Page 27 of Vayn

“So, are you,” he told me. “I can’t wait until we get to be bad together.”

If they didn’t stop, I’d end up begging them to touch me down there.

“Stop teasing her, Charm,” Vayn said, finally coming to my rescue. “Not all half-humans can handle a Fallen and their shadows.”

“Hey,” I yelled. “I can handle a Fallen and their shadows. Who are you to say what I can or can’t handle?”

A slow smile stretched across his face. I swallowed.

“Not that I want to,” I rushed to add.

“Little one,” Bliss said. “We can smell how much you want to.”

That caused Vayn and the other shadows to chuckle. How dare my guardian laugh at me?

“No more teasing the little half-human,” I yelled, only partly upset.

I wasn’t upset about them teasing me. I was upset because I knew Vayn would never choose to be with a half-human, even if his shadows wanted me. So, while I was taking their teasing to heart, hoping for things I shouldn’t hope for, they were just playing around. And that part upset me.

“What if I took what you said to heart? Then you’d be stuck with a half-human who has a crush on you. That would piss you off, right?”

Next to me, Charm shook his head. “Not me.”

“Not me,” Dread replied, voice raspy.

“Not me,” Bliss said, smiling.

“Not me,” Rage growled before looking to Vayn.

I did the same thing. My eyes locked with Vayn’s. For a long time, we just stared at each other. I didn’t want to look away. But it was hard to continue staring at him. I could see the indecision in his eyes.

According to the rumors, he’d despised humans for centuries. There was no way he’d ever change his mind. Especially not for me. A chill crept over me. Unable to continue holding his gaze, I stared down at the pup I was still holding. If I knew how to teleport, I would leave right now to avoid the awkwardness that was setting in.

“Only you,” a deep voice filled the room.

Hold up. Could he be saying what I think he’s saying? I worked up the courage to meet Vayn’s gaze again. “What?”

“Only you. You’re the only half-human I don’t despise,” Vayn told me.

“Come on,” Charm said. “You can do better than that.”

It was a start, which was enough for me!

I chuckled. “Can’t you see that took a lot out of him?” I told the shadow.

Even Vayn smirked before saying, “Let’s focus on training you to fight properly and learn all we can about your new gift. The rest...” he paused.

The rest what? Finish your sentence, damn it. I waited. The shadows waited. Beastie waited. We all waited. Vayn just stood there staring at me. Finally, he spoke.

“I’ll get dressed,” he said, changing the subject. “Have a seat. When I get back, we’ll talk about what you feel when you’re dream traveling.”

That said, he stormed from the room, leaving me wondering what the rest of his sentence would have been. Disappointment threaded through me. It would be best if I didn’t get my hopes up. He was a Fallen who hated humans. I was part human. It would take something major to make him want me the way I was realizing I wanted him and his shadows.

“Give him time,” Charm whispered in my ear. “He’ll come around. Until he does, you still have us.”

I gazed from one shadow to the next. I wanted to believe Charm’s words. But I’d been disappointed a lot in my life. I’d learned the hard way that the only person I could believe in was myself. I wouldn’t allow myself to believe in Vayn. That was the only way I’d graduate with my heart intact.

I wouldn’t fall any deeper for Vayn and his shadows. It was stupid of me to start feeling anything at all for them. When had I even started seeing Vayn as anything other than my grumpy guardian? It had to be the dick. Seeing his dick had made me start crushing on him. That crush ended now.