of blood in my mouth heightened every sensation, every touch and every feeling, like the most potent aphrodisiac, and I mewled with need.

"Something you want, sweetness?" Thaden asked, his voice rough with arousal. I mewled again, and he tutted, pinching my clit roughly. "Use your words."

"You," I whispered, lifting my head from Cole's chest—Cole's blood—enough to get the words out. "I need…please…"

Thaden chuckled darkly and swatted my ass, sending a sharp jolt of delicious pain through me, then rolled me onto my front. I caught myself on my elbows, keeping my head in place to swipe my tongue over Cole's pec again, some part of my mind aware of Thaden's hands taking hold of my hips as he positioned himself between my legs. He thrust inside me in one swift motion and I arched my back, crying out in a delicious mix of pain and pleasure as he sheathed himself to the hilt inside me, driving all thought of Cole's blood from my mind.

"Good girl, take it," Thaden growled, and I bucked against him, desperate with my need for him to move. His hand landed another heavy slap on my ass as Cole tweaked my nipple in reprimand.

"Nice try, princess, but we're in charge right now."

A shiver ran the length of my body, and behind me, Thaden sucked in a sharp gasp. "Fuck, you're gorgeous, sweetness."

"Fuck me, Thaden, please."

"Feed," Cole commanded, guiding my head back to his chest. The scent of blood caught my nostrils again and I hesitated, torn between my warring desires.

"Yes," Thaden said, stroking his hand the length of my back. "Feel that. That choice. That control. And now feed."

I ducked my head, fixing my lips around Cole's pec once more, and I felt his sharp intake of breath ripple through my whole body.

"I do believe your mate is feeling your arousal, sweetness," Thaden murmured, drawing back slowly and then thrusting into me again. "Now feed him more endorphins. Focus on your pleasure. Let him share it."

My whole body was humming with arousal and desire and the delicious taste of Cole's blood. I focused on the heat inside in as I fed, and Cole groaned.

"Fuck…"

My lips curved into a smile against his skin as he writhed under me.

"Good girl," Thaden said, his fingers curving into my hip as he thrust into me again. I gasped, my mouth breaking contact with Cole's skin. My mate reached for me, capturing my lips with his, his tongue slipping into my mouth as Thaden pounded into me from behind.

My breath left me in a ragged groan and I reached down between Cole's legs, taking his stiff cock in my hand. He twitched in my grip and I grinned against his mouth.

"Feel something you like, princess?" he murmured against my lips.

I nodded, my eyes locked with his as I squeezed his cock, insatiable desire trailing through every fiber of my being. The taste of blood and Thaden's unyielding thrusts had set my body ablaze, and every breath I took now fueled the inferno.

Thaden's thrusts grew harder, and I could hear the harsh slap of flesh against flesh. I felt him swell inside me, stretching me further, and my body arched instinctively. He growled, slamming into me, and I felt Cole's cock twitch harder against my palm. His fingers tangled in my hair, pulling my head back just enough so he could kiss me with more fervor.

"You want it," he said, his voice low and gravelly. "You need it. Let us give it to you."

His words sent a jolt of lust through me, and I squeezed him tightly, my body arching against Thaden with each hard thrust. My other hand traveled down to my own clit, rubbing it in time with my mate's cock in my hand.

"Greedy little thing, aren't you, sweetness?" Thaden said, his voice ragged. His hand snaked under me to snatch my hand away from my clit and I whined in protest. "You don't get to come until we say. Touch yourself again, and I'm going to spank this ass raw."

I swallowed hard, liking the sound of that more than I wanted to admit. I nodded, my eyes pleading with Thaden to allow me some control. It was a feeling I've never experienced before—a strange mix of fear and anticipation.

Thaden chuckled, feeling my struggle. "I see you're learning to control your desires, sweetness. Good girl. But it's not your turn yet." He thrust into me harder, almost bruising my inner walls with each powerful thrust, until I needed to touch myself, needed to come, right now.

My hand slid back towards my clit, testing him.

Thaden reverberated a chuckle, and he slapped my ass, causing an explosion of heat that coursed through my entire body.

"Naughty sweetness," he purred. "Cole? I think we need to teach our girl a lesson."

I almost came undo at his words, and then Cole was capturing my hands, denying me my release and pinning them behind my back as he rose up on his knees, his hard cock in my face. I licked my lips in anticipation.

"Now, enjoy," Thaden said, his voice low and seductive. The command in his voice made me want to obey him in every way possible. As much as I craved the punishment, I also longed for release. I whimpered, torn between the desire for both pleasure and pain.

"Cole," I moaned, begging for mercy. "Please, let me touch myself."

He smirked. "Not yet, princess. We're not done with you yet."

His cock brushed my lips and I flicked my tongue across its tip. Cole let out a ragged groan and thrust his hips forward. I opened for him and he slid into my mouth, filling me with his heady flavor.

Thaden's thrusts grew frantic, his goal clear—to drive me to the brink and keep me there. I struggled helplessly between the two powerful men as they teased me and played with me, and every part of my body hummed for them. I sucked frantically on Cole's cock, tasting the salty flesh and needing more of him as Thaden's thrusts grew harder and faster. I could feel his cock throbbing within me, swelling and stretching me to my limits. The pleasure was almost unbearable, and my body writhed and bucked against their relentless grip.

Cole's hair was slick with sweat, his eyes dark and intense as he watched me react to his every command. Thaden kneaded my ass with his strong hands, gripping me tightly as he slammed into me, the slap of skin against skin echoing through the room. I moaned around Cole's cock, unable to contain my own desires as I felt them come alive with their own hunger.

Cole's hands were locked firmly in my hair, his knuckles white as he held me in place, his hips moving steadily in and out of my mouth.

"You're fucking perfect, princess," he growled.

"You're fucking ours," Thaden growled from behind me. "Say it."

Cole pulled out of my mouth, and Thaden's hand slid under me to brush my clit with just the barest pressure, teasing me and pulling back as I bucked my hips.

"Yours!" I cried out. "I'm yours. Both of yours."

"Good girl," Cole said, wiping my lips with his thumb as Thaden buried himself to the hilt behind me, his hips jerking as he came deep inside me with a ragged groan of pleasure.

Denied my release again, I whined with frustration and need, and Cole chuckled darkly. "Don't worry, princess, we're going to take care of you."

"Just as soon as you earn it," Thaden said from behind, sliding out of me. He pulled me up onto my knees, claiming my hands from Cole to keep them trapped behind me, and pinning me against him with one hand around the flat of my stomach. I squirmed helplessly in his grip, he tutted. "Feed, sweetness."

Cole held his wrist in front of my mouth and I obeyed immediately, sinking my teeth into his flesh and tasting the metallic tang of blood. My body shuddered with pleasure as the darkness filled my veins.

"That's it," Thaden urged. "Taste him. Embrace what you're feeling right now, sweetness. What it is to be dhampir."

He said the word like a benediction and heat spread through my core. His hand slipped down from my waist to delve between my legs, nudging me towards my release again.

"You are in control of your hungers, sweetness. Learn to balance your needs and desires, to find a harmony that will allow you to embrace both your vampire and human sides. You were born with the power to balance the two. Claim your power, sweetness."

I wanted to ask how, but all at once, I knew, with perfect clarity. The hunger, the bloodlust were born of fear, fear that there would never be enough, that I would never be enough. And those fears were baseless. Because I was enough, and I had always been enough.

I carefully withdrew my fangs from Cole's wrist, swiping my tongue across the wound just once to slow the bleeding.

"Good girl," Thaden praised, stroking me between my legs. I squirmed against him as a more pressing need took its place.

"Thaden, please…"

"Oh, I would love to reward you, sweetness, but don't you think your mate deserves a reward, too?"

My eyes met Cole's, his pupils dark with hunger, and I licked my lips. "Yes."

Thaden lifted me as though I was weightless, moving me to straddle Cole, and I sank down onto his cock, welcoming him home inside me.

"Fuck, princess, you feel so good," Cole growled, thrusting up to meet me.

"Cole," I moaned, arching my back and rolling my hips. I could feel Thaden's hand on my stomach, guiding my movements, his touch both comforting and electrifying.

I looked back at Thaden, my eyes pleading for permission, and he nodded.

"Go ahead, sweetness," he whispered, brushing a lock of hair back from my face. "Let Cole feel your release."

I gripped Cole's hips, feeling the delicious sensation of his cock sliding inside me, and began to move faster, meeting his thrusts with my own. My body hummed with anticipation, and as the climax built, I could feel the hunger that had been bubbling beneath the surface begin to rise.

"Now, Thaden," I panted, "now, please."

Thaden's eyes darkened with desire, and he moved closer, pressing his lips to mine in a deep, passionate kiss. I could feel his hand on the back of my neck, guiding me, as his other hand slid between my legs. I moaned as he touched my clit, sending me spiraling over the abyss. I screamed into his mouth as the powerful orgasm crashed over me, and beneath me, Cole stiffened, gasping as his own release spilled out of him and into me.

Thaden lowered me gently, laying me beside Cole, and claiming the space on the other side of me. I sprawled bonelessly between the pair of them, powerless to move so much as an inch even if I had wanted to…and I most definitely didn't.

"Do you understand now, sweetness?" Thaden murmured, and I did. Because knowing my bloodlust was born of fear—baseless fear—changed everything. And I knew, beyond doubt, that when I left this room to face my feeding assessment, I would pass. Because I was enough.

"You're incredible, sweetness," he murmured.

"Perfect," Cole agreed, stroking my cheek.

And for the first time in a very long time, lying between these two powerful, amazing guys who both wanted me for some reason I couldn't fully grasp, I felt truly safe.

Whatever Darkveil had in store for me, I was ready.

Jess's half-human side has always made her an outsider, but now it's threatening her life. In a new pack, where meeting her fated mate could mean her death…

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