Page 41 of Collared by the Vampire Prince

Arken’s expression cools slightly. “Susie is free to spend her time where she wishes.”

“Yes, I suppose she is,” I reply, my tone edged with disapproval. “But really, could you not have done this in your office?”

He is unbothered. “I wanted to welcome Kira personally.”

“A welcome I’m sure she could have done without.”

Finally, he has the decency to look contrite. “Well, you kept us waiting for quite some time, Nathaniel. Barbara arrived hours ago. I assumed you would be quick to follow, even taking the carriage.”

His tone never shifts from that scholarly, polished calm. No one listening would guess what he has endured—the things he has confessed to me, late and deep in drink.

“We were delayed,” I reply.

“No trouble, I hope?”

Kira has been nothing but trouble.

I shake my head. “None whatsoever.”

“Why do I not believe you?” he asks.

I don’t deign to reply to that.

Susie steps forward, a silver key flashing on a chain between her fingers, her composure restored as though nothing at all has happened.

“Hi, Kira.” She smiles, warm and bright. “I’m Susie, a second-year. Let me take you up to your room—you might manage a few hours’ sleep before class. I’ll come by in the morning to sort you a uniform and some breakfast, and show you around properly.”

“Thanks,” Kira replies warily.

I regard the two women. They could not be more different. Susie is pale-skinned, with a round, flushed face and ample curves. A goody two-shoes with an unfortunate habit of deciding which rules apply to her and which ones ought to be rewritten. A member of the Student Council, of all things—the only wolf who ever bothered to try reforming anything.

Whereas Kira is olive-skinned, lean and strung tight, all bristling defiance and barely leashed violence—though not without softness. I have seen glimpses of it, however fiercely she tries to hide it.

Unlike Susie, I cannot imagine Kira batting her eyelashes at faculty to get her way. She seems more the sort to burn the Academy down instead.

I had best hide the matches.

“We’ll need her entered in the registry,” I say to Arken.

“I have a file prepared,” he replies. “You can come up to my office to finalise the details. Susie can take Kira to the dormitory.”

“No. I’ll take her.” I pluck the key from Susie’s fingers before she can protest. “I’ll meet you upstairs after.”

“Hey!” Susie splutters for a moment. “I can show Kira to her room. I’m sure she’s had quite enough of you for one evening.”

I let my gaze settle on her. I don’t care for her tone.

“I see your new collar has done nothing for your temperament,” I say, daring to trace a finger along the gold band. “But perhaps you can set a good example for Kira. Hmm?”

“Nathaniel.” This time, the threat in Arken’s voice is unmistakable.

My mouth forms a slow grin as I drop my hand. Had I provoked Kira in the same way, she’d have taken my hand off. Susie merely endures it—wiser, and more broken for it. “A good example,” I remind her again. Then to Kira, “Come.” I draw her by the arm towards the blackened door set into the far wall.

She comes reluctantly, boots dragging to make her objection known, but not enough to slow me.

Behind us, Susie and Arken watch us go. Ideally, I would have let Susie take Kira down. My plan was to deliver her, see her registered, and put this odious task behind me. But this is Kira’s first impression of Volmasque Academy. The last thing I need is Susie’s optimism about a ‘better world’ clouding it.

Chapter 8