“Has anyone ever told you that you don’t really talk?” Zavier pauses by the door and hands me a jacket. “That’s my second favorite, so be careful with it.”
I look at the worn leather jacket before shrugging it on.
Zavier puts his own jacket on and grabs a pair of keys.
Discovering the invention of the things I’ve since learned are called cars was a shock to say the least. The world has changed immensely since I was captured. I still haven’t set foot in the thing called an elevator. A tiny box that closes me out from the rest of the world and goes up and down on a pulleysystem doesn’t sound like something I want to trust, even as indestructible as I am.
In those first weeks after Celine helped me escape, I found a library to hide out in and consumed as much as I could to understand the world as it is now, but there are still many things that don’t make sense to me. The English language now and slang are an ongoing struggle.
More books wouldn’t be a bad idea.
“Can we stop by the library?” I ask Zavier as we head for the stairwell. I don’t bother to ask how he knows I won’t take the elevator.
“The library?” His eyes widen. “I’ve got something else for you too.” He claps me on the shoulder. “Let me introduce you to the wonders of a bookstore.”
CHAPTER 3
AVA
I stoppedat a local Chinese restaurant on the way home with the hope of apologizing for ignoring Valen with spring rolls. Truthfully, I have no idea what kind of food he likes, and since he’s a vampire, he might stick to a blood-only diet. Zav eats human food, but Valen is vastly different from the chaotic redhead.
I guess I’ll find out soon enough.
I make my way down the hall and come to stand in front of my apartment all too soon.
“Don’t be a little bitch, Ava.” I hype myself up and unlock the door.
With one last sigh, I swing the door open.
“Hi, Valen!” I cringe at the overexcited greeting. I could’ve at least tried to sound a little more natural.
Silence greets me.
“Valen?” I call out, setting the takeout bags on the table and strolling through the room to find the vamp nowhere in sight.
Jogging back out to the hall, I knock on Celine’s door and call her name. A second later, the door opens.
“Pinkie Pie, what a lovely surprise.” Zav leans against the frame and crosses his arms over his chest.
A polka dot apron stretches across his chest and readsKiss the Cook, but he’s crossed out the secondoand added acin its place to change it toKiss the Cock. I’m not even a little surprised.
The sound of water bubbling in the background greets my ears, and I spot an array of cut vegetables on the counter.
“Oh my, Celine. Look how big you’ve gotten.” I make to boop his nose, but he leans away before I can make contact. “Have you seen Valen? He’s not in the apartment.”
“Nope.” Zav pops thepwhen he says it. “That guy is strange, though.”
Rich coming from him.
“Are you for real right now?” I glower at Zav, aghast on Valen’s behalf. Sure, he’s a little quiet and reserved, but it’s justified based on what Celine has said of her time in the prison beneath the club. Enduring any kind of torture like that is enough to make anyone seem off.
“There’s more than meets the eye, and I can’t put my finger on what’s different about him, but he doesn’t feel normal.” Zav taps a finger on his lip in thought. “I mean, he likesbooks—I took the dude to the bookstore, and he kept grabbing more. I mean, I’m loaded, but I wasn’t expecting to drop a grand at Barnes and Noble today.”
“Ava?” Celine peeks out from behind Zav, who winds an arm around her waist and presses a kiss to her temple. “What’s up?”
“I can’t find Valen. You haven’t seen him, have you?” I shift my weight to the other leg and put my hands on my hips. I hope my shitty behavior didn’t send him away.
“I have, actually. When I got home, wepassed by each other. He said he was going to the roof for some fresh air,” Celine supplies. “That was a while ago, but it’s possible he’s still up there.”
