Page 80 of Volik

And with every pulse, another tear forms in his clothes.

I saw the aftermath, but to see the change happen in real time…

He’s… magnificent.

He’s my mate.

I want to argue with myself. Insist it’s not true. But it feels true. What I’ve been able research this morning—what little there is—fits. Even the dean said so in his email.

Volik, the vampire, is my mate.

And I’m his.

Jenny clicks on another video.

I watch that one too.

And the next. Watching Volik’s expressions from every angle.

I bite down on my lip, wondering if he’s feeling okay.

It doesn’t look like he’s in pain. It looks like he’s… elated. But I have to think growing like that would leave his body sore.

The next video ends, and I slump back in my seat. “Wow.”

“Right? And now you have to tell me what happened.”

I lift my hands back up to my cheeks.

Jenny moves around to the front of my desk, plants her palms on the surface, and faces me square on. “Nix, did you sleep with Volik?”

I slide my hands up and cover my eyes.

“No fucking way!” She slaps her hands down as she lets out a loud laugh. “No fucking way!”

I part my fingers and peek out between them.

Jenny is grinning. “This is so amazing.” She slaps the desk again. “I—dammit, I wish we were friends already because I want to know everything.”

I smile at her enthusiasm. “It was pretty amazing.”

Her jaw drops.

I cover my eyes again. “I can’t believe I said that.”

She snickers. “I can. If I snagged a man like that, for what, eternity, I’d be telling everyone.”

Eternity.

Is that all?

Before I can reply, a group of students walks in through the open door.

Jenny looks at the kids, then looks at her watch. “Doesn’t your class not start until ten?”

I nod, noting the clock on the computer. Five after nine. “Yeah. Maybe they want to study?”

The group moves to a pair of tables on the end of the front row and instantly starts whispering.