Bedded by the Headmaster

Ch41: In His Bed

Susie

"I wish I could hug you," Susie said to Sarah as the wolf set a tray of vegetable soup on the bedside table.

"Me too. I'm so angry about what that bastard did to you." Sarah's gaze roved over Susie's body, which was hidden by the sheet. "Is anything broken?"

Susie shook her head. "We don't think so."

"We?" Sarah waggled her eyebrows suggestively.

"The healer and I," Susie clarified. A tiny, wizened man in a light grey gown that matched his hair. Fussy and not unkind, but he looked annoyed throughout the entire examination. "Probably just sprained."

"Just sprained? Bet it hurts a tonne." Sarah blinked quickly and plastered a comforting smile on her face. "How are you, otherwise?"

"Happy to see you," Susie smiled. "I'm glad you came."

"Of course. Headmaster Arken thought you'd feel better if you had a friend to help look after you and keep you company."

"That's nice of him," Susie said vaguely. It was a kind gesture from Arken, but she refused to look too much into it. This was not the first time she'd had trouble reconciling the headmaster's actions, and she was done trying.

It never seemed to end well for her.

It's my own fault for thinking he cared about me.

She told herself that, but she still didn't quite believe it. Even now, her instincts told her to reach out to Arken. To speak to him, to give him the benefit of the doubt, to try to mend their fractured relationship. But the rest of her wanted to shrink away from him.

She felt lost, and suspected her instincts were wrong. They'd never misguided her so badly.

"He really is very sorry, you know," Sarah said, peering at her inquisitively. "About whatever it is he's done."

Susie opened her mouth, then closed it again. So, people didn't know. The King had assaulted her, and no one knew. Not yet, anyway. She drew a deep breath and glanced away. "He didn't do anything."

"Oh. Well, I'm not sure why he looks so upset then."

"Does he?" Susie asked, scanning the room for Arken, even though she knew he wasn't here.

Sarah followed her gaze to the black door. "I think he's feeding."

Susie frowned. "He's what?"

"Feeding. Hasn't he told you about the volunteers?"

Susie shook her head.

"I figured, since you were sharing his bed, you'd know—"

Susie froze and glanced down at the covers. It was Arken's bed. Of course, it was Arken's bed, but he hadn't slept in it since she'd been here, as far as she could tell. Or had he?

"What volunteers?" she asked, hating how she stammered.

"Arken made an announcement this morning seeking any willing students—preferably wolves—willing to give him blood to go to his office at dinner time. There was quite the turn out tonight, and I think there'll be more. Everyone's on about it—"

"Everyone?"

"The whole school. Even some of Poplarin's members are considering it. They think it could help them politically after graduation if they volunteer at least once. That Arken might put in a good word for them, maybe a letter of recommendation. Might just be an excuse, though. I know some of the females fancy him."