Page 44 of Collared by the Vampire Prince

“That will depend on your grades,” he replies. “And how well you conduct yourself during your time here. Compliant wolves are awarded more illustrious positions. Wolf students who are deemed less pleasing are not so fortunate in where they are placed.”

“I doubt they’ll want one that bit the prince,” I say, a savage little satisfaction stirring at the memory of my teeth in his arm.

“Oh, I’m sure we’ll place you somewhere,” he says, “with or without your fangs.”

The casual cruelty of his remark makes my stomach twist.

I glance at Susie, expecting her to argue with him.

Instead, she leans closer and says, almost anxiously, “You really do want to place well, Kira. It gives you more choice about where you go after graduation. Wealthier households. Political appointments. Even Wintermaw Keep.”

We reach a landing the size of a small room, torchlit and bare, red light pooling weakly against the walls. Ahead, a long, torchless corridor stretches until the darkness swallows it. The nearest flame struggles to blink to life, and another farther down gives a weak, reluctant flicker.

Unnerving, but it’s not the dark I’m afraid of. If there ever was a dead end…

I halt at the landing, staring down the endless corridor before turning to Susie. “You said the wolf students stay down here. Are the vampires down here too?”

“No, they’re in the West Wing,” she replies, before her tone sharpens. “They get to live in relative luxury, don’t they, Nathaniel?”

“Relative to what?” he asks, slouching against the wall with his hands in his pockets. “Their rooms hardly compare to the Keep. There’s only one butler for the entire Academy. And no under-butlers. Only footmen.”

She snorts. “He likes to be flippant, but it’s hardly fair. There should be equality, at least amongst students.”

“Fairness and equality are words I’ve only ever heard from your lips, Susie.”

The exchange is strangely comforting, and I nod for us to continue down the corridor. If Susie’s not afraid of the Vampire Prince, I certainly shouldn’t fear a dormitory. I hadn’t even realised how deeply the roots of fear had crept into me in the space of just a few hours.

The corridor runs on, but Susie finally stops outside a door marked 125. As she reaches for the handle with her free hand, Nathaniel sidesteps her and blocks her way.

“I’ll take it from here. You may go.”

“Nathaniel,” she protests. “At least let me come in and make sure she has—”

“You are dismissed.”

Susie scowls, displeasure flashing across her face. “What are you going to do?”

“Why, show Kira her room, of course.”

She actually stamps her foot. “You know perfectly well what I mean. What are you planning to do to poor K—”

“Whatever I want.” He leers at her. “Whatever. I. Want.”

Susie’s hand tightens on my arm. “If you lay a finger on her, I’ll—”

“Too late for that,” he lilts. “Goodbye, Susie.”

We both stiffen. Susie unlinks our arms and turns to me, her voice thicker than before. “I’ll see you in the morning, Kira. I…” She glances at Nathaniel, then back at me. “Good luck.”

I watch her go with a sinking feeling. Nathaniel waits until her footsteps fade before speaking.

“How sentimental.”

“You were awful to her,” I whisper.

“Noticed, did you?” He unlocks the door and pushes it inward.

Red sconces blink on in the room beyond.