Page 120 of Volik

As wetness spreads across my lap.

Chapter 52

Nix

The door to the office flings open, and we both scream.

My heart thuds one extra beat.

“Apologies.” Volik’s voice fills the room, the same moment my nose fills with fresh mint.

I crane my neck to see over the counter and catch Volik’s gaze after he ducks through the doorway.

“It was just like that.” Jenny drops her hands from where they’d flown up.

I snicker, remembering how she described Volik barging in the other day as the most terrifying and awkward experience of her life.

“Just like what?” He looks back and forth between us.

“Is he asking me or you?” Jenny whispers to me.

My brows furrow as I look at her.

Then I look back at Volik, who is looking at me. With his brow lifted.

I look back at Jenny. “Wait.”

I look at Volik.

His lips pull into a smirk. “You are special, Mea Unica.”

I turn back to Jenny. “Can you really not tell that he’s looking at me?”

She presses her lips together, acting uncharacteristically shy.

Jenny glances over to Volik, who keeps his gaze on me the whole time.

She slowly shakes her head. “I…” She shakes her head again.

I turn forward and watch Volik over the counter.

His eyes are still solid black. Like they’ve always been. And I think about the photos I saw of him before we met. Try to remember if I could tell where he was looking. And… I think I could. I think I’ve always been able to tell. “Huh.” Then I wonder if it’s just Volik because of our bond, or if I’ll be able to tell with other vampires too.

“The reporters.” Volik’s tone loses its softness. “They did not talk to you?”

I shake my head. “No. Jenny called me right when I parked and warned me. So I didn’t use the front door.”

Volik turns his head, just a little, as he moves his attention to Jenny. “Thank you.”

The motion is his way to show that he’s talking to her, and the act of it both impresses and depresses me.

I wonder if that’s yet another thing that has been isolating. Having people not know when you’re looking at them.

“No problem.” Jenny shrugs, still looking a little tense.

Volik dips his chin. “A friend of Nix is a friend of mine.”

Jenny blows out a breath, then seems to finally relax the rest of the way. “Appreciate that.”