Page 174 of Volik

I sigh.

A therapist would have a field day with me.

I’m well aware this is not normal behavior. I’m not oblivious.

I’m also not oblivious to the fact that my heart, impossible as it should be, beats in sync with his.

So, if Volik is a stage-five clinger, and I’m into it, why fight it?

My phone alerts us to a text.

I open the message. “Looks like we have the coordinates.”

“If there is anything you want to bring to meet Miss Branock”—I poke Volik’s thigh for teasing me—“bring it with you now. We will make a stop on the way.”

I think over what I might want. “Okay. What’s the stop?”

“Talking to a wolf.”

“A shifter?” I twist so I can look over my shoulder at him. “Don’t mess with me, Volik. Are we really going to talk to a shifter?”

He nods.

I gape. “I’ve never met a shifter before.”

He smirks. “You have.”

I wave him off. “Yeah, I mean I’m sure I’ve passed by⁠—”

“We are going to talk to the dean.”

My mouth opens wide.

Volik drags his tongue across his lip.

“Not uh.” I twist even farther. “You don’t get to be sexy right now. I cannot believe you didn’t tell me!”

“I am telling you now.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “Cannot. Believe.”

Instead of looking chastised, Volik just kisses my forehead.

I narrow my eyes more.

He grins.

Then he hooks his hands under my arms and lifts me off the chair as he stands.

“Ready.” I step out of the bathroom and slap my hands down against my hips.

Volik stands from the bed. “You look very good.”

I hold my hand out in front of me when he steps closer. “If you touch me, we’re going to end up in bed again.”

“Da.”

I snort and grab my small cross-body bag off the nightstand. “I want to meet a shifter. Or, well, meet one again, I guess. But you know what I mean.”