As soon as they arrived back at the dorm, Jace stole Noah's phone and called the police, giving an anonymous tip about Elijah's body in the woods. He then snapped Noah's phone in half and threw it out the window.

"Give me your phone," Mathew said the moment Jace closed the door behind him. They were alone again in their room.

"Can I put a shirt on first?" Jace raised his brow, and Mathew didn't have time to stop himself.

"No," he blurted, and the implication scorched his cheeks. Jace's evil little smirk didn't help, either. That was what irritated Mathew the most about Jace. He always knew when he was being wicked and he enjoyed it way too much.

Jace shook his head and pulled out his phone, swiping his passcode inside and then handing it off. Without a care in the world, Jace turned his back on Mathew, showing off the hills and valleys of his back muscles and the deep line of his spine.

Mathew took a breath, but then he hesitated over the phone app. The background picture surprised him. Whoever it was, she was young with a main of beautiful black curls and eyes that disappeared when she smiled. Jace was in the corner, deadpanning the camera and posing with a withered peace sign. Mathew's stomach twisted. His first thought was that this must be his girlfriend... Then, the second thought was that she could be his sister.

Mathew let it go and didn't need to find Dante's contact information. He knew his brother's number by heart.

After the first ring, Dante answered, "Jace, you're calling so soon. I'm surprised..." Hearing the calmness in his voice and saying Jace's name with ease might be Mathew's final straw. Mathew's sanity snapped.

Mathew raised his voice, "And I'm surprised I even have to call at all."

A lull passed that even made Jace pause. Glaring at Jace, Mathew motioned for Jace to get out. He just had to laugh about it first, but Jace left. Mathew locked the door as Dante finally graced Mathew with an answer, "Hello, Mathew. Well, looks like I owe Anthony twenty dollars."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"He said you would figure it out in the first week."

Mathew needed a drink. "I'm so glad you guys get to have fun at my expense." He dropped back down in front of his mini fridge and took out a bottle of blood as he quietly shouted at his brother, "Now, what do you think I was supposed to figure out? That Jace was a werewolf? Or that he's my bodyguard that you secretly sent? Do it bring you joy that you could trick me into thinking I was out here on my own?"

"That's a tall order."

Closing his eyes, Mathew tried to control his anger and took a swig of blood. "When did you find out?"

"You asked Phoebe to help you research Bellatrix. Mathew, Phoebe is on my payroll. The money you gave her is nothing compared to what I already pay her."

Mathew gawked. He knew less than he thought. "I can't believe she's your employee. She's a family friend."

"And that's why I pay her very well. I take care of our family. I thought you understood that," he said and those few words stabbed into Mathew's stomach and twisted. For years, Mathew had been on Dante's side whenever anyone tried to villainize him, but actions speak louder than words. If Mathew could trust him, he would've told Dante the truth.

His voice soft, Dante said, "These last few years have been hard on everyone. I've asked a lot of all of you, but everything I've ever asked of this family is in the pursuit of our happiness."

"I know," Mathew whispered and glanced at his window. It was still only sprinkling. "I know how much you love me. So, when do I go back?"

"You'll come back for winter break."

Mathew froze. He glanced at the ground, thinking hell froze over and he might feel the ice. "What?" Mathew needed clarification. There was no way he heard Dante correctly. "You're letting me stay?"

"I know the real reason you went, Mathew, and I'm telling you now, the truth doesn't matter." He said because it didn't affect him like it did Mathew. Dante's existence didn't put everyone in danger. Mathew did. All the time. He couldn't live in fear all the time anymore. Mathew had to start living. "Our parents nearly drove this coven to the ground, trying to find the people who kidnapped you. They couldn't find the answers Mathew. And finding these answers won't change anything, but if you'd like to tire yourself out, I'll allow it, but you have to keep Jace."

"Why?" Mathew whined, hoping that guy would get fired for getting caught. "Why did you send a werewolf? Why isn't it somebody from the coven?"

With a laugh, Dante corrected Mathew, "Jace is a part of the coven. I won't divulge his personal details, but he is part of the coven and there's no way I'd send a vampire to watch you. You know why. There is not a single reason Jace Wright would have a reason to put his mouth on you."

"You didn't have to say it like that," Mathew hissed, his cheeks blazing red hot.

"I mean it like that for both reasons. You can go to the school as long as you are an a+ student and come home for vacations. The experience will be good for you, but I expect phone calls and Jace will also send me daily updates on your activity."

"It's a little much."

"Nobody's ever said the Ventura weren't dramatic. But I mean it for the break. Nino and Ben are engaged." Dante dropped that bomb and Mathew had to sit on his bed.

"Since when?" Mathew asked softly, but his disappointment was loud. 

"Since you ran away from home." Dante hit below the belt. "Ben is mentally preparing himself. During your winter break is when Nino will change him. I think it would be nice for you to be home to show moral support."

"Okay." Mathew dropped his head. He was hoping one little semester away from home wasn't long enough for home to change, but thinking about it, that was a silly childish wish. Mathew hoped to return a different person, so why wouldn't everybody else change too?

"I love you, Mathew. Don't think you only have to call me to give me updates. You can call me whenever you like."

Smiling a little, Mathew said, "I'll keep it in mind." He looked up as the door opened and Jace entered the room, freshly showered and dressed in his pajamas.

"How are your nightmares? Are you sleeping well?" Dante asked.

"I've barely had any," Mathew lied, hoping to get away with it for once, since Dante couldn't see him. "I can do this, Dante. Don't worry. I love you too."

Mathew forced himself to hang up. Mathew dropped his hands into his lap and watched as Dante's name disappeared. The picture of that smiling girl replaced him. Mathew's life had become a series of loose threads as more of his life threatened to unravel. Nino was getting married. He missed the engagement. Dante knew he ran off. Mathew wasn't living his independent dream life. Jace was his bodyguard. Jace.

Rubbing his hair with his towel, Jace walked up to Mathew with his hand out. Mathew gave him back his phone and asked, "Can I ask you a question?"

Without missing a beat, Jace said, "You should just ask, and I'll decide if I want to answer it." He turned around towards his bed and threw the covers back.

"How does a werewolf end up in a vampire coven?"

"Through extreme circumstances."

Mathew rolled his eyes. "So, you're not going to answer the question."

Sighing, Jace plopped onto his bed, sitting across from Mathew. It was clear Jace didn't take this job to amuse Mathew. "I'll give you the highlights: small wolf pack, old alpha, and no heir." He leaned forward on his knees. When he got serious, those brown eyes became so heavy and weighed the air around him. "My pack dissolved and there was nowhere for us to go that was close to where we lived, the place we've always known."

Taking out his phone, showing his phone background again. "You saw her, right? This is my little sister, Lilly. She's still in high school and when the pack disappeared, I couldn't make her move somewhere and lose all her friends. So, I took a shot..."

"I knew about the Ventura coven." Jace looked at Mathew now with a recognition he didn't have before. Obviously, a bodyguard's ability to act was an important characteristic for Dante. "I asked for an audience," Jace said. "Dante understood my problems."

"So, he sent you here to be my bodyguard."

"Correct again."

Mathew couldn't get Lilly's smile out of his head and his stomach twisted. "What if you get hurt?"

Leaning forward, Jace grinned. "Are you worried about me, Matty?" That sparkle in his eyes made Mathew's eyes hurt.

Covering his embarrassment, Mathew glared at Jace as he stood up. "I'm worried that you have a little sister that could lose her older brother."

"It's part of the job. Dante has this well-taken care of, and we both know this isn't even permanent for you."

"For me...?" Mathew echoed him, deciphering what wasn't adding up. This guy obviously loved his sister dearly. Mathew could relate, but like Mathew, Jace must have had a reason to be here without her that made it all worth it. "Do you stay if I go?"

"Maybe."

Mathew smiled and jumped to his feet. The wheels in his brain were turning, formulating a plan that would get Jace to work with him and not Dante. "You slipped up. You need this, don't you? You need this degree more than I do. Are you getting a free ride right now?"

Chewing his cheek, Jace crossed his arms and rolled his eyes to the ceiling. Whenever Jace was annoyed or frustrated, Mathew noticed that a deep wrinkle formed between his brow and traveled up his forehead. "If I see you through to the end, Dante's going to let me finish college. And if I finish college, I can get a better job, and if I get a better job, I can take care of Lilly. She won't have to take a weird job like me to get a better life. It'll just be better."

"And that's why there's all those rules. You made a deal with Dante, but..." Mathew took a step closer. All the things that made Jace intimidating were disappearing. All his mysteries and his cool guy attitude fizzled. He was just a guy that needed a degree because he wanted to take care of his sister. Mathew could tell. Secretly, Jace was sweet. "Now you have to make a deal with me."

"Why should I do that?"

"Because you have to deal with me. No matter what, if something happens to me, or you lose me, or I fail any of my classes, or break any of the rules Dante has set out for me, what happens to you?" Mathew asked, reminding Jace of the consequences of failing. Even though he was silent, his mind was filling in the blanks.

Mathew said it for him, the excitement building. There was a small chance Mathew didn't have to be alone at this school. "You're not answering, but I think I know. I think you won't be able to finish school. If you help me, I'll follow the rules. That's my deal."

"I guess you didn't trade the palace for a smelly dorm for no reason, huh?"

"Over 5 years ago," Mathew explained. "My parents were murdered."

"I heard about that."

"Yes, and their last known whereabouts before they came home that they were here. They were investigating the school."

Jace's brow pinched. "Why?"

"I'm not sure why they started investigating it," Mathew half lied. He wasn't sure how much he wanted to tell Jace about his abduction, about the way just his blood could kill him. Mathew didn't want to put that much death in Jace's head. "I have my theories, but I want to be sure. I want to know what they found. I want to know what they thought, what was so dangerous here that they had to risk their lives to find out."

Mathew could hear the way he was getting worked up and reeled it back. "And now Elijah's dead. Did you see those bites? It was a vampire. I don't know if their deaths have anything to do with each other, but I don't think I can leave until I know the answer to both."

"And if you find out the answer to both?"

Placing his hand over his heart, Mathew promised him, "I will go back to being a prince and you can continue your studies without me bothering you."

The side of Jace's lips twitched. "It's pretty tempting."

"We don't have to be friends. We just have to work together." Mathew offered his hand and Jace shook his head at it, but reluctantly took Mathew's hand. His warmth had a bite to it, like static electricity causing sparks. Bowing his head slightly, Jace's grip was tight, but quickly loosened, which was funny to think about since Mathew was a monster, too. In Jace's eyes, it was obvious he didn't see Mathew's vampirism, but just the prince part.

"Not really sure if I have a choice in the matter."

"You don't," Mathew said teasingly and tricked Jace into smiling.

They finally dropped their hands, and Mathew scurried out of the dorm to take a shower, too. He could hear Noah ask around for his phone. Other guys were throwing open the front door, letting in the sound of rain as they stumbled in from the same party. Mathew got back to the dorm with Jace studying at his desk, his head leaning into his fist. A little regret wormed around Mathew's stomach. He should've thanked him, but Mathew didn't want to bother him.

He slipped into bed and stared at the few texts he shared with Elijah. The last messages being a wall of Mathew asking where he is. All Mathew could think about was his smile the first time they really spoke. Tears trickled in and Mathew quickly put his phone away, turning around his bed, curling towards the wall and letting sleep take him.

BANG.

BANG.

Mathew woke up with a start as his blurry vision cleared. Jace was already jumping out of bed, holding his hand out to Mathew, telling him to stay put.

"Wake up, boys," a deep, mature voice declared as he walked down the halls and rattled more doors. "Everybody wake up! This is the Fayette County police department, and we need every single person here to make their way to the headmaster's office immediately."

Mathew checked his phone to an alert from the school. With the announcement of Elijah's death, the school canceled classes today.