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My interest perks up. “A bodyguard?” Easy. I’ve worked several different types of security before and always loved it.

“In exchange, the university will cover your full tuition, room and board in the same deluxe suite as Mr. Dae,” Dean Yaga continues. “Since you don’t have a major yet, your class schedule can be adjusted to match his movement across campus. Do we have a deal?”

A full ride, a clear purpose, and a chance to protect someone in need. It’s better than sitting on a cold roof all day staring at stone.

“Deal,” I say firmly. “When do I start?”

“He’s settling in today but give us time to process your paperwork and inform his agent. Your official duties will begin next week,” Dean Yaga replies. “Get your affairs in order, Ryker. I’ll email you some basic information about Mr. Dae as soon as I get permission.”

Dean Yaga says her goodbyes, and I thank Mr. Giles for coming up with the idea. It doesn’t take long after I leave the building for my phone to ping with a new email notification. Scanning the brief file, I notice there isn’t much to go by, not even any photos. Instead, there’s a list of the films and k-dramas the young actor has been in, and even the name of his old Idol band, but that’s about it. At least the dean included Mr. Dae’s class schedule. It won’t take long for me to scout the area and figure out the safest, fastest routes.

Tucking my phone back in my pocket, I take to the sky, glad to finally feel like I have a purpose again.

(One Week Later. Saturday Night)

The bonfire for the welcome-back celebration near the Cree River is burning brightly. Golden sparks float into the darkening summer night. Music blasts from portable speakers, and students— both monsters and humans alike—are dancing, laughing, and passing around paper plates stacked with food. A crew of aquatic shifters are splashing in the moonlit waters near the riverbank, while a human I met earlier waves at me.

Standing at the edge of the clearing, the heat of the fire warms my purple skin as I take in the crowd. My official bodyguard duties don't start until Monday, but I couldn't resist checking out the campus energy tonight. It’s liberating to just exist in a space where nobody expects anything from me. My unusual colors and massive height are simply another example of Creepin U’s incredible diversity.

As the flames flicker high, the crowd parts slightly. My breath catches in my throat.

Standing near the edge of the riverbank, holding a long skewer with a charred, smoking marshmallow on the end, is the purple-haired boy from the bookstore bench. Up close, under the warm glow of the firelight, he’s even more stunning. Yeah. Definitely human. He wears an oversized, effortlessly stylish plum-colored jacket that momentarily captures my attention. It drapes across his smaller frame. Under the jacket is a lavender crop top that shows off his lean stomach.

My claw-tipped fingers tingle. Whether it’s because they itch to feel the material of his expensive looking jacket, or because I want to drag them all over his pretty little body is a mystery to me. I shake my head, clearing the odd thought. I have no idea why I’m even focusing on what he’s wearing. It’s the man who has caught my attention. Not his damn clothes.

He’s staring at his burnt marshmallow with a look of betrayal, his plush lips formed into an adorable pout. Beside him, a younger guy is doubled over laughing, holding his own phone up to snap a picture. A strange little ping of jealousy zings through me. I want his eyes on me. Not on the kid next to him.

"I told you to rotate it, Teag!" the guy wheezes. "You literally roasted the shit out of it."

"Shut it, Ethan!" the purple-haired man shoots back, waving the skewer, and sending a shower of ash onto the ground. "It was supposed to have a smoky, slightly crispy crust!"

A confident grin tugs at my lips. Unfurling my broad shoulders, I roll my neck and stroll straight toward him, letting my massive wings flex slightly behind me just to make sure he notices the approach.

“You know, sweet cheeks,” I say, my voice coming out in a low, gravelly rumble over the pounding bass of the music, “if you burn it like that, you lose all the flavor.”

The pretty human spins around, his dark eyes snapping up to mine. He takes in my height, my broad chest, and my deep purple skin, his lips parting in surprise before a sassy, amused smirk replaces it. I love that he doesn't flinch or back away from my size. Instead, he stands his ground, arches a perfectly groomed eyebrow and places one hand on his hip.

“First of all, did you just call me sweet cheeks?” he snaps, his voice playful and a touch annoyed. “Cocky pickup line, if you ask me. Second of all, it’s not burnt. It’s caramelized.”

I chuckle, stepping into his personal space until he has to tilt his chin up to look me in the eye. The top of his soft violet hair barely reaches my chest, making our size difference absurdly hot. Suddenly, images of the human on his knees in front of me float in my mind’s eye, causing my cock to jerk in my pants.

The fierce spark in this human’s brown eyes says he probably knows exactly what I’m thinking. I swallow back a groan.

“Right. Caramelized.” I echo, leaning down slightly. As if my hand has a mind of it’s own, I tuck a few of his purple strands behind his ear, liking the way his color of choice matches the color of my skin. My claw lingers on the shell of his ear, tracing the multiple earrings there. Is it weird to get turned on by the fact that he’s really into all the shades of purple, when I am in fact a big purple monster?

My dick doesn’t miss the way he shivers under my touch.

“Look, I’m just trying to protect the guy who’s this close to setting his pretty hair on fire.”

“Why, thank you, kind sir. Purple is kinda my thing.” He runs his fingers through the strands. “And what would I do without you?” he flirts, cocking his hip.

“May I?” I point at the charred blob.

His eyes slowly trail all over my body as if sizing me up. Eventually, he hands over the blackened skewer, his soft fingers brushing against mine. An electric spark zips straight up my arm at the contact, sharp and exhilarating. Monster gods, what the fuck was that?

"Ethan, a little help, please?" the human yells over his shoulder, but his friend just raises both hands in mock surrender, taking a step backward.

"Nope. No way. You're on your own, Teag. I'm going to get a beer," Ethan laughs, winking at me before disappearing into the crowd near the beverage coolers.