Page 36 of Venomous Desires

My body stiffened. “What?”

She took a shaky breath, but I failed to read her. Her voice lowered, and she suddenly sounded concerned. “You heard me. He’s not good news. He comes from a....different family background.”

“What do you mean? He seems harmless to me.” I looked over my shoulder at Ivan; he was still looking at us with a smile, but something had shifted. I couldn’t put my finger on it.

She ran her hand through her long dark hair, and I frowned at her dishevelled stare. The girl I deemed to be the epitome of perfection was looking fragile. “Just...stay away for your own good.”

I swallowed. She let go of my arm, my arm still in the air and lips pursed as I watched her rush out of the cafeteria.

“Your friend?” Ivan asked, and I stared at the door Alina walked out of, her presence lingering on my arm as I slowly turned around to face him.

Something unsettling crept up my arm. I yelped when Ivantugged at my jacket, his face suddenly inches from mine, close enough for me to see the strange intensity in his green eyes. A small smile played on his lips, but something about it seemed off, almost voracious to the point that I wanted to run away.

“Yes, my roommate.” My voice wavered as I tried to steady myself. “I-I have to get some books from the library. I gotta go.” I nodded, attempting to pull myself away from him discreetly, but he sensed my unease. His smile dropped instantly, the brightness in his eyes dimming, turning a shade darker as if a shadow had passed over them. Then, just as quickly, he smiled again. And I sucked in a sharp breath.

“I can tag along.” His voice was smooth, almost too smooth, like the calm before a thunder.

“You...don’t have to. Your friends are looking for you, I guess.” I glanced around nervously, but it seemed I was alone with the voices ringing in my head.

“You’ll meet me after classes?” He stepped closer, and I gulped hard — too hard; I felt my throat constricting.

“I-I don’t know, I have things—”

“I thought you’d want to know.” He leaned in even closer, his breath warm against my ear. His hand on my arm tightened slightly, and he towered over me.

“Know what?” I whispered. Dread pooling in my stomach.

“About the man who was following you last night.” He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. “I’ll wait.”

I stumbled a step back, and then another, before I looked at him wide-eyed. My heart pounded in my ears, the memory of footsteps echoing behind me in the dark flashing through my mind.

Ivan’s eyes bore into mine, unblinking, and I could feel the cold sweat forming on my brow.

And he smiled. “Don’t make me wait.”

Chapter 13

The Prey

Hunter Evans was found dead in the alley. His insides were... found missing.” I heard some girl muttering under her breath from across the table. Confused, I tried to ignore her, but something in me was curious, so I listened while pretending to flip through the pages of the heavy textbook in front of me.

The library was almost empty since it was already near closing time. The dim lighting and the silence gave it a sombre, almost eerie atmosphere, perfect for focusing on studies, or in this case, eavesdropping on a disturbing conversation. Like this one. Just my luck. My brain was on strike, and everything was a chaotic mess. Perfect.

And I could not concentrate at all. Double perfection.

“His organs?” The girl next to her yelled, drawing a few glares from the other students. She sheepishly apologized and turned back to the blonde sitting next to her.

I swallowed hard, my curiosity piqued even more.

“Nah, his intestines and his tongue. Oh lord, how couldsomeone be so horrible? I don’t even know how a killer’s mind works.” The blonde’s voice was lower, and I cringed in disgust and fear.

I pretended to jot down notes, my mind racing.

Hunters Evans, the heir of Evan Steele Industries, was one of the biggest American conglomerates. His face had been all over the news for years. To think he met such a gruesome end in Russia of all places. My heart pounded.

“Wasn’t he an American big shot?” The second girl’s voice broke through my thoughts. I had seen none of them on campus, but judging by the books they were reading, I came to the conclusion that they were from the History department.

“Heir of Evan Steele Industries. Who would’ve thought Russia would be his last country to ever visit?” The blonde shook her head, my expression dark. I could see the fear in her eyes, and it mirrored my own growing unease.