The sky above Brewster University was still gray when Morgan Clifford ran across the rain-damp sidewalk.
Cold air burned in her lungs as she rushed past the towering Gothic buildings. Her sneakers splashed through puddles left from last night's storm.
She glanced at her phone.
8:07 a.m.
Morgan groaned.
"Great. First week of the semester and I'm already late."
But today wasn't just any lecture.
A new substitute professor had taken over Molecular Biology.
And the rumors about him had been circulating across campus for days.
Strict.
Merciless with grades.
Never smiled.
Some students even claimed he had made two seniors switch majors in a single semester.
Morgan didn't fear strict professors.
She feared being noticed.
And professors always noticed the student who walked in late.
Her backpack slammed against her shoulders as she hurried down the stone path. Wind tangled her long brown hair across her face.
Then suddenly—
She turned a corner.
And collided with someone.
THUD.
Her books flew everywhere.
Morgan slipped on the wet pavement, her body tipping forward.
For a split second, she was certain she was going to hit the ground.
But a hand caught her arm.
Strong.
Cold.
Too cold.
The world seemed to freeze.
Morgan looked up.
And forgot how to breathe.
The man standing before her was… unsettlingly handsome.
Not the friendly kind of handsome seen in college athletes or magazine covers.
No.
His beauty was sharp. Dangerous. Almost predatory.
His pale skin contrasted with his dark hair and even darker eyes—eyes that seemed to see far more than they should.
"I–I'm sorry!" Morgan blurted.
The man didn't immediately respond.
He simply looked at her.
Studied her.
And something inside him shifted.
Because as a high-ranking vampire, Rafael Nightborne could hear a human heartbeat from several meters away.
In a crowded street.
Through walls.
Through noise.
But now—
He heard nothing.
No pulse.
No rhythm.
No heartbeat.
Only silence.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Impossible.
Morgan tried to pull her arm away, suddenly aware that he was still holding her.
His touch was freezing.
"Are you hurt?" he finally asked.
His voice was deep and controlled.
Morgan shook her head quickly.
"No, I just—I'm late."
She crouched down to gather her scattered books.
The man bent as well and picked one up.
Molecular Biology: Advanced Genetics.
"A science major," he said calmly.
Morgan nodded quickly.
"Yes."
He studied her for another moment.
"Name."
"M-Morgan. Morgan Clifford."
The name registered instantly.
Rafael remembered every student profile prepared for his cover identity.
Clifford.
Quiet.
High-performing.
Socially invisible.
Interesting.
Morgan grabbed the last of her books.
"Thank you for helping me," she said quickly.
Rafael didn't reply.
He simply watched her.
Trying to sense something—anything.
But there was no aura.
No energy.
Nothing.
For the first time in centuries…
Rafael Nightborne couldn't read someone.
Morgan glanced at her phone again.
"Oh no!"
She gasped.
"I really have to go!"
And before Rafael could say another word, she ran.
Leaving him alone on the wet stone path.
The wind shifted.
Rafael slowly closed his eyes.
Still nothing.
No heartbeat.
But he had seen her breathe.
Seen her panic.
Seen the color in her cheeks.
She was alive.
So why the silence?
A faint smile touched his lips.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Morgan burst through the classroom door moments later.
Every seat was already filled.
Whispers rippled across the room.
"That's the new professor."
"They say he's terrifying."
"Good luck if you're late."
Morgan froze in the doorway.
Because standing at the front of the room—
Was the same man.
The coat was gone now, replaced by a perfectly tailored dark suit.
Those obsidian eyes lifted slowly toward her.
"Please come in," he said.
His voice was calm.
But the room instantly fell silent.
Morgan hurried to the last empty seat.
Her face burning.
Elena Moore leaned over and whispered,
"Morgan, you barely made it. That's him."
Morgan nodded weakly.
At the front, the professor opened the attendance list.
"My name is Rafael Nightborne," he said.
"You may call me Professor Blake."
Students exchanged uneasy glances.
The cold authority in his voice needed no explanation.
Then he read a name.
"Morgan Clifford."
Morgan raised her hand slowly.
"Yes, Professor."
Their eyes met.
And this time—
Rafael was certain.
The silence was real.
The human protected by another clan…
He had found her.