Vampire heart

2: Ayo

why he smiled

those eyes. Or maybe-though he would never admit it aloud-it was

idn't touch him. Even from a distance, Ayo could tell there was something... off. Not

he road with

see the sharp cut of his cheekbones, the old-fashioned collar of his coat, the kind of posture n

ddenly awkward. "U

htly, lips parting as if to

ast, his accent faint and hard to p

rvously. "That'

g, but it softened something in his

e touch was warm. Too

ight," Ayo said. "Staring a

amused. "I wa

sure y

urprised. T

quinting at him. "Let

assed. "Not in

eyes were searching, like he was lo

, "now you're giving re

d. "Do you bel

ed to talk about souls being reborn, but she also th

Malakai said, a

, but it wasn't uncomfortable. J

" Ayo said after a whi

ed an eyebro

a history book and accidentally

. away. For

ike a man w

a

again. "At least you

akai barely flinched. Ayo took that in, too. There was something

joking. "Are you going to tell me I'

nted. "Would you b

might buy y

like awe flickered in his face-so brief Ayo t

like

tween a betting shop and a secondhand bookstore. It was

chairs, while Ayo ordered for both of

aring at the mural on the wall-an abst

e coffee," h

Ayo asked, sliding into

want to

of a gothic novel, and n

d faintly. "Y

re we

ment. Outside, the rain had

s coffee. "So

blinke

you of. You said I

, he didn't speak. Then he said, "His na

wa

his ridiculous laugh, and he used to hum when he was nervous.

yo asked, tone pl

ed at him. R

aze made the laughter

an," Mal

hung bet

taphor? Like, 'I'm a monst

ust reached across the tabl

second,

th dark braids singing in a language he didn't recognize. Blood

is hand bac

e-what w

was unreadabl

don't know what that w

ht have

This has been fun. Very myst

low. "I'm not goin

game you're playing

ing a few bills on the ta

ve, his heart thu

yo

hand on the

mber things," Malakai

dn't stop walking until his clothes were soaked and