He glances at me. “I know you don’t like having to stay with me, but it’s a necessity. The boss demanded it. He’s not the sort of person that it’s wise to refuse.”
“Who’s your boss?” I ask. “Actually, never mind, I don’t want to know.”
Dorian’s lips quirk. “Clever girl. It’s only for a week. You’ll survive. I’ll pick you up outside the science department at five, be ready.”
I pull my phone out of my pocket and fiddle with it, mainly for something to do. “Fine.”
“When do you usually go see your animals?”
“Tuesdays and weekends, when I’m not scheduled for a shift at the animal shelter.”
Dorian nods. “And you bring them baked treats?”
I smile a little at the memories that flit across my mind; my foxes and wolves nudging at my backpack and staring at me with those adorably hopeful eyes. “Yeah.”
Dorian glances at me again, eyes warming. “If I take you grocery shopping, will you make me something?”
“You gonna pay for additional supplies?”
He looks a little surprised at that. I think I might’ve overstepped, but then he says, “Obviously. Why wouldn’t I?”
Because I usually have to balance my books myself, and it gets fucking hard. Especially when I can’tnotgo see my pack and skulk without a container full of treats for them. And I won’t go with store bought treats; they have all sorts of unhealthy shit in them.
“If you tell me Connor’s favorite meal, I can also make you guys dinner tonight. So long as you pay.”
That doesnotappear to please Dorian. “Why Connor? You don’t want to makemesomething?”
I roll my eyes. “Connor, because he’s the one who would prefer me dead. I’m pretty sure he’s utilitarian; if I prove useful, he might start seeing me as less of a loose end and more of something else. Not a person, I don’t think, but somethingotherthan a loose end, which sounds good to me.”
“He’s not going to kill you,” Dorian assures me. “I won’t let him”
“It might be good if his inability to kill me hinged on something other than his friends holding him back,” I say bluntly. “If you tell me his favorite dinner, I’ll make your favorite dessert for you.” I shake my head with a sigh. “Men. You’re all too much trouble and effort.”
Dorian’s lips quirk. “Any time you want to see exactly what I can bring to your life, Mira, let me know. I’mverymuch a giver.” He sighs, smile dropping. “Connor likes all-American dinner’s—steak and potatoes. We have a grill. You know how to grill?”
“Yup. The grocery store I usually hit doesn’t have really good steaks, though.”
“We’ll go to a place I know. Seamus likes anything that’s cooked well, so he’s easy to please.”
“And you? What do youwant for dessert?”
“You,” he responds bluntly. “But I’ll take whatever. Just surprise me.”
Chapter Eight
“It’s cold out tonight.” Chloe Rodgers says, shivering beside me. She rubs her hands up and down her arms as we brave the bitter chill to get to the parking lot behind the science buildings.
The strawberry-blonde, green-eyed enchantress shares my animal science course, even though she’s technically on biochemistry track. She’s taking one of the hardest courses as a freakingelective. The girl is scary smart, scary pretty, and scary nice. The truly terrifying thing is that her niceness isn’t a thin shield; she’s genuinely a kind person, which is just eerie to me.
“Vermont weather can be harsh,” I agree, pulling my blouse tighter around me. It’s nice—silk, so soft I could weep. Seamus might be one scary motherfucker, but he’s got good taste in women’s clothes.
Chloe pulls her phone out of her pocket as we reach the parking lot and sends a text—probably to Mason, her boyfriend. I’ve met him enough times to deduce he isnota good person, but he is so devoted to Chloe it’s almost suffocating. When he looks at her, everything about his energy just… lifts.
“Mason coming to pick you up?” I ask her, stuffing my hands into the pockets of my jeans.
She nods. “Yeah, he’s running a bit late. I’ve told him I should get a car, my stepdad has offered to buy me one more than once, but Mase likes driving me.”
“He really loves you,” I say with a faint smile. “It’s kind of sickening.”
