Page 48 of Collared by the Vampire Prince

“Oh no. I have quarters here at the Academy.”

My eyes widen.

“You’re a teacher?” There’s no way I’m sitting through lessons taught by him. I’d rather eat slugs.

“No. But I have business here. Speaking of…” He takes one last look around my room. “Remember: keep your door shut.”

I cross my arms. “I think I like it open, thank you.”

“Suit yourself. But don’t misunderstand and think losing your virginity will lessen your value.”

“What? What does that have to—you can’t just assume—” I splutter, heat climbing my neck.

Dren and I had fooled around. He’d even managed to make me orgasm, though he’d seemed prouder of the achievement than by anything I might have felt. But we never actually—I never—

Heat scalds my face. Nathaniel’s gaze lingers, red in the enchanted light, and I have this horrible feeling that he knows.

I try again. “It’s none of your business if I’m a virgin or n—” I cut off when I see that the bastard is smirking.

“Well, I stand corrected,” he muses. “Perhaps it does increase your value somewhat. A pleasant bonus for your eventual Master.” He continues before I can think of a retort, “Be warned: it is not only students who roam these halls. There is a curfew after dark—vampires excepted, of course. My father’s enforcers are known to patrol the grounds at night—and, occasionally, the castle itself. Late-night stragglers foolish enough to wander out of their dorm rooms are considered fair game. Sometimes daytime ones, too.”

Fair game?!

He gives me one last, piercing look. His voice, however, is feather-soft. “Be good.”

Then he’s gone.

Smug, loathsome bastard.

I leave the door open. Fuck him. Fuck him. I’ll do what I want.

Or at least, I won’t obey him.

But I don’t dare climb into bed either, not with the door open. Even without his warning, it wouldn’t be wise.

For a long minute I stand staring at the open doorway, listening to his footsteps fade. The quiet that follows is thick and unnatural, prickling over my skin.

He is only trying to scare me. No student would be prowling the halls at this hour. And the feeding rumours must be exaggerated. No self-respecting wolf would leave their door open to invite one of those bloodsuckers in—

I hear new footsteps. Two sets, light and unhurried.

I go still, my skin prickling as I creep to the doorway.

Two slim silhouettes approach, not from the stairwell to my left, but from the murk at the far end of the corridor to my right. For a disorienting second, I only stare.

Then I realise where they’ve come from. One of the other rooms. A wolf’s room.

Understanding hits like ice.

A vampire and a vampiress drift into clearer view, all easy elegance. The female is a petite, striking beauty with an ice-blonde pixie cut and blue almond-shaped eyes. She adjusts a lace cuff with idle care, wearing nothing more than a satin nightgown and heels, yet carrying herself like she rules the world. The male has short caramel hair, loose waves falling across the top, and wears the Academy uniform—navy blazer, red tie loosened at the throat—and he rolls one shoulder as though easing it after exertion.

“Poor thing. Must you always leave them in such a state?” she asks, rolling her eyes with a smile.

He grunts. “You’re the one who took too much blood—”

“Her blood will keep me sated for days. You only ever think of your cock. Sex wasn’t even on the cards.”

“It’s always on the cards,” he retorts.