Page 22 of Vayn

I didn’t leave campus much, so, I was okay with that. However, Tia complained about the new rules a lot. They limited where she and her boyfriend could hang out off campus. Single women like me didn’t have those problems. Not jealous, I tell myself.

“I worked out a deal with my dorm monitor. If I bring her stuff from off campus, she doesn’t snitch on me when I stay off campus overnight.”

“Must be nice.”

“Don’t be jealous,” she joked. “By the way, my boyfriend’s place is warded. Maybe that’s why you weren’t able to reach my dreams. I’m not staying with him tonight. Try visiting my dreams tonight. Okay?”

“Okay.” A yawn escaped me. “I’m tired now. Let’s talk later.” I ended the sentence with another yawn.

“Alright. Get some rest. You can copy my notes later.”

“Thanks, girl.”

“Anything for my bestie. Bye!”

We ended the call. Another yawn escaped me as I placed my phone on my end table. Exhausted, I crawled up my mattress and climbed under the covers, resting my head on my pillow. I fell asleep in under a minute. And then it happened. I dream walked right back into Vayn’s home. Damn it.

I knew I was in his home because I was standing in front of the same chair he’d been stroking himself in last night. I stared around the room. Luckily, he was nowhere in sight. I needed to get out before he found me there. I closed my eyes and tried to will myself back to sleep. Nothing happened.

I tried harder. Still nothing. I tried to teleport. I did exactly what my professors said to do. I thought about a place I wanted to go. I pictured it in my head. I imagined the scents that surrounded the location I wanted to travel to, which was my bedroom. I see it clearly in my mind. Now go there. Now. Teleport. Still, nothing. Damn it.

My eyes popped open when I heard the pitter-patter of feet racing in my direction. A second later, the cutest red and black puppy I’d ever seen in my life came rushing toward me. It resembled a hellhound I’d seen in my Hellbeasts textbook. But it was much too small to be a hellhound.

Did miniature hellhounds exist? I’d never heard of one. If they did exist, the elite ladies of the shadow world would carry them around in their purses like the elite women in the human world carried teacup Yorkies. But this cute pup couldn’t be a hellhound. Even as pups, those things were huge.

Especially the cursed hounds, the ones who were being punished for their crimes. Those hellhounds had once been supernatural creatures but were now two or three-headed beasts who dragged creatures to hell. Their offspring were just as huge as them. I feared those creatures. But, some of the girls in my class bragged about being with them.

Apparently, hellhounds had knots. When I’d first heard that, I hadn’t understood what it meant. Then Tia explained it to me. They had knots on their penises that locked them inside females when they came. Now mind you, when not in hellhound form, those three-headed hellhounds were actually three separate males.

Most of the time, they bonded and ended up sharing a mate. Now imagine having three knots in you when it came time to have sex. That’s a big no for me! I hoped to never encounter one of those creatures. But if they were as tiny and as cute as the one heading my way, maybe I’d change my mind.

This cutie wasn’t a cursed hound. It was a real hellbeast. The pup raced toward me with its tongue hanging out and its tail wagging. I loved animals and couldn’t resist the urge to squat down and pet this creature. I was surprised when it leaped into my arms and began licking my face. It smelled like smoke, a signature hellhound trait. I’d had no idea miniature hellhounds existed.

I wanted one. I wanted this one. He was so friendly, and he seemed to like me. It was official. I was keeping him. No, that would be stealing. He sniffed my neck before snuggling up against me. I was so caught up in petting him that I didn’t hear Vayn enter the room until it was too late.

“Some fucking guard dog you are, Beastie.”

Eyes wide, I glanced up at my guardian. I swallowed, mouth suddenly dry. He was standing there with nothing but a black towel draped around his waist. Water dripped from the tips of his damp hair. This man was a living, breathing work of art. And he had abs for days, no, weeks, no months. Centuries!

“My eyes are up here,” he drawled.

A blush heated my cheeks as I met his gaze. “Sorry. I...”

I didn’t know what to say.

Sorry for staring at your junk.

Oops, I didn’t mean to eye-fuck you just now.

Excuse me for wishing I was one of those drops of water dripping down your chest.

None of those excuses seemed appropriate, so I kept my mouth shut. Silence would work best in this situation.

“This is your second time breaking into my home,” he pointed out, voice deep, dark. “It’s within my rights to hold you here for as long as I want, little one.”

I swallowed. His words should frighten me. They didn’t. Not at all. And that’s what frightened me. Plus, where does he get off calling me little one? There was nothing little about me. Even when I was a little kid, I wasn’t little. I’ve always been a bit chubbier than most. Some called me fat. Some called me thick. I called myself beautiful. Yet, my guardian called me little one. Was he being sarcastic? Should I be offended?

“Nothing to say for yourself?” he asked, stepping further into the room.