Page 74 of Plug and Claim

“So cute,” Susie said. “Hold onto them.”

“Thank you,’ Kira said gratefully.

“Are you sure you wouldn’t rather come to the library? We’re reading a spooky story, and there’ll be chocolate chip cookies.”

Tonight, Susie and her pack were hosting a sleepover in the library instead of their usual book club meeting, and Kira was sad to be missing it.

“I wish I could, but I already told Victoria I’m going.” And, if she was being honest with herself, the chances of seeing Nathaniel at Victoria’s party were higher.

“That’s all right,” Susie said, hugging her. “Just be careful, okay?”

“I will. Have fun at the library.”

Kira headed to the stairwell. It was strange to take the twisting stairs down instead of up, and she felt a rush of excitement as she descended past the fifth floor and entered vampire territory.

Officially, this part of the school was for all students, but that was bullshit. Most wolves had never seen it; they all knew it was strictly invite-only. Although, no one knew what would happen if they came here without one.

The steps continued for a long while, as if to give trespassing students plenty of opportunities to turn back. She didn’t pass anyone, but the stairwell grew darker as the lamps grew less frequent, and she felt herself tensing.

She hoped Victoria would be there when she arrived. Had the vampiress even bothered to tell the others she was invited?

Her heart was beating fast, her footsteps echoing in the stairwell. As her trepidation grew, she half expected to come across a heavy door flanked by guards.

Not quite.

When the steps ended, she found herself in a small, dim antechamber flickering with torchlight. The walls were lined with tapestries, and the floor was covered in a thick crimson carpet that matched her shoes almost perfectly—she wasn’t sure how she felt about that. Rusted suits of armour stood on either side of a tall arched opening, which led to a common room beyond.

Kira approached cautiously, sniffing as the scent of cooking reached her nostrils.

Rosemary?

Kira halted in the archway. She had promised herself to walk in confidently as if she owned the place, but who was she kidding? This was not her territory.

Still, she tried not to look awestruck as she took note of the dorm. The large, open space was richly furnished just like the antechamber had been. The carpet was soft and plush beneath her feet, and several chandeliers flickered with candles, casting a soft golden glow around the room. On one side of the room, a large fireplace crackled with flames that transitioned from one colour to another, and there were several comfortable-looking armchairs and ottomans around it. In the dining area, a long table was flanked with high-backed chairs of carved wood, and an open stairwell led up to what she realised must be the sixth floor.

She glanced behind her. On either side of the archway from where she’d come, there were two separate corridors lined with doors, which presumably led to bedrooms. She couldn’t help but wonder which one belonged to Nathaniel.

The common room was quiet, but there were several vampires in the adjoining dining area who looked over at her. Their sharp eyes and blank expressions unnerved her, but no one said anything, and after a few seconds, they returned their attention to their food.

A voice rang out from the kitchen on the far side of the dorm.

“Kira, there you are!” Victoria called cheerfully, her head popping up from behind the kitchen. She held up a tray. “Come try these. I just took them out of the oven.”

“What are they?” Kira asked, crossing the common room as casually as she could.

“Snacks,” Victoria said, setting a hot tray of crispy potato wedges onto the counter. She plucked a potato wedge from the tray with her long nails—orange with gold sparkles today—and dropped it in Kira’s hand. “Careful, it’s hot. But I suppose you don’t mind that?”

It was hot, the steam rising off the freshly baked wedge, but wolves had a high tolerance for heat, and Kira bit into it with relish. It was delicious, both crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy as it melted in her mouth.

“Well?” Victoria asked.

“It’s really good,” Kira said, finishing it.

“Too much rosemary,” complained a male vampire, who came to stand by Victoria’s side. He tried to pick up a wedge before clicking his tongue and dropping it.

“It’s hot, you idiot,” Victoria said. “Kira, this is Felix, my boyfriend.”

Kira startled when she recognised the mousy-haired vampire she’d seen the other night. She could tell he recognised her, but she was relieved that he didn’t bring their meeting up.