Page 64 of Collared by the Vampire Prince

I won’t.

The bell comes almost as a relief.

Physical Education is, unexpectedly, the best part of my day. The classroom sits on the ground floor, with a bank of tall windows overlooking the grounds and one propped open. Sunlight pools warmly across the desks and, to my surprise, the vampires avoid it, Victoria complaining that it will give her a tan. I gladly take the brightest seat and bask.

The heat very nearly lulls me to sleep through the theory half of the lesson as Professor Bomcroft drones on about anatomy in a way that just so happens to make vampires sound refined, and wolves sound built for labour.

Whatever.

The second half moves us outside, onto a stretch of manicured lawn where our cheerful, round-faced professor claps his hands together.

“Golf,” Bomcroft announces, as though bestowing a gift. “Vampires will drive. Wolves will fetch. And for those who’d rather retrieve on four legs, you’re welcome to shift for the exercise.”

“Yay,” I murmur beneath my breath, wishing I could rip my collar free and then wrench the silly golf hat off his head with my teeth.

The wolves seem pleased, however. A few even drop to their haunches before the first ball has been struck, tails swaying with an eagerness that makes my jaw ache.

I cross my arms, watching in dismay as the first drive sails wide, curving off towards the hedge line, and several shifters take off in a streak of fur.

Nearby, the vampires wait their turns on the lawn, slender and immaculate, holding their clubs loosely. Victoria looks the most ridiculous of all, hidden behind enormous dark glasses and a silk scarf, snapping her fingers for Felix to stand where his shadow best shields her from the sun. He silently obliges.

A wolf student who had been sent to the kitchens by Professor Bomcroft earlier returns holding refreshments for the vampires—iced tea and lemonade.

I wouldn’t care, except my throat is so dry.

Becky is among the first to retrieve a golf ball, trotting back in her silvery wolf form before dropping it neatly at Bomcroft’s feet.

“Excellent work, Becky,” Bomcroft exclaims, picking the white ball up with a towel and wiping it before passing it to Victoria.

The vampiress reluctantly takes it, touching it as little as possible between gloved fingertips. Yet her smile seems genuine as she says, “Yes, well done, Becky.”

I swear—Becky’s tail wags once.

“Aren’t you going to shift, Kira?” Professor Bomcroft asks, turning his round-faced beam at me.

“I can’t.”

He blinks politely, leaning close with a confused smile. “Whyever not, my dear?”

I indicate my collar, aware of the other students looking at me. “This won’t let me.”

“Oh, is that so?” He startles and peers at it more closely. “Enchanted, is it? Don’t see many of those nowadays. Well. That’s no good. You might have to ask your Master nicely if he would attend our next class, hmm? He could remove your collar and let you have a little run around.”

I manage a smile that feels like plaster cracking on my face. “Yes, sir.”

I will most definitely not be doing that. Aside from the indignity of the question, asking Nathaniel would mean acknowledging that this collar gives him some authority over me—and the arrogant prick has no intention of removing it anyway.

I do, however, have an idea. I linger near the bucket of spare balls, and when no one is looking, I slip one into my pocket.

Then I lift my voice. “I might go further out to try and intercept one, sir.”

Professor Bomcroft nods enthusiastically. “Yes, that’s the spirit, Kira! You might get lucky—I’ll see if we can drive a few your way.”

“Thank you, sir,” I say as pleasantly as I can, already striding away.

I don’t stop until I’ve crossed the lawn, passed beyond the hedge, and slipped through a small grove of trees near the wrought-iron fence. The sound of golf balls being struck fades behind me. I am alone.

It is some distance from the gates at the front of the Academy. I’m not keen on escaping via that route. There will be guards stationed at the entrance, and if they have replaced the made vampire from the road with another like it, I have no way of fighting past it. Not without magic or claws.