Page 136 of Plug and Claim

“Who’s here?” Kira asked, backing away from the bedroom door as the dreaded footsteps crossed the landing.

She realised who it was a second before the dark figure appeared in the shadowy doorway.

“Nathaniel,” she blurted, trying to think of how to explain what she was doing here.

Before she could say anything, however, Nathaniel’s gaze slid from her to Barbara.

Does he know she’s a witch?

“She’s not well,” Kira began, but her voice cut off, horrified.

Nathaniel’s demeanour stiffened the moment he laid eyes on the witch. His eyes glinted red and his lip curled back, revealing sharp canines that had lengthened.

“No,” Kira breathed, her muscles tensing as she realised what he was about to do.

A fraction of a second later, Nathaniel rushed towards the witch, teeth bared and ready to feed.

Chapter 52

The Witch

Nathaniel

Nathaniel was surprised to see Kira in Barbara’s room, but he took one look at the witch’s weakened state and rushed to her bedside, his fangs elongating.

At the last second, Kira stepped in between him and Barbara protectively and shoved him full in the chest.

“Kira, what are you—?”

“Fuck off, Nathaniel,” ,” Kira snarled, her golden eyes flashing dangerously.

He frowned. “What are you—?”

“Leave her alone.”

“I only need a minute or two,” he said, trying to step past her, but she shoved him again.

“I mean it. If you think I’m letting you sink your fangs into this poor woman, you’ve got another thing coming.”

Realisation crept in. Kira thought he was going to kill the witch, and even though she was mistaken, he felt a surge of pride for her as she faced him.

“It’s not what you think,” he began, keeping his voice calm and measured. He lifted his hands in a gesture of reassurance. “I promise, I’m not here to hurt Barbara.” Slowly, so as not to startle Kira, he unbuttoned the cuff of his sleeve and turned it to expose his wrist. “I’m here to help her.”

Kira did not budge, her gaze tracking his every move. “How? And why would you help a witch?”

“Why? Because she’s the last witch in existence. And as for the how…” he lifted the underside of his wrist to his mouth and sunk his fangs in, piercing the flesh. Crimson blood trickled down his wrist and dripped onto the floor.

He held Kira’s gaze as she regarded him with surprise, apprehension, and something he couldn’t quite decipher.

He took a step forward, and this time, she let him pass as he went to Barbara’s side. The witch was weaker than he’d ever seen her, with a face etched with deep lines, and her blonde hair turned grey. Her chest was rising and falling in shallow breaths, and she looked barely conscious as she still peered at him through pale eyelashes.

“Nathaniel,” she whispered. “You’re here.”

“Barbara, what have you done to yourself?” he asked, holding his wrist to her lips.

“I got a little carried away.”

As Barbara drank his blood, vitality returned to her body, and with it, the ageing effects of magic reversed. The slack muscles and wrinkles of her face smoothed, and her gnarled hands became smooth and youthful, the strength returning as she clutched his hand and drank deeper. Dry, brittle hair became a glossy, vibrant blonde, and when she finally pulled away, the focus had returned to her forest-green eyes.