Chapter 16: Chapter 16 — Preparing for Takeoff

And thus, Chloe was unceremoniously enrolled in the legendary First Military Academy.

She found it rather unbelievable—after all, she hadn’t even finished elementary school, yet somehow she was being shipped off to a military institution.

Chloe attempted to protest, but her objections were summarily dismissed. In the end, she returned to her room alone, sulking in silence.

Standing before the mirror, she glared resentfully at the bite guard fastened to her mouth, pulling a fierce, almost feral expression at her reflection.

She detested the feeling of wearing it—the restraint, the confinement—it made her skin crawl.

Unfortunately, she knew better than to remove it entirely. The itch in her teeth still lingered, though the sensation had lessened slightly since she’d parted ways with Xavier.

As she stared absently at her reflection, a faint rustling came from the window.

Chloe turned her head just in time to see a pale hand push the glass open and a boy climb inside.

He had platinum-blond hair and striking emerald eyes, his features sharp and finely sculpted. His gaze carried a composure far beyond his years.

It was Anderson.

Recognizing him, Chloe turned back to the mirror and said casually, “Out of ointment again?”

Anderson’s gaze met hers through the reflection. “I don’t need that anymore.”

“Then what are you here for?”

Turning around, Chloe leaned lazily against her vanity, studying him with quiet curiosity.

Anderson had changed. The childish innocence and fragile helplessness of the past were gone—replaced by a restrained sharpness. He stood before her like a tempered blade, cold and distant, polished by hardship.

“Corvin ordered me to remain by your side from now on,” he said evenly. “For protection.”

At that, Chloe gave a soft, derisive laugh. “Protection? From you?”

The sarcasm was unmistakable.

Not long ago, the two had sparred in secret, and Anderson had been utterly defeated.

He lowered his eyes, offering no defense. He knew his place—no matter how far he had come, he was still a half-blood. Against the pure lineage of royal vampires, he stood no chance.

Chloe raised an eyebrow at his downcast expression and couldn’t help but laugh.

She picked up a hair tie from her vanity and tossed it to him with a teasing grin. “You always look so gloomy. Here—your hair’s getting long. Tie it up.”

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Her hand drifted to the bite guard on her face. She hesitated for a moment, but when Anderson glanced up at her, she snapped irritably, “What are you staring at? Never seen a bite guard before?”

Anderson’s expression remained calm. He simply shook his head.

Chloe scrutinized him for a moment, then her gaze fell to his lips. A sly smile tugged at her mouth. “Ah, right—I almost forgot. You don’t even have fangs yet.”

It was true—Anderson’s teeth were still blunt.

He showed no trace of irritation, only answering quietly, “I’m a hybrid. We’re weaker by nature.”

“Is that so?” Chloe drummed her fingers lightly against the tabletop, neither agreeing nor denying.

The fact that Corvin had assigned him to guard her said enough. For Corvin—who once couldn’t stand the sight of him—to acknowledge his strength spoke volumes.

Still, the thought left Chloe faintly disheartened.

Why was it that everyone around her was so capable, yet she was the only one forced to wear a bite guard?

And worse—she might have to wear it to her new school. The idea alone made her scalp prickle.

Damn it all. She was sick of this world.

⋯

A few days later, Chloe packed her belongings. With Anderson following behind, she climbed onto Corvin’s motorcycle.

They had both grown taller, and the seat was a tight fit now.

Chloe fastened her helmet with practiced ease. The bite guard hung from her hand, temporarily removed, her voice light and teasing.

“You know, carrying two people on a motorcycle violates traffic law.”

Corvin’s face darkened. “Relax. I won’t kill you.”

“Not kill, maybe—but still dangerous,” Chloe muttered. “Why can’t we just take a car?”

“Because,” Corvin replied with perfect confidence, “I don’t have a driver’s license. Only for motorcycles.”

Chloe fell silent.

“Can I request someone else to take me to the airport?”

“No,” he said flatly.

He glanced at her, then past her toward Anderson, his brow furrowing slightly. Corvin still didn’t much care for the boy, but Anderson had proven himself the most formidable among the latest batch of deathguards. There was a grim determination in him—a fearlessness that bordered on madness.

Corvin had once watched him fight. The kid was reckless. If he couldn’t win, he’d drag his opponent down with him.

Reckless, yes—but impressive.

The motorcycle sped down the road, wind whipping past them, until at last they reached the airport.

Most of the facilities within the vampire territory belonged to Xavier, including this private aristocratic airfield.

Every noble youth gathered here today was bound for the same destination—the First Military Academy.

Corvin stopped the motorcycle and exhaled softly, gazing around the nearly empty terminal. “Well,” he said with a wistful grin, “it’s been thousands of years since I last took this flight.”

Chloe shot him a sidelong look. “You’re ancient.”

Corvin’s lips twitched. “As you say, young miss.”

Ah, he almost missed the days when she’d been small—sharp-tongued and fierce, but not nearly this merciless.

Chloe, too, felt she’d grown increasingly irreverent with age. Perhaps she and Corvin really were two of a kind—lazy, insolent, and equally venomous in speech.

Her eyes drifted to the signboard ahead. A thought struck her. Turning around, she asked with sudden interest, “By the way—you and Xavier went to the First Military Academy too, didn’t you?”

Corvin no longer bothered to correct her failure to say “Father” or “Your Majesty.” He merely arched a brow with a trace of pride. “Of course. The Founder himself was the top graduate of his class.”

Chloe’s lips curved slightly—but the words that followed veered elsewhere. “I saw you when you were younger. You weren’t as handsome as Anderson back then.”

Corvin froze. Ignoring the jab, he asked instead, “Where did you see that?”

“In the class photo.”

Corvin’s expression shifted instantly, a complex mix of surprise and dismay.

The Founder had always loathed any mention of the bite guard he once wore. Anyone who so much as hinted at it usually ended up reduced to dust.

To think he had not only kept the photo—but shown it to his daughter.

Corvin exhaled softly, gaze following Chloe as she chatted idly with Anderson a few steps away.

Truly, if the great Founder couldn’t bear to part with her, he should have come to send her off himself—no need for all this silent restraint.