I narrowed my eyes as I noticed them hanging back and watching Vaxan up at the serving counter.
They seemed to zero in on the white container of food being handed to him, something I’d seen him collect several times before. He had it specially made. Normally, I’d assume it was him being a regal, entitled prick, but I actually knew aboutBasilisks and their strict diets. He had to do it this way. He literally had no choice in the matter.
As he was collecting his food, he thanked the man behind the counter, then pulled out his phone.
He started walking to a table, smiling down at it.
It was that sweet and understanding smile. The same smile he’d had when he’d helped me out in that Synergy class a few days back.
“You continue to shut down in this manner, Zayn, and they’re still controlling you in essence, even all these years later.”
That had been some of his advice to me that day.
And it had stayed with me.
Not just in regard to that class.
I ignored the vampires as they finally moved up to the counter, and I watched Vaxan sit down at a mostly empty table. He was wearing those black leather pants. The way they pulled taut around his…don’t.As if him only having a black tank on this time that showed off those sculpted fucking biceps wasn’t bad enough to… draw the attention of people who might be into that sort of thing.
Might be.
People. Other people.
Obviously not me.
He touched his crown, frowning to himself for a moment.
He looked worried. Or maybe that was just how he helped himself to think? Rubbing his crown? Like tapping a pencil or pen when you needed to think of at least one fucking viable date venue.
I went to look away and get back to that, but then he abruptly swung his head.
Right. At. Me.
I jolted, unable to hide my stunned reaction.
My eyes were bugging out of my head; I could fucking feel it.
“You are not my prey, despite you trying to demonstrate that you wish me to be yours.”
“I don’t. I don’t think about hunting or pursuing you at all.”
Great. Fucking great time for that exchange between us to rush to the surface.
I saw him scent the air.
Then he smirked.
His eyes hooded, and it had me squirming.
Fuck,I looked away.
I had to.
It was the only way to save even a little bit of face.
I focused back on my paper.
Date venue.
