Page 5 of Plug and Drain

She ducked out of sight, her heart pounding in her chest.

Go away. Please.

She couldn’t see Arken, but she sensed him on the other side of the door. If he knocked, her already slightly ajar door would swing inward, wide open to expose her. He would enter, and she would be powerless to refuse him. The Headmaster of Volmasque Academy was, as everyone knew, in Vampire King Henrikk’s, pocket.

No one would have dared refuse him—neither wolf nor vampire.

Please, anyone but him.

A soft step brought him closer to her door.

Please, go away.

And then that treacherous, selfish thought…

Don’t choose me.

Another soft step.

And then another.

Susie frowned. Arken’s footsteps were moving further away. She risked peeking out—and nearly gasped out loud.

The headmaster was standing before Molly’s door.

Susie watched, helpless, as he raised his hand and knocked four times in a quick, cheery succession.

Tap-tap-tap-tap.

Each knock was like a hammer to her chest, sending her mind reeling as panic flooded her.

No, no, no…

She should have leapt to her feet, but she was paralysed.

Don’t open it, Molly, Susie thought desperately to herself. Maybe, just maybe, the headmaster would move on to another door.

Just when it looked like he was about to give up, the worst happened.

Slowly, Molly’s door creaked open, and the wolf’s amber eyes peeked out.

Chapter 2

The Headmaster’s Choice

Arken

Arken felt exhausted as he left his office and trudged down the grand staircase.

He needed blood—preferably from a wolf—to replenish his energy. He preferred wolf blood to a humans’ for multiple reasons. It was superior in its revitalising effect on vampires, and unlike humans who cowered in fear, wolves knew what was expected of them. And, in a place like Volmasque Academy where wolves were taught to be docile, there was no need to hunt. One simply had to choose a room.

It was a pity his office was on the top floor. It was a long walk down to where his food source awaited. He’d never realised there were so many damn stairs, but he’d also never been drained of blood before. It felt a little bit like being drunk, but not nearly as fun.

He almost regretted agreeing to help Nathaniel, especially if it meant he’d be feeling like this every single night for the foreseeable future. But the twenty-eight-year-old vampire had asked for his help, and Arken had said yes.

Nathaniel was officially the security officer at Volmasque Academy. He was also the Crown Prince, and son of the ruthless, self-proclaimed Vampire King, Henrikk.

But that was not why Arken had agreed to help Nathaniel. He was already loyal by default to Henrikk.