Lilian drank the blood normally, not desperately gulping it down, but not savoring either. The blood tasted really good for her, but it wasn't the life altering or world-shaking experience Dante had once described for full vampires.
It felt more like finally eating after being starved for days, satisfying but it didn't overwhelm her.
When she finished about half the bag, the burning in her throat calmed down to a manageable ache. She pulled away from the bag and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
The three vampires looked at her in surprised.
"Half a bag," Adrian said. "Most newborns need six or seven before they can stop. Her needs is much lower."
"It's likely because her human cells are still functioning, producing some nutrients," Dante replied. He put his hand to his chin, thinking. "She needs blood to fuel the vampire portion of her metabolism, but she doesn't need enough to sustain a fully vampire body as we do."
"So how often will I need to feed the blood?" Lilian asked, setting down the half-empty bag aside.
"We'll observe you over for the next few days to establish a pattern," Dante said. "But my estimate once or twice a day, half to full bag each time."
He paused, then looked at her, looking pleased. "You have the vampire senses with a human stomach. You definitely unusually lucky, Lilian."
She sighed. "Except for the part where I'm weaker than full vampires and apparently need protection," Lilian pointed out.
"That's what we're here for. That's our job," Adrian said, and there was something in his voice that made her look at him. His blue eyes lingered on hers too long, and she felt a sudden flush of heat on her cheeks.
"We should let her rest," Dante interrupted, breaking the moment. "The transformation still put your body in strain even it wasn't complete. You need to recover."
As if his words had given her permission, exhaustion suddenly crashed over Lilian all at once. The brief surge energy from feeding was fading, leaving her feeling drained and shaky.
"I'm tired," she admitted, swaying slightly on her feet.
Adrian wrapped his arm around her waist immediately. "I've got you. Let's get you back to bed."
He led her the few steps back to the bed. When he helped her lie down, his face was close to hers so close that she could see the way his eyes tracked to her mouth before he quickly looked away.
"Sleep," he said softly, pulling the covers over her. "We'll be here."
Lilian let her eyes close, but her hearing picking up the quiet conversation across the room as they moved to the sitting area of the room.
"These changes everything," Lucien whispered. "She's vulnerable in ways a full vampire wouldn't be."
"But she can walk in the sun," Adrian argued. "That's a huge deal."
"Which is exactly why this stays secret. If word spreads that a hybrid exists, the rogue clans will try to turn her into a daylight weapon," Dante said firmly.
"And she can't protect herself from that," Lucien added. "She isn't strong enough to fight back."
"She stays here, under our protection. We train her, study what caused this incomplete transformation, and keep her hidden. As far as anyone else is concerned, she's just another newborn," Dante decided.
"Hmmm. What about her bloodline. Something in her DNA must have caused this," Adrian suggested.
"I'll start researching tomorrow," Lucien offered. "We have access to vampire genealogical records going back centuries. If something unusual runs in her family, I'll find it."
"Good call. Adrian, you'll train her physically. I'll teach her how to work on her blood control and make sure she can be around human safely," Dante said, splitting the tasks.
"And if the council finds out what she is?" Adrian asked in worry.
"They won't," Dante said flatly. "Not until we understand what she is and how to protect her. For now, Lilian is just another newborn under our care. Nothing worth investigating."
"Though she is special," Adrian said quietly. "She's beautiful in a way that's totally different from us."
"Adrian," Dante warned. "Don't."
"Don't what? Notice she's amazing?"
"Don't get attached," Dante snapped, his eyes narrowed slightly while looking at Adrian. "We protect her, we train her, and then she chooses her own life. That's the deal."
"Fine," Adrian agreed, though he didn't sound like he meant it.
Lilian drifted into sleep listening to them plan her future, feeling messed up. She was a hybrid, strong but vulnerable in ways she hadn't realize yet.
And somehow, being caught between two worlds felt more dangerous than she ever imagined.
——
The heartbeat, different than her own, echoed softly in her heightened senses before her eyes even opened. Then the rich scent of coffee and fresh pastries, along with the sound of pages turning softly, like someone was reading nearby.
And underneath it all, that intoxicating scent of vampire blood, enough to stir a gentle hunger in her throat.
When Lilian finally opened her eyes, she found herself still in the massive bed with morning sunlight streaming through a gap in the curtain directly on her position. It didn't burn her skin, only the sense of bright and warm, as normally she was as a human.
Perhaps that was one of the perks of being a hybrid.
Dante was sitting nearby, reading some papers what appeared to be medical reports. He noticed her breathing change and glanced up at her with a smile touched his usually serious face.
"Good morning. How are you feeling," he said softly.
Lilian checked herself, realizing that the exhaustion from yesterday was mostly faded, replaced by a strange restless energy that made her want to test her new strength, to understand her new body, or just move.
"Better. Hungry, but mostly energized," she said, sitting up faster than she intended but not uncontrollably so.
"That's normal for your second day after emergence," Dante said. He set his papers aside and stood, moving to pour her a cup of coffee from the tray on the side table. "Your body is still adjusting but the initial shock is over."
He handed the coffee carefully, avoiding contact with her fingers. Yet she could see the way his dark eyes tracked her movements, lingering on the curve of her neck where her pulse beat visibly. "Today we will begin the proper training."