Page 4 of Plug and Drain

Back then, Susie had assumed that the importance of a pack was the protection it offered against vampires. She’d strongly held that belief until just a few days ago when the low-life omegas had assaulted her and Molly.

She never would have imagined that a pack would become necessary to protect its members from other wolves.

And yet, it was the arrival of Harry and the rest of Susie’s pack that had eventually stopped the omegas’ assault.

Not that the wolves felt physically threatened by their ragtag team, but their arrival had given others the courage to call out the omegas’ conduct as well.

Susie had always thought it only took one person saying ‘no’ to make a difference. She hoped that was still true, but in her and Molly’s case, it had taken several.

Tonight, Susie was ready to say ‘no’ and protect Molly again if the need arose. She doubted the omegas would be back, but the last thing Molly needed when she was recovering from her trauma was more unwelcome visitors.

Susie was also shaken by the assault, which had darkened her already grim view of the academy.

Susie was not a violent person by nature, but if anyone had the audacity to approach Molly’s door tonight, she would end them.

She leant against her door frame, trying to get comfortable as she peered through the gap into the corridor.

All was quiet.

She nodded off several times, her forehead beginning to slide down the frame, causing her to sleep twitch awake. Rubbing her eyes, she checked the glowing face of the magical wall clock. The hour was late, and dawn approached.

As far as she could tell, the vampires had come and gone, wiping their mouths and adjusting their coats or dresses as they headed back to the stairwell. Vampires rarely came to feed after three o’clock in the morning. It wasn’t because of sunlight, which had no harmful effect on real vampires that were born to vampire parents, which all of the students were. It seemed that they simply weren’t morning people.

All the doors in the corridor were shut, even the ones that had gaped open earlier. It was quiet.

Susie stifled a yawn and eyed her bed longingly.

I should sleep.

She began to stand when loud footsteps made her freeze. They echoed from the stairwell, growing steadily closer.

Clack.

Clack.

Clack.

Slow, ominous steps. Whoever it was didn’t seem to care who heard.

The steps paused at the landing, and she urged them to continue.

The steps resumed, growing louder. The newcomer was headed this way.

Susie sucked in a sharp breath when she caught sight of Headmaster Arken coming down the corridor. The vampire had smooth brown hair that was short on the sides, but long enough on top to be swept back to gather thickly at the nape of his neck. Silver streaked through both his hair and his neatly trimmed beard, which was short and emphasised his square jawline. He had expressive eyebrows, his nose arched regally, and his eyes were dark at first glance. Together with his violent reputation, most notably the incident where he’d once tortured a staff member to death, Arken might have been the most intimidating vampire that Susie had ever seen.

Except that he was humming.

Not a low, eerie hum, but a cheerful, pleasant one that reminded her of festivals. He had his hands in the pockets of his purple nightrobe, which contrasted the tweed suit he wore underneath.

Her attention snapped back to his feet. He wore polished shoes, the steps of which were now muffled on the greying carpet.

What in the world is Arken doing here?

The headmaster never came to the dorms. Susie had hardly ever laid eyes on him, except at school assemblies.

She was so engrossed in the headmaster’s appearance that it took her a moment to register the fact that he’d stopped outside her door. He was staring down the corridor, rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet as he finished his tune. Suddenly, his head turned her way.

Shit.