Page 21 of Blood Day (Blood Alliance #7)

Lily

I woke up to the scent of mint kissing my senses.

My lips tingled as though I could taste it.

And I did.

In my mouth.

Down my throat.

Into my very being.

Except it wasn’t real.

As I stirred, I found myself staring at a white wall, not opulent furnishings and gemstones.

Just my cement prison. My room. My real life.

Did I dream it all? I wondered, sitting up to touch my neck. Smooth skin met my fingertips, causing me to frown.

Then I remembered Master Cedric’s blood and the healing properties that came with it.

My bag was on the chair, right where he’d left it.

Or had I put it there?

A glance at the clock told it was time to rise for the evening. A new day of classes would begin soon. I needed to shower, then have breakfast.

I rolled off my bed, noting that I still wore my clothes from yesterday. Which confirmed everything had been real, that Master Cedric had called that bite his final lesson.

He couldn’t have made his dismissal any clearer.

But part of me didn’t want to accept that. Part of me wanted to fight his decision. To prove him wrong. To make him reconsider.

My jaw clenched. Maybe that was exactly what I needed to do. What did I have to lose? He’d already taken away my taste of another life, leaving me with nothing once more.

Of course, he could kill me.

However, that risk applied to all the monsters at this school.

So what did I really have to lose?

I wanted another chance to play his game—whatever it meant—and try to win. It was probably rigged for me to fail, but at least I’d feel alive again. Even if for only a few brief moments, it would be worth it to escape this repetitive existence.

He’d shown me another side of the world, gifted me with pleasure and excitement, and I craved more. Another bite. Intense sensation. Rapture .

I would tell him what I wanted after class tonight by kneeling for him. And if he denied me, I’d do it again. And again. And again.

Yes, that’s exactly what I’ll do , I thought as I walked over to my dresser to pull out a new outfit. However, a glint of something in my closet caught my attention, pulling me away from the drawer and toward the slightly ajar door.

Frowning, I pulled it open the rest of the way and found several cases of water stacked all the way up to the ceiling.

I blinked. There had to be hundreds of bottles in here. Was this a new way to deliver our rations? To test our ability to not overindulge in resources?

The few dress garments I owned were pushed to the side, and my shoes were now on the top shelf. Everything else was water. At least six months’ worth, by the looks of it, maybe more.

I took one from the plastic and twisted the cap to take a sip. This might be a test, too. Maybe it was poisoned, but I was too parched to deny the bottles before me. I’d skipped dinner last night, having fallen asleep beneath a wave of self-pity.

The water tasted normal. It was lukewarm, so not nearly as refreshing as the liquid Master Cedric had provided, but it satisfied my thirst. I finished half of it, then set it back in the case and waited to see if I felt any different.

I didn’t notice anything other than feeling slightly more hydrated than before.

All right . I shut the door and went to find clothes from my dresser, then took them with me to the communal bathrooms to shower. I waited for one of the others to mention the new water bottle distribution, but no one said a word.

That wasn’t abnormal—most of us didn’t talk.

But sometimes we would whisper about changes, and this seemed significant enough to discuss.

Or maybe that was just me overthinking it.

I prepared for the day, took another sip of the water in case I wouldn’t receive any other bottles today, and headed to breakfast.

Where I was given a larger ration than my usual.

Instead of one scoop of eggs, they gave me three. Just as I received a full piece of toast, not half of one. And they gave me an orange instead of a celery stick .

As well as another bottle of water.

I didn’t say anything, my face carefully neutral as I accepted my plate.

But inside I was alive with questions.

Why had they changed my food regimen?

I cautiously ate all of it, my gaze darting around to others to see if anyone else was eating more than usual. Except it was hard to judge because I rarely paid attention to the food portions of others.

No one appeared surprised, though. They were likely masking their emotions just like me, making it impossible to know if any of them were experiencing these abnormalities.

I remained vigilant throughout my first class, searching for signs of anything out of the ordinary. But everyone acted the same as always.

Today’s assignment revolved around maid services, specifically in the bedroom. We were timed on how fast we could make a bed in the particular ways Master Clarissa had shown us the other day.

I found my steps moving quicker than usual, my hands more efficient, and my confidence higher.

Perhaps because of Master Cedric’s blood still flowing through my system. Everything was still heightened. Or maybe it was from the increase in food.

Regardless, Master Clarissa gave me high marks and stated the others in the class needed to be more efficient— like me .

I didn’t react to her praise. Instead, I focused on keeping my expression vacant as she began a new tutorial in bedroom-cleaning etiquette—how to handle soiled linens. She demonstrated on blood-soaked sheets that were likely fresh from a kill.

My stomach churned at the sight of it, my mind wandering to Master Cedric’s bite.

He hadn’t been cruel so much as sensual.

But I wasn’t na?ve enough to consider that to be a normal experience.

Actually, nothing about Master Cedric could be described as normal . He was an enigma that I didn’t understand.

An enigma that I intended to face off against tonight.

That was the thought that followed me throughout my evening, lurking in the back of my mind through each lecture and activity.

My blood practically thrummed with nervous excitement when the time for his class neared.

Except he wasn’t the vampire waiting for us in the classroom.

A dark-haired male with turquoise eyes stood in his place, his black jeans and matching T-shirt stretched tight across a body made of solid muscle.

Lycan , my mind guessed immediately as I dropped my gaze to the ground.

He introduced himself as Master Khalid and promptly reorganized the pairings in our class. He placed me with a male closer to my size—my former female partner was notably missing—and put the two massive men together again.

Then he went into a lesson without any comment as to Master Cedric’s absence.

Not that I expected an explanation. I was a human, not an equal. But it took every ounce of willpower not to ask.

Maybe this is temporary , I thought. Maybe he’ll be back tomorrow .

Except he wasn’t back in the next class.

Or the one after that.

Or the one after that, either .

Four weeks passed with no sign of Master Cedric. It seemed as though Master Khalid had officially taken over, which I should have been thankful for because I was finally passing some of the tests in this course.

But I found myself longing for Master Cedric. He haunted my dreams—dreams I knew I shouldn’t have of him.

Those dreams worsened as his blood fully left my system, returning my senses back to normal. It was as though I’d lost the final piece of him, leaving me with just fantasies.

Fantasies that flourished wildly in my mind while I slept.

The increased food rations continued as well with a small lunch being added to my daily agenda. I felt rejuvenated and stronger with each passing day, almost similar to how Master Cedric’s blood had made me feel.

Only it wasn’t the same.

Some twisted part of me missed him.

Which was why I found it hard to say his name now as my advisor asked me for an update on my courses.

I was seated on my bed, staring at her image against my wall. She appeared every few weeks to discuss my schedule, and originally, I’d intended to use our next session to discuss Master Cedric’s class. Now I just wanted to ask her where he’d gone and if I could enroll in one of his other courses.

However, my training kicked in as I provided her with an update on my classes and how I felt they were going. I even told her that I believed my fighting skills were finally improving.

“Yes, I see that here in Master Khalid’s notes,” she replied, her gaze flicking away from me as she scrolled through her tablet.

“It seems Master Cedric had his doubts, but his advice to increase your food rations has helped. Of course, your weight is fluctuating, too. So we’ll have to decide if that’s the appropriate route for you. ”

Master Cedric advised you to increase my food rations? I nearly asked, my mind reeling from that reveal.

Although, part of me had already wondered if he’d been the reason behind my new food schedule.

Just as I wondered if he’d been the one to stock my closet full of water.

Because no one had mentioned any of it and the cafeteria matrons continued to give me the same amount of bottles every day. I almost asked my advisor, but some part of me whispered a warning to remain silent.

It was the same part of me that remembered his warning to keep our secrets between us.

If I mentioned the water, they might take it from me.

Or maybe that was part of the test.

Regardless, I chose not to say anything.

It felt a bit like a rebellion, as though I were breaking an unspoken rule to reveal everything to my advisor at all times.

I rather liked keeping the knowledge to myself and not sharing it with her.

“However, he also noted your sexual skills are quite lacking, so your weight may not be an issue after all,” she continued, cutting through my thoughts and slapping me across the face with her words.

He noted what ?

“He actually strongly recommended your routine be shifted to servitude courses rather than sexual arts, stating that he didn’t feel you’d be adequate enough for a harem.

And obviously, he wasn’t impressed with your fighting skills.

” She uttered the words plainly and without emotion, like she wasn’t punching me with each syllable .

All I kept hearing was, Master Cedric noted your sexual skills are quite lacking.

In what way?

Because I’d moaned while he’d fed me that last time? Because I hadn’t moaned initially? What did he want from me?!

“It’s disappointing, as Master Peyton gave you high marks in oral sex. But Master Clarissa has also confirmed your aptitude for the service industry.”

My advisor finally looked at me again.

“So we have a few choices on courses for the next round. Given Master Cedric’s feedback from your outing, I’m hesitant to add more sexual arts to your studies.

Of course, you’ve only had two classes, so it’s possible you could improve in time for Blood Day.

But maintaining your virginity is also a trait that many would enjoy bidding on. ”

I just stared at her. What was I supposed to say to any of that?

“What do you think is the best course, Prospect? Perhaps you weren’t quite ready to please a vampire of Master Cedric’s caliber, but most who go into the harem industry have to work up to that sort of experience.

So this may just be an initial setback. Of course, it’s part of your record now, so it may impact placement.

Unless you wish to work hard to fix that reputation over the next few months, I mean. ”

I parted my lips, my voice failing me.

He’d failed me in fighting.

And also in sexual arts?

All he’d done was bite me and please me. Had he expected more? For me to fall to my knees and suck him off?

The vampire was a walking riddle that I couldn’t seem to solve !

And now he was destroying my marks in areas I felt sure I could perform in.

Everything he did was meant to undermine me, to make me appear less than my worth. And for what? To be cruel?

“Prospect?” Advisor Livia prompted, her dark brow arching in clear expectation.

“I want to try again,” I told her, speaking my mind without thinking it through. “I know I can do better.”

She nodded. “All right, then I’ll enroll you in the next course. It’ll focus more on anal training, as I’d like to keep your vaginal virginity intact for potential use later.”

My heart dropped into my stomach. That was not what I’d meant at all. I’d wanted another chance with Master Cedric, not to take the next sexual arts course.

But there was no correcting her now, her long nails were already tapping away at her tablet.

“And what about your fighting course? Would you prefer a different form of exercise?” she asked without looking up at me.

“I want to take the next class,” I said automatically, hoping that Master Cedric would be the instructor.

She hummed and keyed in a few notes.

“And obviously we’ll continue your service courses since you’re excelling there.

We’ll monitor the weight gain as well, just to make sure this doesn’t continue.

Otherwise, your food will be adjusted accordingly.

” She glanced up at me, her green eyes sparkling like emeralds.

“I suggest practicing your fighting sequences as much as possible to help with athletic training, in addition to trying to increase your scores in that area.”

“Yes, Advisor Livia.”

She went back to her notes, humming a little more. “ We’ll see how this next round goes, then I may have you partnered again for another off-campus test.”

My heart skipped a beat. With Master Cedric or someone else? I wondered. But I knew better than to ask. I could only hope he’d be the instructor of my next course, then I could ask him myself.

If I felt brave enough to do so.

He failed me.

Again.

Why?

“Right. I think that’s all for this month. Good evening, Prospect.” Advisor Livia ended the call before I could say another word, my fate already set.

All I could do was blink blankly at the wall and wonder at my fate.

But the more I stared at the white space, the more resolute I felt.

Master Cedric had doomed me in his course and then called my sexual skills “quite lacking.”

He hadn’t even given me a chance to properly perform.

I narrowed my gaze, his face suddenly appearing in my mind. You think I can’t please you? Test me properly. If he wanted to doom me by calling my skills inadequate, then I’d try even harder to prove him wrong.

The first step would be taking an advanced fighting course—one I would pass—and learning more about how to please male vampires.

He might never know. He might not even care. But I did. And I would prove that he was wrong about me.

I wasn’t a wilting flower.

I was still Lily. His Lily.

Watch me bloom , I thought at Master Cedric, my jaw clenching. There may not be sunlight here, but I refuse to wither and die. You’re wrong about me. You’ll see.