Danika and Olive sat in the open aired eating area, the sun was bright and sitting high in the sky. The wind gently slipped passed them, Danika could smell a familiar scent on the wind. It was one that made her happy, it was certainly a surprise. A surprise that was forgotten the second Shelly stood before them.

'You bitches had better not get in my way again.'

Danika looked up at the woman, her salon perfect brown hair nestled around her porcelain skin. If she wasn't frowning at Danika, she would have thought that she was a pretty woman. But the scowl on her face showed her true self.

'I don't remember ever being in your way.'

'You think you are so smart.' she sneered 'I heard you are doing this course again, what's the matter, failed it the first time?'

The girls behind her giggled.

'She didn't fail it.' Olive snapped, her anger coming out of nowhere.

'Ooo the mouse can talk. Sick of letting your girlfriend do all the talking for you?' she playfully pouted at Olive.

Her sneer turned back to Danika.

'Listen here emo girl, you don't stand a chance with the professor, neither of you do. So don't get in my way again or I'll tell the him you two are cheating.'

'Do you really think he will believe you?'

All of the girls gasped as they turned around, the professor was standing behind them. With him were two more men, the dean and their vampire king.

'Ladies I do believe you are in the presence of your king, curtsy or you will be reprimanded.' the dean chastised them.

They all curtsied, all except Danika.

'How come you didn't curtsy emo girl?' Shelly narrowed her eyes at her.

Danika smugly got off her seat and wrapped her arm around Lucian's waist. To her delight, his hand was firmly on her shoulder, ensuring it was very obvious.

'Emo girl doesn't have to curtsy her husband.' Lucian said with a dead pan face. 'If you come near my wife or Olive again, I will have you executed. Do I make myself clear ladies?'

They nodded very shocked, the dean stepped forward one pace.

'Ladies, you understand the rules of bullying. My office, now.'

The very ashen faces of three girls scurried off into the building, the dean bowed to Lucian and Danika and left them to deal with the fallout. Regardless of the bullying rules, he had to deal with them swiftly or face the king coming down on him for failure to act.

'Perfect timing, as always.' Danika grinned up at her handsome husband.

'Yes, however I do believe your disguise will no longer work. Not after hugging the king.'

Lucian looked around at the onlookers. Yes she was definitely outed. Olive sat back down, she didn't mind curtsying to Lucian, he seemed like he was a good man. He adored Danika and looked at her like no other woman existed. She then looked to Phabel, knowing that he would look at her the same, to him she was everything. He offered her a smile, small and hidden from those that looked on. It was enough for Olive, she knew he would want to plant lots of kisses all over her but refrained from doing so, for her educations sake.

'Right, I am off. I have to ready for my next lesson. Something about lives and loves.'

Phabel grinned at Lucian, knowing he could do a whole weeks worth of lectures on him alone.

'Shut up, bastard.'

'Of course, your highness.' Phabel bowed with a grin on his face.

It wasn't expected that Phabel should bow to Lucian, in terms of ranking they were on par with each other. It didn't matter that Lucian was king of the small kingdom of Rostonin, both he and Phabel were heir to the throne of their own realms. But for those that looked on, the professor who by all appearances was human, had to bow to his king. So he did just that, he bowed to the king of this country.

'Good day ladies, your highness.'

'Farewell, professor.' Lucian grinned smugly.

To them it was one big game, the lie that they had to keep going so that the humans didn't know there was more than one dark being that walked this land.

Olive relaxed, she was bully free, she was in the skin warming sun light and she was happy. For the first time in a very long time she actually felt good. Quietly she ate her lunch, ignoring the smoochy pairing that sat at the table on the opposite bench. She ignored the two men that had been joined by two more men, sitting at a nearby table and watched them casually to avoid detection. Olive wondered if that was her future, being followed by protection. If that were the case, where was Phabel's protection?

'Can I interrupt your little love fest?'

Lucian and Danika looked to her, smiles so wide she could see their fangs.

'Does he have the likes of them?' her head jutted to the table of security.

'He is an unknown, therefore unnecessary. He is also quite proficient in quite a number of forms of combat and could even kick my arse but don't you dare tell him that.'

Olive giggled at the thought.

'I will do my best, your highness.'

'Plus he has added advantages that you are yet to see, he has also fought in many wars that has consisted of many different types of enemy. Trust me when I say that he is more than capable of looking after his own sorry arse.'

'So have you thought any more about your future?'

'I'm not really certain. I'd like to continue the course. Not just because I get to see him but I think as a way of feeling better about myself. I think that I would always wonder if I could have passed this, I don't know if I could handle a 'what if?'. I think for self satisfaction I need to see this through. It will keep me occupied.'

'I think you will be more than occupied Olive. You will be so busy with your designing and doing a university course.'

'You don't think you are being a bit optimistic Danika?'

'No.' she said plainly.

'Maybe she could continue her course and the designing. If it becomes too much then rethink and re-evaluate her life.' Lucian offered.

Danika looked around at the crowd that were separating into varying buildings around the court yard. She looked at her watch with a frown.

'Oh god.' she breathed 'We're late... again!'

She rose from the seat, kissed Lucian with haste and grabbed Olive's hand.

'Bye baby.' she yelled as they ran toward the building.

Lucian smiled and waived goodbye to his crazy wife.

**************************

Phabel smiled inwardly as Miss Smith and the very lovely Miss Matheson entered the room late, again. It was too perfect.

'Late again ladies. You know the routine.'

'Yes professor.' they both mumbled.

Olive wanted to jump for joy, knowing her 'punishment' would be kisses in his office. But both of them acted as though they knew they were in for it big time and morosely sat in their seats. Danika noted with satisfaction that there were three front row seats that were empty. That was until the door swung open and three very sullen faces entered the room. They made a beeline straight to their seats, passing a note to the professor. Phabel read it with his contempt hidden.

'Take a seat ladies.'

Danika scowled at the scene, wanting to know why they were allowed to return. They were well behaved for the entire lesson, never adjusting themselves, never trying to gain the professors attention. For Danika it was annoying, Shelly had openly admitted that she had intentions of pursuing Phabel, she was bullying the both of them and yet they were allowed to stay. There was something amiss here and she figured it had something to do with money. It was likely that one of their fathers was buying his daughters good grades. Her only consolation was that she knew Phabel couldn't be bought, though with the issues with Olive, she worried about him being blackmailed into something. One little slip up could bring him down. She was going to have to have a long winded conversation about what was going to happen in their future. Either they give up the idea of being in the same class room as each other or keep it a secret.

*******************

'Why?' Danika hissed.

'I have no clue.' Phabel said dryly 'All the note says was they were being suitably punished and no more was to come from it. They have agreed to stay away from the both of you, not even a passing word will be said.'

'That's not good enough!'

'Well then take it up with the dean.'

'Danika it's fine.' Olive softly chastised 'They have a right to an education. I know how much it took for me to get here, I couldn't be the one to take that from them. Could you?'

'They did nothing more than flutter their eyelashes at their rich daddies Olive. They don't deserve a second chance.'

'That may be so, but I want them to remember me for what I become not for the person that had them kicked out of university.'

Danika huffed as she flopped into the chair.

'Fine but you two need to decide what's going to happen. Are you in and keeping it a secret or are you out and leaving?'

Olive bit her lip as she looked at Phabel, she didn't want to be reliant on him and dropping out of her education was wasteful. Someone could have had her spot, someone would have missed out.

'I heard that.' Danika looked at her 'They do mid year intakes so don't be worrying about your spot if you want to drop out.'

'It's actually quite common for people to drop out Olive.'

Phabel tried to soothe the worry on her face but she was still concerned.

'I'd like to continue but I'd rather not sneak around. I don't need the actually qualification if the university happens to come down on us, I think the education would be sufficient.'

'I think you are missing the point, wouldn't you rather do a course suited to your new career?'

'I suppose.' she shrugged 'But I like doing the vamp courses. I don't need law but the history is kind of cool.'

'Alright.' Phabel sighed 'I will go and see the head of vamp studies and seek his opinion.'

*****************

Phabel had explained the situation to the best of his ability, with Lucian sitting beside him to confirm the truth. There were so many pieces missing from his memory he knew he needed Lucian to explain it from what he had found in Olive's mind. Jerry Oldfield was the head of vamp studies, he had known Phabel a very long time and figured that there was more to the man before him. He knew he wasn't a vampire but the fact that he hadn't aged a day in all the time he had known him told him that this was a man that was different. And as for the king of their country vouching for his story of what was going on, it made him curious as to what exactly was happening. The explanation that they were friends seemed plausible but the fact that they could be mistaken for brothers made it a little confusing. But Jerry accepted the facts. Phabel knew the girl from a few years back, they had fallen in love but due to severe memory loss on Phabel's part, he didn't remember her. Olive knew who he was but had said nothing because she needed to get her education. But the revelation that she didn't really need it now was another curiosity. She wanted to stay for the feeling of satisfaction for completing the education but didn't need the teaching aspect. Olive wanted to continue the vampire side of the course structure and wanted to delve into fashion design which was her true desire. As for the grading and the conflict of interest, Jerry knew that it was an issue. Phabel couldn't grade her work, it was that simple. But like all things, there were solutions to be had. Olive didn't need the grades, she wanted to stay to learn about the vampires purely for education not for a future. So Jerry offered the solution that was the best he could offer. Olive could stay for the lessons but she could not be graded by Phabel. She would be considered an incomplete but the three men knew it meant little. It was documented that there was a conflict of interest and what the exact terms of the arrangement were. Jerry thought that it was the most peculiar arrangement he had ever seen. To pay for an education but for little benefit other than knowledge was indeed odd.

After much discussion with the dean of the university, Jerry returned to Phabel with how things would work. Olive could do the lessons as she pleased but there would be no formal qualifications. Essentially what convinced the dean was the fact that Lucian was breathing down his neck about it, stating that there was no issue, Olive didn't need the piece of paper at the end of it, she just wanted the knowledge. Lucian figured that at the end of it the two of them would be going to the shifter realm anyway. He also knew that she wouldn't really care, all she wanted was the education which in his opinion she didn't need either. She could easily learn about vamp history from Phabel, as for the fashion, he thought she didn't need that either. He had seen the creations, he had seen her memories of the clothes she had made, the drawing she had done. She had real talent and couldn't help but wonder why she was wasting her time being educated instead of just getting out there and starting her career.

Olive's schedule would change, in order to take the new course she needed, she would lose out on the vamp law lessons. It wasn't necessary for her future, what she wanted now was a life in fashion. She had rules to comply with, she couldn't exactly walk around hand in hand with Phabel. They had to keep their distance from each other as much as possible, creating the illusion that there was nothing more than what it looked like. It didn't really bother Phabel, with her new lessons he wouldn't see much of her during the day anyway. The only lessons they had together was the vamp history and he figured he could behave himself for a few hours every week. He thought of her going to live with Lucian and Danika was a good thing, she would be with good company that would look after her and keep her safe. He didn't want her to encounter the likes of Shelly Walton again. His mind became more at ease, knowing that Danika's guards were always around, that they would look out for Olive too. She needed to become used to guards, if there was a time in their future that they returned to Loach Issralk, they would haunt her every step. His mind lingered with the thoughts of their future. He knew he was getting ahead of himself a little, but he couldn't help but think of her. Protecting her from the evils of this world and his own was paramount, he knew that there were some that would she would do well to avoid. Educating her on his own world was wise, learning how to feel the presence of another shifter was necessary. Otherwise they could be in the same room as her and she would never know. It was the same for vampires and their ability to disappear, she didn't know about that one just yet.

Phabel sighed as he leaned back on his chair, rubbing his brow to try to relieve the tension. The meeting with Jerry his subsequent conversation with the dean had gone well, better than he had expected. He was honest with him, told him everything he knew and his intentions. He made it quite clear to Jerry that he was going to be with Olive whether the university liked it or not. Phabel didn't want the world to know about it and was concerned for those that might gossip about her, spreading lies that she was earning her degree on her back. There was little Jerry could offer to him, knowing that he was right with his concern. No one would care that she wasn't being graded for vamp history, they would find something to whisper about and that would be it. His only relief was that he didn't know the head of creative industries and the building was on the other side of the campus.

There was a soft knock at the door, slowly it cracked open. Phabel smiled when he saw Olive taking a tentative peek. Quietly she slipped in and turned the latch, locking the door which made Phabel raise his eyebrow in shock.

'Miss Matheson, is there something I can help you with?'

'I came to find out how the meeting went.'

'And the door required to be locked for that?'

Olive grinned with a blush that seared her cheeks. She walked around to his side of the desk, leaning on it's edge.

'They know of us, I have had it documented. Jerry said that you can continue vamp history but you can't be graded. They are going to find a placement in the course you want. It won't be easy, it's going to be a long four years.'

'So long as I don't have to sneak around I don't care.'

'There won't be any sneaking but it is going to be kept quiet. No displays of affection on campus grounds.'

'So only where no one can see?' she grinned.

'Absolutely.'

Phabel stood to her, pulling her legs either side of him as she wrapped her arms over his shoulders.

'None of this.' he whispered as he kissed her neck.

Olive could feel her insides flutter as his warm breath trailed over her skin, delicate kisses placed as he moved up her neck to her jaw.

'Or this.'

His lips tugged on her bottom lip making her gasp, gripping him tight. They kissed slowly, the need for each other was growing. Phabel knew more memories would come back to him soon if their passion grew this quickly. He was disappointed when he wasn't gifted with another snippet of the night, he longed for their return.

'What are you doing for dinner tonight?' he murmured against the skin of her neck.

'Tinned soup most likely.'

'Not any more you're not. We are having dinner together.'

'But we might be seen.'

'I can move around undetected.'

He pulled away from her body and moved to sit at his desk.

'If I give you a shopping list and some money will you go and get these things?'

'Sure.' she frowned a little 'Why?'

Phabel ripped the piece of paper from the note pad and gave it to her with more than enough money.

'Because I can get into your place without being seen but not carrying groceries. Unless you would prefer to have dinner at my place?'

'Mine is fine, except I only have a microwave.'

'That is fine, I can work with that.'

Olive grinned very widely.

'Are you planning on making dinner for me professor?'

'Indeed I am Miss Matheson.'