Chapter 24

24

KOVI

I’m seated on a velvet-lined bench in the ornate hallway I’ve only visited a couple of times. No students are around, and the massive stained glass windows block any noise other than the pounding of my heart. I pull at my hoodie as my anxiety suffocates me. I’m suddenly wishing I wore nicer clothes to this meeting. But this isn’t a job interview—on the contrary, I’m almost breaking up with the dean. Then why am I so sweaty?

“The dean will see you now.”

I jump in my seat at the monotone, wispy voice of a ghost floating next to me. She apparently just walked through the dean’s door. The apparition bows, not at all fazed—but phased?—by my reaction, then floats off.

I gulp. Game time .

I have a seat across from Dean Yaga as she finishes writing some letter. “Oh good, you’re here, Mr. Sampath,” she says with a smile.

She’s still not looking up, and I square my shoulders. “Yes, well, the reason I arranged for this meeting was so we could chat about my employment.”

“Splendid. You did an excellent job making sure the school grounds looked pristine at the event three weeks ago.” She puts down her parchment and quill and folds her hands. Smiling at me, she continues, “The new human students have seemed to acclimate wonderfully this semester. And judging by your grand entrance at the ball, I know you personally have become amicable with a certain human.”

My cheeks burn and I grin. She wags her finger and says, “I was afraid humans and monsters wouldn’t be able to fraternize. But judging by your obvious interpersonal relationships as well as the various stories on campus, well… I’m proud that Creelin is a safe haven for young adult monsters and humans alike.” She looks up and preens. Then she looks back at me. “And when you join the faculty in two years, we’ll be in even better shape!”

My smile falls. “That was what I wanted to talk to you about.”

“What is it, Mr. Sampath?”

I clear my throat and look down at my hands. “I’ve been giving it a lot of thought. Look, I love this school. And I’m happy to work for you while I’m here. But afterward…”

“Ah.” Her face fills with resignation and understanding. “You…don’t want to work here after graduation.”

“At least not initially!” I raise my hands in a placating gesture. “I just…think right after I get my degree…”

She nods. “You want to go about and try other things. I get it.”

She stands up and hovers on her mortar to the window. Gazing out at the bright November sunshine, she appears lost in thought. “There’s a big world out there, Kovi.”

I gulp. “Ma’am?”

“Monsters of all kinds are popping up every day. Many are being raised in purely shifter environments. I’ve heard rumblings of sea monsters, swamp creatures, and forest beasts not understanding human society. The generation after yours won’t remember a time with no monsters. That’s why I feel so honored every day I come to work. Creelin U is breaking grounds for human-monster relations.”

I stand up and approach her. Her window overlooks the quad, and I watch as a massive snake creature slithers alongside a human guy in the distance. Guilt drops in my gut. “I won’t…stay away forever,” I mutter.

“It’s fine.” She waves her hand while still looking out the window. “My point being, Kovi, is that the world needs people like you—shifters who can bridge the gap between monsters and humans. And judging by your little display at the ball, I’d say you most certainly connected with a human.”

My cheeks burn and I see the slightest smirk on her face in the reflection. After a beat, she clears her throat and her smile drops. She turns and gives me a look of disappointment and understanding. “I would have loved to have a dryad on staff here, an alumnus no less, but I can’t be selfish. You need to see the world, do what you’d like, and stretch your branches, so to speak.”

We share matching smiles and I nod. “Dean Yaga, Creelin will always have my heart. And I’m more than happy to help out until graduation.”

“Kovi, you needn’t explain a thing.” She puts out both her hands and I grab them. She gives me a squeeze and I nod. “Thank you for your honesty. You’re an asset to the school, and to any organization that might have you.”

She lets go of my hands and I nod. “Thank you, Dean Yaga, for making this a school where monsters as well as humans can find themselves.”

She beams at me and leads me out of her office. “Of course. I don’t know what tomorrow brings, but hopefully monsters and humans can face it together.” She opens the door and smiles warmly at me. “Go on then. I’m looking forward to seeing how your generation changes the world.”

With that, I bid her farewell, feeling lighter than I was twenty minutes ago.

Walking into the stands of the indoor Creelin Athletics Center, it takes me ten seconds before I spot my man. His blazing red hair sticks out, but when he catches my gaze and smiles, he’s all I can see. The crowd disappears, and all I see is the guy I’ve been spending almost every night cuddling with. Fortunately, there haven’t been any more late-night freak-outs, and I’ve gotten my night shifting under control. Every moment shared with Tanner is a treasured memory carved into the tree bark of my soul.

I walk up to my favorite person as I cautiously dodge other spiders and scorpions cheering in the front row. “Hey,” I mutter, scratching the back of my ear. He’s so handsome, and still, after dating for over a month, makes me nervous.

“Hey, you!” Tanner says with delight in his eyes.

I give him a quick peck on the lips and resist the urge to climb onto his lap. Sure, we’re together and solid, but public displays of affection are inappropriate, especially at a water polo game. The sounds of splashing and whistling barely cover the crowd murmuring around us. I’m not one for sports, but Tanner’s gotten into the school spirit since it’s his first year at a big university, and I’ll take any excuse to hang out with him.

I’ll attend any event that makes Tanner McGregor happy. “Because you’re in looove,” an inner voice teases . Shut up, voice.

“How’d it go?” Tanner asks. He strokes my palm and it sends shivers up my spine. No one pays us any mind, so I give his hand a squeeze.

“It actually went—”

“ WOO !” The crowd around me cheers; apparently our team scored. I don’t care, I’m just here for the vibes. In retrospect, maybe he and I shouldn’t try to have meaningful conversations in the middle of a water polo match. I cringe and wait for the throngs of shifters supporting both teams to be finished clapping their claws and wings.

Once the noise is back to an acceptable volume, I squeeze Tanner’s hands again. “It went well.”

“Really? She’s not mad?” Tanner spent a lot of time talking through my decision with me. Ultimately my heart was set on trying to get a job elsewhere, possibly with the OME, after I graduate next school year.

“No, she was cool with it. Disappointed, maybe, but she understands the need for me to, as she put it, spread my branches.”

He guffaws, and part of me wants to entertain him until I’m old and wilting. “That’s awesome! I told you she’d understand your decision.”

“I know.” I scratch my eyebrow and look down. “I tend to overthink things.”

“Yes, well, you’re lucky you have a super cool, wise, and handsome boyfriend.” He teases me and pokes my abdomen.

“Okay, Mr. Cocky,” I mutter through a fit of giggles.

“Not cocky, confident and accurate. I’m a great sounding board of sage wisdom.”

“You’re something else,” I mutter. We’re both cracking up as I try to wrap my arms around him in a tickle play-fight.

“Ha! Haha! It’s true, you’re lucky to have someone like me in your corner!” He’s barely keeping it together and we’re both laughing as I hold him. No one’s paying us any mind while I attempt to tickle him.

“Ha! Well, you’re lucky I love you!”

My words cause us both to freeze. When something else happens in the pool, the crowd goes wild. We’re in our own little bubble in the stands, and I’m still wrapped around him. Tanner’s shoulders go tense and he mutters, “You…what?”

We dart off each other and I look away. Stupid Kovi, letting your feelings slip. We’ve only been dating for a few weeks, why would he want to love me?

“Uh…these acoustics are crazy…” I tap my fingers on my lap and stare intently at the pool, trying not to shift.

“Kovi,” Tanner says.

“Those water polo monsters are kind of hot. See how big that sasquatch dude is?”

“Kovi—”

“And I heard about the n?kk on the team. Him and this human, they—”

“Kovi!” He grabs my hand and I gaze into this precious green eyes. “I love you, too.”

My heart feels like the first day of spring. “Really?”

He bites his lips and shrugs, and an adorable blush creeps on his cheeks. “I think I fell in love with you when you made me soup and helped me study. And going to the dance only confirmed it.”

“Seriously?”

“But I was waiting for the proper moment, then you had this crisis about your employment, and I was trying to study…and I wasn’t sure if you felt the same, so I just…” Now it’s his turn to look away in embarrassment.

Monster god, I love him so much.

So, I squeeze his hand, getting his green eyes to look at me again. “I very much feel the same, Tanner McGregor. Maybe some would say it’s too soon…”

“We’ve known each other since we were little,” Tanner points out.

“And here we are as grownups. So yes, I love you.”

His eyes light up, and I don’t take for granted the fact that I get to bask in his presence. “I love you, too.”

Pure joy bubbles out of us in laughter, and when he leans in, I catch his sweet mouth with mine. The crowd roars, my heart is pounding, but all I can focus on is the man in my arms—a gorgeous, sweet human has stolen my heart, and I’m the luckiest monster alive.

When we pull back for air, he leans his forehead on mine. “Glad we’re on the same page, Kovi,” he murmurs.

“Get a room!” a male voice says.

We both look up to see a guy in glasses eating popcorn, and two girls file in in front of him. I recognize them from Tanner’s human classes and the bonfire.

“Aw, you two…” the girl in front coos. The second girl gives us a look of adoration, and I quickly feel exposed.

Tanner gives me a sheepish smile as they sit next to him. “Uh, Kovi, these are my uh, friends.” He cranes his neck to them. “Friends, meet my uh…”

The one dude rolls his eyes. “You can say boyfriend,” he mutters.

The girl next to him shoves his shoulder. “Be nice!” she chides. “I’m Rachel, I remember you from the bonfire,” she says after she turns to me.

“Owen,” the dude says.

“And I’m Shonda, in case you forgot. I’m thrilled you two worked it out.” The girl closest to Tanner shakes his shoulder in happiness.

“It’s nice to meet you all.” I smile and wave, and I chat with Shonda for a few minutes more. We spend some time actually paying attention to the water polo game, like good students. I wrap my arm around Tanner most of the evening, and all feels right in the world.

When the clock is winding down, Tanner pulls me up. “I’m starving, and we’ve got this victory in the bag. Food anyone?”

“Sure,” Shonda says with a smile. “Unless you don’t want us coming?”

“We’d love to have you, the more the merrier,” I reply.

“You’re a keeper,” she says with a cheeky grin.

Tanner winces at his friend’s funny remark, and I squeeze his hand while the others laugh. “I’m down,” Rachel says. “Monster-rella sticks are calling my name. Come on, Owen.”

“In a minute…I suddenly find sports…fascinating…” Owen readjusts his glasses and stares at the players in the pool. I guess humans falling for monsters is a common occurrence this year.

“Alright, hurry it up, loverboy,” Rachel mutters, motioning him forward.

A minute later, the five of us begin the trek from the Athletics Center to the dining hall. I hold Tanner’s hand as we walk through the quad. My boyfriend laughs at some inside joke his friends bring up about Intro to Monsterkind. I can’t help but admire how relaxed Tanner is.

“What?” he asks with a smile.

“Nothing, I’m just…glad you found your people. Being surrounded by friendship looks good on you.”

He grins. “You know what looks even better on me?”

“Sunburn?” I ask with a smirk.

He shoves my shoulder and I laugh. “No, you doofus dryad. Try again,” he says with a smile.

“Um…a monster boyfriend like me?” I ask, blinking at him.

He kisses my cheek. “Bingo.”