‘How bad is what she wants to tell me that she has to force herself to smile that brightly at me? Or is she just genuinely overjoyed that I’m finally going to die that she can’t hide it?’ Layla stared at Demeter, standing stiff and straight as a pillar in fear that if she didn’t, she would tremble.“Sit, both of you.” Demeter nudged her head to the sofa Alaric was on. Zayne strode over, giving her a small bow, and sat. Layla’s feet remained glued to her spot.“Sit, Ms. Dele.” Demeter said again, her smile remaining unshakeable and bright.‘I better not test her patient.’ Layla held her breath, slowly walking to the couch, and sat between Alaric and Zayne. Her back was straight and her shoulders were tensed, like she was sitting on hot coals. Not even Zayne’s and Alaric’s presence could calm the tension in her bones.“Congratulations on your progress, Ms. Dele. You beat our expectations by far. No one has been able to exterminate those creatures as easily as you did.” Demeter beamed, c
Layla slowly nodded, wincing as her skin ached and tears poured down her eyes.‘I swear, Demeter, you’ll be the first of your buddies I’ll end.’ She swore then froze. End? Where did that come from? She didn’t want to end anybody. She wanted to prove she wasn’t a monster. Yet the hunger for revenge clawed at her gut, and she winced. What was wrong with her?“You’re fine now,” Zayne whispered, cradling her closer to himself. Cradling?!Her breath hitched as she became aware of how close they were. His arm was around her, holding her close to his chest like he was trying to protect her. She was almost sitting across his laps. Her face flushed. How had she not realised that he was holding her? Why was he holding her? In front of Demeter, no less. Wouldn’t the woman be pissed that he was holding her in an intimate kind of way?She placed her hand on his chest, ready to push him away, but her muscle refused to do so. No, she didn’t want to. He was just so warm; his chestnut scent was comfor
“Can you please let go of me?” Layla asked, trying to push Zayne away the moment he shut the door of Brenton’s office behind them.“Are you sure you’re alright? Can you walk on your own?” He asked, not bulging or freeing his hold on her.“Yes, I’m fine.” She nodded, pushing him harder.There was no need for him to act concerned about her anymore, whether the mate bond was involved or not. Though she was still quite tired from using her powers, she was fine. And it wasn’t like the few millilitres of blood taking out of her was going to weaken her in anyway.Zayne slowly drew himself away from her, watching her like he expected her to fall the next second, and she fought the urge to roll her eyes. She straightened herself and looked him straight in the eyes, showing him she wasn’t weak.“Can we please go to the library?” She asked as they walked.“I have classes, and aren’t you tired?” He frowned, crossing his arms over his chest.“I promise I won’t take time—just ten minutes max. I wan
“You brought us lunch?!” Layla blanched, watching Zayne sit on her bed, and it creaked under his weight. ‘Please, don’t break.’ She flinched and sighed when it didn’t crumble. “Isn’t that what I said?” Zayne replied as he pulled out not just one but four different lunch boxes from the bag and laid them on the bed. ‘Lunch?! He brought us lunch?! Why would he do that?! Is this a prank or something? Where are the cameras? Are they poisoned?’ “Why?” She blurted out, shutting her door but refusing to move from that spot. “Because you need to eat.” He shrugged, opening a can of soda and taking a big gulp. “But I said I wasn’t hungry.” She furrowed her brows. What was he playing at? Why had he all of a sudden decided to bring food to her doorstep? “You said, but I didn’t listen. Besides, I can hear your stomach grumble from miles away.” He smirked, and her face flushed. “Come and choose the one you want. I’m starving.” Layla scrutinised the open lunch boxes as if snakes would
“Alaric?!” Layla gasped, rubbing her eyes to make sure that her sleepy brain wasn’t forming images. Nope, she wasn’t dreaming. Alaric was standing at her door.‘What is he doing here at this time?’ She thought, smoothing the creases that had formed on her top while she napped.“May I come in?” Alaric asked, wearing his usual smile.“Of course!” She stepped out of the way and allowed him to come in.“I see you cleaned and did a little renovation of the place. Good job.” He said, inspecting the place, and her cheeks flushed at his compliment as she shut the door.“Thank you, but I just cleaned. I didn’t do any renovations.” She replied, taking off her bonnet so she could look more presentable.He was flattering her. There was obviously still a lot of work to be done. A lot. The roof, the floor, the door, the bathroom… There was no part of the cabin that didn’t need to be worked on.“Whatever you did, you did it well. You managed to make a dead place homely.” Alaric nodded at her, and sh
“What!” Zayne roared, shaking the entire dorm from its foundation.‘Geez, so loud and dramatic.’ Layla cringed, pressing her hands to her ears.“Who decided that?! Why do you have to stay with him?!” He seethed.“Lady Demeter and him discussed, and they came to a decision.” She replied, hiding the fact that they had also discussed if she could stay with him. If they found out, he would lose his head from rage.“And you agreed?” He glowered at her, and she flinched.“Of course, I can’t say no to Lady Demeter.” She frowned. Did he expect her to actually say no? Didn’t he see what she had done to her when she questioned her about the Zenzens?“That damned vampire!” He sneered, balling his fist like he was imagining that he was squeezing Alaric’s neck. Layla was sure that wouldn’t have been an imagination if he was with them.“Let’s go,” Zayne snapped, stomping down the path that led to the main campus. Layla quickly locked her door and raced behind him.She stared at his back, twisting h
“I’m glad you came down on time. I was afraid the pancakes were going to go cold before you did.” Alaric said, not turning to her as he flipped the pancakes on the pan.‘Alaric was cooking?! Cooking?!’ Layla gawked at him. ‘How does a vampire know how to cook? Do they eat normal food like humans do? I thought they drank blood.’ “Why are you still standing at the door? Aren’t you hungry?” He asked and turned to her.“No— I mean, yes, I am.” She stuttered, rushing to one of the stools by the kitchen island and sat down.“Here. I hope you like hit chocolate.” He smiled and dropped a mug in front of her.“I do. Thank you. Do you need any help?” She asked, jumping down from the stool and walking to him.“No, I’m almost done. Just relax and enjoy.” He waved his finger in her face, placing his hand on her shoulders and leading her back to her seat.“But, I—”“You’re my guest, and I don’t let my guest work in my house.” He propped her on the stool and gave her shoulder a small squeeze.“Um…
“A game? What kind of game? Will there be prizes?” Layla perked up, dropping her utensils and turning on her stool so she could completely face Alaric.If there was one thing she loved doing the most in the world, it was playing and winning games. Especially the winning part. Even better if it had prizes.“Eager, aren’t we?” Alaric chuckled, placing his elbow on the kitchen island and leaning his head on it. “Yes, there will be prizes. But no turning back if you lose. And don’t worry, I won’t ask anything outrageous of you.”“Deal. What’s the game?” She quipped, swinging her legs. A part of her warned that she was trusting a man without a single thought. He could ask her for anything, literally anything, perverted or not perverted. She didn’t know what she was agreeing to.She shoved that part into a dustbin. It was Alaric. She knew some guys would try to take advantage of the situation but she trusted Alaric. In her soul, she just knew he wasn’t that type of person.“If you can corr