Page 83 of Plug and Drain

“Yes. He’s been here all day.”

Susie’s heart dropped. “You’ve been in your room all day?”

“Yes.” Molly opened the door another few inches to lean out, then withdrew again with a cluck of her tongue. “I can’t go anywhere with him watching me.”

There was a sour odour coming from Molly’s room, probably because she’d hardly left her room all week. Susie wrinkled her nose and craned her neck to try and peer inside, half expecting Molly to invite her in, but she didn’t. Instead, Molly kept the door barely ajar, just enough of an opening that she could peek out.

“Why do you think he’s watching you?” Susie asked.

Then it hit her.

Arken.

Something light fluttered in her chest. He’d followed through on his promise—the guard was here to protect Molly.

“What is it?” Molly asked, her gaze darting anxiously between her and the empty corridor.

“It’s alright, you can relax,” Susie said, adopting the same calm tone she used with her pack. “The guard won’t hurt you. Headmaster Arken posted him here to protect you.”

Molly stared at her. “The headmaster? Are you sure? I thought someone else had…” She trailed off.

“What?”

Molly shook her head. “Never mind. Why would the headmaster do that?”

“To protect you.”

“But…why?”

“Because I asked him to,” Susie answered, shrugging in exasperation. Molly seemed far more upset by the guard’s presence than she’d anticipated.

She’s scared, Susie reminded herself. She needs a protector. Someone who isn’t me.

They were both survivors. There was only so much Susie could do for Molly. But how could she convince Molly that the guard could be trusted? And that the reason he could be trusted was because—her stomach did a backflip—because Arken had sent him.

And weirdly, she trusted Arken.

Susie pressed her lips into a thin line as she considered telling Molly the details of the deal she’d made with Arken: Molly’s safety in exchange for…sex and blood.

Molly looked at her questioningly, but Susie couldn’t bring herself to admit that out loud.

Thankfully, she didn’t need to. Understanding dawned on Molly’s face, and she pressed her fingers to her lips. “You…made a deal with him.”

“Sort of, yes.”

“You made a deal with a vampire.”

Susie couldn’t tell if Molly was impressed or horrified. Her eyes bulged, widening more than they already were. “You did that for me? To protect me?”

“Er, yes,” Susie said. Molly lowered her hand and placed it over her heart, and she felt compelled to explain. “I know it’s not ideal, but after the omegas attacked us last week, it’s for the best.”

After the omegas attacked us.

The words came so easily. They were so woefully insufficient for the cruelty they’d endured. Or the way Oscar’s laugh still played in her mind.

At the mention of the attack, Molly’s facial muscles went rigid. It was like watching a window become boarded up; the only signs of life were the tears filling her eyes and within them, a spark of anger.

“Listen,” Susie said quickly, desperate to change the subject before Molly began to cry, “My pack has a book club meeting tonight. Would you like to come? It’s quite relaxed. There will be good food and good people.”