I looked at him through the mirror. "You were out doing whatever with your team. I didn't want to bother you. You know with you being co-captain and all."
"Pfft." His brows furrowed as he snaked his arms around my waist. "You will never be a bother to me." His blue contacts met my purple eyes in the mirror. "You are the most important thing in my life."
Yeah, right.
"Ugh, you're only saying that because I'm your Sire." I tried to pull away, but his grip tightened.
He planted a kiss on my jawline. "No, I'm saying it because I love you, and you're my everything," he enunciated between kisses.
My eyes drifted close as I nestled in the strong muscular body behind me. "You mean a lot to me too."
"Good." He buried his face in the crook of my neck.
"I didn't mean to cause the scene earlier."
"It's okay," he muffled against my skin, tickling the area. "Just don't defy me ever again."
My eyes snapped open. "Excuse me?"
A response was never uttered. His face hidden in the hollow of my neck; his fingers played with my ponytail.
I leaned away from him with a hiss of teeth. "What is that supposed to mean?"
He sighed while pulling away. "You know I'm the chosen leader for the young vampires, right?"
I knew he awaited a reaction, so I obliged, "Yes, I know."
"So, imagine if you were the leader, and a subordinate disobeyed your order in the presence of other species, and fellow vampires. What would you do?"
I hated the answer which came to mind. "Make an example out of them."
He nodded, leaning against the bathroom sink. The mere thought I knew the consequences of my actions were fermenting. I knew what I wanted, but I never wanted to hurt him in the process.
"Ugh, I never even started it," I defended.
He folded the wet garments. "If you had allowed me to drive you to school this morning, I would have informed you of all the rules. The incident from earlier could have been prevented."
I glared at him before checking on my reflection.
I had to hand it to him, he was right. The moment he showed weakness, the other species including his own would use it against him. A strong leader was required to handle all creatures, manage his kind while warding off all others. Brian was a great leader; years of experience had taught him a lot. Yet, my little act of rebellion could crumple all he worked for.
The smug look on blondie's face returned to memory as he asked for my pet. No doubt he was referring to Brian, and my actions proved him right.
Ugh!
My attention was returned to Brian. I swallowed the lump of pride stuck in my throat before I mumbled, "I guess, I could try to follow some of the rules. What are they, Brian? Or should I call you White now?"
He flipped me off but smirked at my question. "Kyle will always be Kyle. He calls me by my surname so he could feel superior because of our age difference."
Made sense. Kyle was even older than I am, and I'm five centuries old. Brian would forever be a toddler for us.
"So, the rules?"
"Right," he rubbed his palms together, excitement written all over his face. "The first rule," he held up his index finger to illustrate. "You have to get rid of that foul human."
"What? You just made that up."
He shook his head but sighed when he saw my glare. "I know how much you like your pets. However, this one is a no-no."
Oh, God. "Here we go again with the name-calling. You know, blondie called you my pet, too."
He arched a brow. "Blondie?"
"Yeah, the guy next to Kyle. The one with the blonde hair."
"Oh, Colin," his lips shaped in a circle. "Well, you can't blame him. I was your pet."
Another glare was aimed at him. "You weren't my pet. You were my friend."
"Sure," he drawled. "Any vampire in their right mind would befriend a weak, half dead human."
Sure, he had stage four lung cancer. Regardless, he was very much alive when we met.
"I beg to differ," he grumbled, the past clouded his face.
A loud sigh passed through my lips. "Neither she nor you were my pet, and I won't avoid her because you said so."
His lips parted.
I raised a palm. "Next rule."
He grumbled something under his breath before he continued, "Rule number two," two fingers held high, "stay off the right side of the corridor."
That rule could be kept. A repeat of what happened earlier was not what I wanted.
Three fingers were up now. "Don't mess with wolves."
Which is expected. "Okay."
Another finger was added to the others. "Never challenge their leader, Anderson."
I shook my head at the rule. "He started it. If he stays out of my way then I'll stay out of his. Simple. And, blondie should also be kept under control. The guy went this close," I measured with my two fingers, "to getting a beat down."
"Colin is a hothead, just ignore him. Kyle won't bother you unless you don't abide by the rules, okay?"
I shook my head again, this time faster. He grabbed the side of my head in an attempt to cease the activity. "If he doesn't, then come to me. I'll set up a meeting with the remaining elite members, and we'll address the issue as adults; leaders who are elected to be on the High Council in the next few months."
His hands firmly situated on the sides of my head, he used them to bob my head. "You do know all classes need attending, the left side of the cafeteria belongs to us, and no witchcraft."
I huffed at the comment. What did he expect I would do? Hypnotize or cast a smell on the whole student body?
"I know you'll agree with this one." His eyes lit up like a bulb. "Humans are off the menu."
I made a face of disgust which got a laugh out of him.
"This one I know for a fact you're going to hate. Nonetheless, it needs to be obeyed." He paused for a slight second too long.
"Would you spit it out!"
"Never disobey my command in public."
Understandable. I hated the name blondie...oh, ah, Colin referred to Brain as, and I never wished for the other vampires to feel the same. "Okay."
"Good." He planted a kiss on my forehead before dropping his hands. "Did I ever tell you, you're the best Sire ever?"
I was your only Sire. "Hmmm, let me think," I rubbed my chin, "not enough."
"Well, Brianna Jones, you are the best Sire any vampire could ever have."
"Well, Brian White, you are the best Sired any Sire could ever have," I mimicked, a sentence of tongue twisters.
He chuckled and turned to the mirror.
"Since when do you wear contacts?"
His shoulders bounced, yet again. His fingers combed through the loose curls on his forehead. "What can I say, I have to look my best every day."
As if. "And your natural yellow color didn't make the cut?"
"It does. I just have to keep it changing, you know."
"Ah, no. Not really."
He neglected his reflection and turned to me. "Before I forget, you should join the elite."
I took a step back and he added in haste, "It's good practice for when you become a part of the High Council. You don't have to give me an answer now. Think about it first."
"I'm not joining."
He snatched my backpack from the countertop. "As I said, I don't want an answer now. You should think about it first."
"There is nothing to think about."
"Hmmm, we have about five minutes to get you to your locker before your lecture starts."
That was his way of saying, okay for now, but later we'll discuss this.
He strolled past me and pushed the bathroom door open. "After you, my lady."
God!
One last glance at my reflection, and I walked out the door. Two minutes later, we were at my locker. Another two minutes, and I was in my first class of the morning, learning the same old stuff I already did.
What a punishment.