Page 34 of Vayn

“Did you just roll your eyes at me?” Charm asked.

“I did,” I said with a lift of my chin. “And?”

“And...” He stroked his thumb over my cheek, surprising me yet again. “And I found it adorable.”

This shadow was tearing down my fragile resolve.

“We won’t make you run in the morning,” he told me.

“Thanks. Because running is not my thing.”

“But you do need to train. These are dangerous times for our kind. You need to be able to protect yourself.”

“Isn’t that why I have you all? Oh, wait. I won’t have you all forever.”

“Says who?” Charm growled.

“Says Vayn.”

He stroked my cheek again. “We are not going anywhere, Destiny Porter.”

Don’t get your hopes up, Destiny. Don’t do it, girl. Be smart. But it was too late. I was already hoping for more.

“What are you thinking about?” Charm asked.

I shook my head.

“Tell me,” he pressed.

I shook my head again.

“Okay. Tell me one secret, and I’ll tell you one secret,” he bargained.

I searched his gaze, trying to see if he was serious.

“You’ll really tell me a secret?” I asked.

“I will. If you tell me one first. Go on. Tell me a secret.”

I sighed heavily, looking around the room, trying desperately to make sure we were alone before continuing. “I have...” I started, then stopped myself before I finished my sentence. Should I think of another secret or tell him this one? Was I ready to share this with anyone?

“Destiny...”

“I have separation anxiety,” I blurted out.

He raised an eyebrow. “Explain.”

I took a deep breath and almost felt myself slowly beginning to unravel as I exhaled, and the words came spilling out of me in a rush.

“I... I don’t like it when people leave me,” I confessed. “I’ve been left a lot in my life. Starting from birth, though, I know my mom didn’t mean to leave me. She had no choice. I’m sure if she could’ve stayed with me, she would’ve. But human women don’t usually survive giving birth to descendants. I can’t blame her for not being with me. Still, since birth, I’m always the one left behind.”

I took a deep breath, trying to draw in the courage to continue. “My bestie, Tia, got a new boyfriend, which is a good thing. I’m happy for her. I really am. And she tries to include me in their outings. But I don’t want to be the third wheel. So, even when she asks me to go out with them, and I decline, I still kind of feel left behind. Which is completely ridiculous. I know.”

“It’s not,” Charm told me.

“This one is, though. Most of the students whose abilities hadn’t presented when I started have already gotten their fangs and claws. Since I haven’t, I kind of feel left behind. And...”

I paused as tears threatened to choke me up. I should keep this one to myself. I’d done so for so long. Why did Charm’s presence have me wanting to say it now?