Cassandra woke Elijah early in the morning, her approach unusually gentle this time. Without sparing him a second glance, she left him to get ready and disappeared into her own room to shower—a decision that surprised him enough to chuckle softly as he pulled himself out of bed. By the time he was dressed and made his way downstairs, she was already seated at the dining table, sipping her coffee.
Elijah took a moment to survey the room. His parents and grandparents were seated in their usual spots, quietly conversing. Elara and Bella were also there, enjoying their coffee with practiced ease. The quiet hum of the morning felt far too calm, too controlled, for someone like Elijah.
Sliding into his seat, Elijah caught Cassandra's sharp gaze before she returned her attention to her meal. The calm didn't sit right with him—it lacked the bustling chaos he imagined mornings in their family might have had. But he wasn't about to complain out loud.
Instead, after a few bites, he excused himself and wandered into the kitchen, catching Cassandra's skeptical glance as he left the table. He slipped a note to Thomas, who skimmed it and nodded wordlessly before disappearing.
When Elijah returned to the dining table, a glass of "orange juice" was waiting for him. Cassandra's eyes narrowed, but she said nothing as he lifted the glass and took a sip, savoring the taste of the expertly made mimosa.
"What were you doing in the kitchen?" Cassandra asked, her tone sharp but curious.
"Just asking for some orange juice," Elijah replied casually, taking another sip with a faint smirk.
Her icy gaze lingered on the glass, and she leaned closer. "Let me taste it."
Before she could grab it, Elijah tipped the glass back and drank the rest in one swift motion, wiping his mouth with exaggerated satisfaction.
"Why did you do that?" she asked, her glare pinning him to his seat.
"Do what?" he replied innocently, as if he hadn't just drawn her suspicion.
"What was in there?" she pressed, her tone demanding.
"Didn't you hear me? It was orange juice," Elijah said, the picture of nonchalance.
"Then why did you drink it so fast?"
"I was thirsty," he replied simply, holding her gaze.
Her lips thinned into a line, but with no proof, she sighed and turned to the kitchen door. "Thomas!"
Elijah shot the butler a pleading look as Thomas entered, his expression betraying just how much he dreaded what was coming next.
"What was in Elijah's orange juice?" Cassandra asked, her tone leaving no room for evasion.
Thomas hesitated, glancing nervously between Elijah and Cassandra. Finally, with a sigh of resignation, he said, "It was… just a little champagne, Lady Cassandra."
Elijah groaned, slumping back in his seat. "Thomas, I expected better from you," he muttered. "When I—"
"You'll do no such thing," Cassandra cut in, her glare silencing him. "And your timeout has been extended by another week for trying to find a way around my rules."
The faint snickers around the table didn't help his mood. His parents exchanged amused glances, and even Elara and Bella suppressed smiles.
Thomas bowed apologetically. "Young master, with all due respect, upsetting Lady Cassandra is not worth the consequences."
Elijah huffed, stabbing his food with his fork. "It was just a mimosa," he grumbled, his pout deepening. "Everyone else gets to drink coffee or wine," he added, casting a glance at his father, who swirled his wine with an air of unbothered elegance.
A petty thought struck Elijah, and he straightened in his chair. "Mother," he said, his tone plaintive, "Father is taunting me because I can't drink."
Mireille's sharp gaze landed on Lucien, who blinked in surprise. "Stop taunting the boy unless you want to give up drinking too," she said coolly.
Lucien stared at her, utterly bewildered. "I wasn't taunting anyone," he protested, his indignation palpable. He turned a disbelieving glare on Elijah, who sat smirking, clearly pleased with his small victory.
Elijah was halfway through his meal when Cassandra grabbed him by the collar and pulled him out of his chair.
"We're leaving," she said firmly, dragging him toward the door.
"Wait! I'm not even finished!" Elijah whined, craning his neck to glance longingly at his plate. "This is so unfair," he muttered, his pout deepening as he crossed his arms in defeat.
"You can eat at the academy," Cassandra said dismissively, her tone making it clear that the discussion was over.
Grumbling under his breath, Elijah allowed himself to be led to the car, his lingering hunger only fueling his sulkiness.
Elijah muttered under his breath, "Why can't I wake up later like my younger siblings and Selena?"
Cassandra, walking beside him with her usual perfect posture, retorted without missing a beat. "Getting up early is good for you."
He grumbled in response. He was a vampire, for goodness' sake—he didn't even truly need sleep. It was more of a hobby than a necessity.
Deciding to shift the conversation, he asked, "Why don't you just make a lesson plan tailored for Selena instead of the whole class? These lessons are a waste of time."
Cassandra glanced at him before turning her gaze back to the road. "Hmm, I could, but what about the other students? You wouldn't want anyone giving up on you, would you?"
He sighed. She always had a way of spinning things back on him. "But they're just background characters," he said with a shrug.
Cassandra paused for a moment before chuckling softly. "Background characters? That's an odd way of putting it."
He smirked at her amusement, but she sighed, relenting. "Fine. I can add more advanced lessons on magical control and mana application if that will make you feel better."
Elijah agreed, nodding as they reached the school. Cassandra walked with him to the teacher's lounge, where the staff had already begun preparing for the day. The teachers typically arrived much earlier than the students to finalize lesson plans, grade assignments, or catch up on other responsibilities. Cassandra, of course, was always the first one there. Even Elara, who was usually punctual, and Bella, the headmaster with her numerous responsibilities, arrived after her.
Once Cassandra finished her morning tasks, they headed to class together. Elijah took his usual seat next to Selena, greeting her with a casual, "Morning."
She smiled back, replying softly, "Morning, Elijah."
As the class began, Elijah watched Cassandra conduct a lesson on magical herbs and their uses. While her demonstrations were precise and thorough, Elijah found it hard to care. He already knew most of this—his mother grew magical flowers, and his grandmother specialized in magical plants, herbs, and even enchanted fruits and vegetables. Their garden was so vast that someone unfamiliar with it could easily get lost without super senses.
Cassandra's demonstration caught his attention briefly as she created a hex and used Gentianella quinquefolia—better known as Agueweed—to break it by sprinkling the powdered herb over the magical construct. The students hurried to take notes, but Elijah sighed. If you weren't exceptionally powerful, using a hex was pointless. A stronger mage would notice and dismantle it immediately.
Feeling mischievous, Elijah silently placed a small hex on a student's chair, intending for them to trip. However, Cassandra's sharp senses caught him in the act, and she swiftly broke the hex with a flick of her wrist, glaring at him.
Elijah sighed, leaning back in his chair. So much for fun.
When lunchtime arrived, Elijah stayed behind as the students filed out. Selena, as usual, remained at her seat, looking at him expectantly. Once the last student left, Elijah held out his arm without a word.
Selena hesitated. "Are you sure?"
"It's to get you used to actually using your fangs," he explained. "You can't keep avoiding it."
Nodding nervously, she leaned forward and bit into his arm. Her movements were hesitant, and the bite stung, but Elijah didn't flinch. When she finished, her face was messier than usual.
He handed her his handkerchief with a small grin. "Here. You look like you just committed a murder."
She flushed, muttering a quiet "thank you" as she cleaned herself up.
Cassandra, who had been watching the interaction with barely concealed jealousy, finally spoke. "Grandmother told us to gather in the basement after dinner. She'll complete the binding spell there."
Elijah nodded in acknowledgment, while Selena tilted her head, confused.
"What spell?" she asked.
Cassandra clarified, "It's to complete the binding and officially solidify our titles as his wives. Of course, you're already his mate, but this makes it official for the rest of us."
Selena's expression cleared, and she nodded in understanding.
Elijah, however, wasn't done stirring trouble. He looked at Selena with a smirk. "Can I have some of your blood? I'm a bit hungry since someone dragged me out before I could finish breakfast."
Selena hesitated, embarrassed, but eventually extended her wrist. Elijah wasn't really hungry—this was more about riling Cassandra, whose jealousy was practically palpable.
He leaned forward and bit into Selena's wrist. Her blood was divine, sweet and intoxicating, and he couldn't help but savor it. It had been too long since he last tasted it. He stopped himself after a moment, pulling back with a satisfied sigh as her wound healed instantly.
Selena shyly asked, "Is that how it felt when I bit you?"
Elijah chuckled, leaning back. "Not even close. Your bite hurts like hell, but you'll get better at it."
Her cheeks flushed at his bluntness, but his encouragement softened the sting of his words.
Cassandra, meanwhile, was visibly annoyed, her gaze icy as she returned to her work. Elijah smirked inwardly. Mission accomplished.
Lunch eventually ended, and the three of them continued their casual conversation before Cassandra led the class to an open field. Today's second half was physical education—Elijah dreaded Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and every other Friday, as they required him to leave the classroom and go outside.
As they began the warm-up, Elijah leaned toward Selena, giving her a quiet warning. "Hold back. Try not to use your full physical prowess. Even Lloyd in the Talented class has to hold back. We're capable of things humans aren't."
Selena nodded, acknowledging his advice. Running was important for witches—being healthy allowed mana to flow through magical circuits more efficiently. And as a vampire, Elijah was practically playing on easy mode. Vampires could grow stronger and faster, but even without physical training, their baseline health far exceeded that of a human.
Elijah jogged at a slow pace, deliberately falling to the back of the pack. Selena, on the other hand, found a comfortable pace toward the middle, controlling her speed with ease. She didn't break a sweat, clearly following Elijah's advice.
After the run, the class moved into sparring—pairs of two practicing hand-to-hand combat. Elijah knew it was vital for witches, especially when they ran out of mana or faced an enemy too close. And while the idea of enemies might seem distant to some, the supernatural world was vast. Everything from magical creatures to rogue witches could pose a threat. Vampires, however, were an exception—no one knew they were real.
Elijah chose to spar with Selena, matching her speed and correcting her technique as they went. Cassandra occasionally chimed in, offering tips. As he watched Selena, Elijah couldn't help but feel impressed. Her learning speed was astronomical. She had the potential to surpass her limits through hard work.
He smiled, and Selena, noticing, asked, "Why are you smiling?"
Elijah shrugged, his grin widening. "Hmm, nothing important. I just want to see how you achieve your dream."
Selena flushed, but Elijah continued, "Although you need to work on your confidence. The only time I've seen you not flustered is when you were bleeding out trying to fight me."
Selena's blush deepened, and she stammered, "C-Can you just forget that happened?"
Elijah's tone turned serious. "Of course not. In fact, I should thank those bullies. If I hadn't smelled your blood, my life would be a lot different. I guess I owe them for making my life… interesting."
Selena said nothing, but her blush spoke volumes. They continued sparring, with Elijah offering occasional corrections and encouragement.
By the time class ended, Elijah said goodbye to Selena, who was walking with Layla again. The two of them had been getting closer recently.
Later, Elijah found himself back in the teacher's lounge, working alongside Cassandra. This time, she didn't give him the option to help—she made him sit down. Once again, she settled herself comfortably on his lap, almost as if it were her throne. Elijah didn't mind. The paperwork was easy to handle, and he found some odd peace in the moment.
As she focused on the work in front of them, Elijah couldn't help but notice how close they were. Cassandra's curves pressed against him, but it was a small distraction compared to the larger thoughts weighing on him.
Despite the quiet intimacy, he knew there was more to their relationship than just these fleeting moments. But for now, he simply continued the work, letting the rest unfold as it would.
He sighed as they finally finished, leaning back. "Do you think Father would let me drop out?"
Cassandra glared at him playfully, knowing he was joking. "I want to say no, but he'd probably agree."
Elijah laughed. "That's because there's nothing here I haven't been taught."
Cassandra sighed. "You, Lloyd, and Layla learned the quickest out of all the Velmont children because of the similar ages. You three had competitions, and you being the heir forced Father to be much stricter with your training."
Elijah frowned. "It was fun at first, but Father's regeneration training was pure torture. That was the worst. Lloyd and Layla didn't have to go through it. I hated every second of it."
Cassandra saw the shift in his expression and touched his face soothingly. "He wanted you to be the perfect heir. He trained you hard, and you came out… bothersomely perfect. You didn't even want to be the heir in the end."
Elijah sighed. "At least you told me I was perfect."
Cassandra blushed, then glared. "I take it back."
She got up, and Elijah followed as they walked to the car.
"Cassandra, has anyone ever told you how beautiful you are?" Elijah asked.
Cassandra blushed. "Aww, how nice of you."
Elijah chuckled. "I simply asked if anyone ever told you—not that I was saying it myself."
Cassandra glared at him, murderously. She started to walk toward him, but Elijah grabbed her hands and kissed her on the lips.
"I'm just kidding. You are beautiful," he said, pulling back with a smirk. "You look the best when you're angry though."
She ignored him, huffing, but secretly enjoying the kiss. She wouldn't admit it; his ego would ruin the moment.
They arrived at the mansion, and Cassandra once again told him he was free to go. Elijah sighed, running out of options. He could spend time with his mother, but he hesitated. Instead, he decided to ask Thomas what his father was doing. Thomas responded that his father was with his mother, so Elijah asked about his grandfather, who was in the living room. Deciding to spend time with him, Elijah made his way there.
"Grandfather, care to spar?" Elijah asked, his voice eager.
Dorian perked up. "Oh, quite bold today, are we, Elijah? I might be old, but I'm not too old to put a belt to your behind."
Elijah chuckled as they made their way to the basement, where his grandmother Layla and Selena were practicing. Dorian and Elijah acknowledged them before walking to the other side of the room.
Elijah threw the first punch, which Dorian countered effortlessly with a quick twist of his body. He ducked under Elijah's strike and countered with an elbow to the ribs. Elijah grimaced, but his body recovered almost instantly—faster than a human's—thanks to his vampiric resilience.
He spun, using his speed to deliver a low kick aimed at Dorian's legs, but Dorian anticipated the move, sidestepping it with ease. Dorian's speed was deceptively swift, even for a vampire of his age. Elijah launched another series of punches, mixing rapid jabs with harder blows meant to test Dorian's reflexes.
Dorian blocked and dodged with calculated precision, letting Elijah wear himself out, but Elijah's stamina was unnatural. He feigned fatigue, then suddenly sprinted forward, his movements like a blur. His fangs flashed as he threw a powerful uppercut, aiming for Dorian's jaw.
Dorian raised an arm to deflect the blow but misjudged the speed, and Elijah's punch connected, sending his grandfather staggering back slightly. The basement seemed to pulse with the intensity of the fight as they locked eyes, both bloodline vampires, testing each other's mettle.
"Not bad," Dorian grunted, grinning. "You've improved since last time."
Elijah smirked, but his eyes gleamed with a sharper focus, ready for whatever came next. Dorian was old, but Elijah had something more—the raw edge of youth and his vampiric strength. The fight was far from over, and he wasn't going to let his grandfather get away that easily.
Dorian launched forward, and the two collided in a blur of speed and power, their movements too fast for the human eye to track. It was a dance of survival, and only one would emerge victorious.
They stood facing each other once more, the tension in the air thick with anticipation. Dorian's eyes gleamed red, his gaze locking onto Elijah's with an intensity that sent a chill through the boy's spine. The world around Elijah began to distort, his surroundings warping unnaturally. His grandfather had used the vampiric ability they both possessed, the power to manipulate perception and make others see illusions.
Elijah had used this same ability before, most memorably on Marcus's mother during the brutal episode he'd subjected her to. That scream had come from the horrors he'd conjured in her mind.
Feeling the panic rising in him, Elijah quickly shut his eyes, blocking out the disorienting vision. He focused on his hearing and sense of smell. His grandfather's movements were sharp and distinct, the soft rustle of his clothes, the faint shift of his weight as he advanced. With pinpoint accuracy, Elijah reacted instinctively, blocking a blow from behind.
Dorian's voice echoed in the space, warm with approval. "Not bad at all. You truly are my grandson." He paused, then added, "Let's end it here for today."
Elijah opened his eyes cautiously, his vision clearing and returning to normal. He glanced around, ensuring everything was as it should be. The illusion had passed.
"That was fun," Elijah said, his words carrying a mixture of amusement and respect.
Dorian nodded, then sat down on the floor, clearly satisfied. Elijah followed suit, sitting beside him, the fight's adrenaline still pulsing through his veins.
Dorian looked at him with a hint of pride. "You've learned well. There's much more to you than I expected."z