Doe's POV:

Xander and I walked silently to the dining hall.

Usually, when we were in public, the small talk and any show of basic decency flew right out the window.

I walked one step behind him from muscle memory at this point, glancing around the room for a familiar face.

If Nico did end up actually buying another pet, I definitely wanted to see her.

Xander looked like he was doing the exact same thing, effortlessly dodging through the crowd of vampires and humans alike to meet up with his brother.

I could tell that he finally spotted him once Xander made a b-line in one certain direction.

Not long after, I saw him as well, immediately noticing the new girl who's leash was set in his hand.

The thing that immediately stood out to me was how ridiculously red her hair was, followed by her pale skin and wide blue eyes.

Except the thing that made her stand out the most was how obviously terrified she was.

Which I found odd.

Usually, pets are raised to at least keep their panic to a minimum after just being purchased.

Even with the variety of them, I've seen from differing pet shops at least had that down.

Although as I got closer, I could almost differentiate the look in her eye from regular panic.

The way her head turned at every loud voice or whenever someone stepped too close to her mixed with the way she held herself in an attempt at comfort.

She had been through something before.

Her and Nico turned towards us at the same time, both eyes setting on Xander as he approached.

I could almost imagine the sneer he gave her based on her eyes widening in fear and her small step back.

Xander really liked his first impressions to new pets to be something that they fear.

Make them intimidated by him right off the bat.

The girl looked away as we finally reached in front of them, eyes darting around the room once again.

"So," Xander began, "Is this the one you chose for me?"

Nico's brows rose in a just barely noticeable note of acknowledgment at the question before looking down at the girl.

"No," He stated, effectively surprising both Xander and me, "I came to my senses and realized I shouldn't have to fix your mistakes. So I bought her for myself."

I focused back on the girl, who seemed too busy trying to ground herself to be listening to this conversation.

She definitely didn't look like the type of pet Nico would be in to.

His were usually more... calm at first.

"Hm. Good on you. I was gonna reject your offer anyway." Xander added.

"I figured," Nico said, turning to head towards our seats, "Khloe."

The girls head jolted up at the sound of what I guess was her name, then they began walking.

We followed behind, noticing how she would occasionally glance back at Xander and me.

Poor girl didn't look like she was going to last very long.

The brothers made their way and sat in their seats, while I took my place standing to Xanders left.

At least, that was usually the plan until I found Xander's hands at my sides and soon after found myself on his lap.

My body instinctively tensed and nerves spiked at the contact, taking a few moments to remind myself that he wasn't Layla.

Still, he didn't usually have me here during mealtimes unless it was for...

I sent a sideways glance to the girl who stood at Nico's right.

I had to physically restrain myself from sighing, instead letting my head hang low.

As if she wasn't scared enough already, I could practically fell that he was going attempt something that would make it worse.

I guess that asshole persona of his just had to come out whenever someone new appeared so they knew how much he sucked.

How much he sucked due to letting one tactless woman dictate his entire life.

I turned my head back down as the vampire's food was presented.

Little by little I tuned out the brother's idle chit-chat about their work

God I was so tired.

Half of me was tempted just to fall asleep here, but I knew better.

It would ruin his 'image'.

Not that I really think he'd do anything about it, but it was just easier not to find out I guess.

My food should be here soon anyway.

I kept the muscles in my arms and back taught to keep my mind on something until then.

"It seems your pet has taken an interest in mine," Xander spoke, forcing me to listen in again.

I turned to see Khloe looking directly at me before she realized that we were all looking at her and immediately turned away.

Fear steadily began to build on her face until Nico spoke.

"She's probably just overwhelmed," he replied casually.

Overwhelmed didn't look like it covered half of what was going on in her head, but I guess it was a start.

Luckily soon after that little conversation, the familiar sound of small plates hitting the table perked me up.

I watched as one was placed in front of Khloe, knowing that I was next.

Except when I didn't get one, but the pet to my right did, confusion washed over me.

Did he order me something different or...

"No food for her today?" Nico asked.

More confusion came over me as I felt Xander shake his head.

"Nah, she was putting up quite the fight yesterday, so this is her punishment, well, part of it."

My confusion didn't last much longer, my eyes widening as what he was attempting to do finally clicked.

Rough translation: 'I want your new pet to think I'm a dick so I'm gonna show her just how horrible I can be and then feed Doe when we get back to my room because she might literally die if I don't give her food because you cut me off of your medical support so now I have to do everything I can to keep her alive myself.'

At least that was my personal interpretation.

Whatever it was, worked judging by the shocked and worried look from Khloe I could see from the corner of my eye.

Although if that was all he was going to do to convince her that he sucked, I guess it could have been worse.

"Now be a good little girl," His voice rumbled from behind me.

Panic shot through me impossibly fast as his hand reached up and covered my mouth, a whimper falling from my lips on instinct.

My hands hurriedly grabbed his wrist as my back met his chest.

No. There's no way.

There's no way he was going to drink from me, knowing that I still hadn't recovered from the last time Layla had me!

Xander's bites weren't nearly as bad, but I actually desperately needed every drop I had in me if I was going to last!

The fact that his act of causing fear could quite literally send me down a road that would lead to my death caused my breaths to now tremble.

Any hope fleeted the second I felt his breaths against my shoulder, not even giving me one more second of preparation before his fangs placed themselves there.

My eyes squeezed shut as an involuntary cry escaped me from the sharp sting.

His grip on me tightened in an act to keep me still to ease up on the pain.

And it didn't take long for me to realize that he wasn't actually feeding from me, but still gave off that rumble in his chest like he was.

His fangs stood still, not letting any blood actually leave from my body.

We both stayed like that for a few moments, the pain and panic ever so slowly leaving me from this realization.

His tongue hit the wound practically as soon as his fangs left, taking the smallest gulp of what blood managed to escape so his eyes would get that red color that proved his actions.

I let out a heavy breath as he released his hold on me, my body still partially trembling from that sudden scare.

Looking to the side I could see Khloe no longer touching her food, her face paler than usual as she kept her face towards the ground

He had gotten the result that he wanted.

And now he owed me such a good dinner for pulling this shit.