Page 15 of Plug and Claim

Kira felt a sense of trepidation as the driverless carriage pulled to a stop. Taking a deep breath, she faced the vampire.

“Will you take the collar off now?”

“Not yet,” he said, opening the door for her. “Ladies first.”

She might have strangled him had he not been an enemy capable of killing her, and had she not been overwhelmed by the strange new environment. Still, while violence may not have been the answer, it was time to make a stand.

She crossed her arms. “I’m not getting out until you remove the collar.”

“Really?” Nathaniel said. “Well, then I suppose you’re not getting out at all, are you?”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “Fine. Close the door on your way out.”

To her annoyance, he pulled the door shut and settled himself lengthwise on his seat. He put his feet up on the table, crushing the rare cheeses beneath his polished shoes.

“What are you doing?” she demanded.

“Enjoying your company.”

A streak of sunlight breached the cabin, warming her forearm. It gave her an idea. “Tell me,” she asked, shuffling closer to the door, ready to put herself between it and the vampire to trap him, “do vampires burn in the sun?”

His eyes tracked her movement with interest. “You’re thinking of ‘made’ vampires—undead vessels brought alive by magic. But I was born a vampire. Born vampires such as myself have many of the strengths of made vampires—and almost none of the weaknesses. I can subsist without blood, feel the sun on my skin, and enter private residences without an invitation.”

The last one Kira had learnt the hard way.

“Coffins?” she asked.

He looked amused. “I don’t believe any of us sleep in coffins anymore.”

“Wooden stakes?”

“As you prefer. But there are a whole variety of ways you could end my life, and I’m sure you could be more creative than that.”

Kira absorbed the information like a sponge. “Can you see your reflection in the mirror?”

His eyes flared, and he leant forward, invading her space. “Why so curious about my weaknesses and sleeping arrangements?”

Her breathing hitched. “I was just curious.”

“Well, for the record. I sleep in a very comfortable bed facing a very large mirror, and if you are ever so fortunate as to be bent over it, you will see my reflection clearly behind yours.”

His words shocked Kira into silence, but only for a moment. “Well, at least something will be large.”

Nathaniel’s lip curled in response and placed a relaxed arm over the back of his seat.

It was not at all the reaction she’d expected.

“Fine,” she sighed, climbing out of the carriage. She was sick of the cramped space, and she couldn’t stand his company for a minute longer.

She barely had a chance to glance up at the academy’s dark silhouette before Nathaniel appeared beside her, standing too close as he said, “Follow me.”

He set off up the stone steps.

Kira hesitated before following him, hurrying to keep up with the stride of his long legs as he took the steps two at a time.

The entrance doors creaked open of their own accord, and Nathaniel’s shoes clicked on the marble floors of an elegant foyer with tall ceilings and ornate decorations.

She was embarrassed by the collar and the prominent ball gag dangling from it, but to her relief, the hall was empty.