Page 116 of Plug and Claim

Chapter 41

Sunset

Nathaniel

Nathaniel and Kira sat together on a grassy outcrop overlooking the cove, watching the setting sun bathe the sand in a rich orange light. The sky was a midnight blue slashed with red and gold, but its beauty paled in comparison to the woman sitting beside him.

He had one hand around her waist. At first, it had been a sign of possession, a reminder to the others that Kira was his. But now, with everyone else having returned to the dorm, they were alone at the beach, and there were no excuses as to why he held her so close.

Kira didn’t shy away from him, and his heart skipped a beat when she rested her head against his shoulder.

“Are you comfortable?” he asked.

“Yes.”

He leant in, breathing in her scent and counting her soft breaths and the way they matched his.

They’d spent the afternoon swimming at the cove and throwing a ball around with the others, and it was easily the most fun he’d ever had. He wasn’t ready to leave and was content to stay for as long as she was. Her full lips looked just as inviting as her long, elegant neck, and he had to consciously stop himself from rubbing the tip of his tongue against his fangs. He wanted so much to kiss her, to taste her lips, and to feel her in every way. He fantasised about climbing on top of her, spreading her legs, and making love to her as if that was what they were—lovers.

Except they weren’t in love.

It was a line he couldn’t cross, not when he knew better. He refocused on the sunset, trying to ignore the sentimental emotion tugging at his heartstrings. But he pulled Kira close despite himself.

“So,” she said, breaking the silence. “It turns out you didn’t kill anyone on the night of the Revolution. ‘Nobody important, anyway’, were Victoria’s words.”

Nathaniel flinched. “Victoria has a big mouth.”

“You deny it?”

“No. I do not deny that I killed someone. But I disagree that his life was not important.”

Kira tilted her head at him, clearly trying to decide if he was genuine. “Who was he? The man that you killed?”

“I wish I knew. He was a wolf shifter, a member of the Royal Guard who’d gotten in the way the night my father and his followers attacked the Keep.”

Nathaniel had struck, just as he’d been taught.

And he’d drunk more blood than he needed. Just as he was taught.

He forced himself to unclench his jaws. “It was an accident. That is, I did not mean to kill him. But my father…” He broke off. It was no excuse.

“What is it?” Kira asked.

“My father had kept me famished for a long time. As he did with most of his soldiers.” He licked his lips at the memory. “I was young and inexperienced. I drained the guard before I realised I’d taken too much. That night was a wake-up call.” His vision had blurred, but he forced himself to meet Kira’s gaze. “My personal views aside, my father was disappointed in my lack of kills that evening.”

He tensed as she gently traced her hand down his back.

“These scars on your back…did your father do this to you?”

He nodded, shivering beneath her touch.

Kira looked as if she wanted to ask him about it, but he quickly changed the subject.

“Victoria should not speak so openly of these things. My father has done all he can to wipe the details of my incompetence from history. Officially, I slaughtered half the Keeps' residents that night. Contradicting that narrative is dangerous. And speaking about my…failures…is punishable by tooth extraction.”

“Ouch.”

“It’s a threat that has proved largely successful.” He let out a long sigh. “Victoria likes to behave as if she’s above the law. But it is not wise for you to speak about that night.”