Chapter 63 #2
Alright, I’ll wait, I replied, returning to the bathroom.
I eyed the small glass jars full of various oils—for face, skin, and hair.
But considering Von had grown suspicious of those as well, I decided not to investigate them any further.
With my luck, the brooding male would probably walk in at the exact moment I pulled the stopper off, and I’d be caught red-handed.
Next, I’d find myself strewn over his lap, his hand branding my bottom.
I smiled at the thought.
Something was seriously wrong with me.
Ah! Soren screeched inside my head, his small paws covering his eyes. I did not need to see that!
Mortified, I blinked. You saw? I seethed.
All of it, Soren flicked his head, as if he was trying to get the image out of his memory.
I rubbed my temple and took a deep breath, letting it out. Sorry about that.
It’s okay, he answered.
For a minute, we stood there awkwardly.
Finally, he said, Ryker wants to know what our plan is next .
I have to talk to Artemesia about that. We’re going to need somewhere safe to stay, as it might take me a while to figure out how to power the energy stone, especially if I don’t get that journal. Also, we are going to have to get more of them, as we’ll all need one to get home.
We might be able to look after that part right now, Soren replied as he scrubbed at his mouse chin. There are a lot of energy stones here. The antique shops are full of them. Apparently, travel stones are rare, but we might be able to find some more.
That sounds like a good plan, I answered, nodding. But please ensure you all stay safe.
We will. Same to you guys.
The door opened and closed. I glanced over my shoulder, finding my dark, broody mate standing there, a wicked grin on his lips as he took me in.
I better go , Soren said, and before I could say another word, he scurried back to his hole, probably afraid he’d see something else he didn’t want to.
Sighing, I faced Von. “Well, how did it go?”
“Well enough,” he answered, offering no more, something I was thankful for. Like Soren, I didn’t want to know.
“That’s good,” I replied, walking toward him. I draped my arms over his neck. “Is it okay if we resume the conversation from before you left?”
He wrapped his arms around my lower back. “I would love to, but there’s something we need to do first.”
“What?” I asked .
“I want to go back to that room Naia took us to earlier, the private one in the library. I know she’s hiding something there.”
“But the room is guarded.”
He winked at me. “I’ll take care of them.”
I blew out a breath of air, thinking it over.
“Well?” he asked, a brow raised in challenge.
“Alright,” I said, nodding. “Let me change and then we can go.”
The library was quiet tonight, so quiet one could hear a speck of dust land.
Earlier that day, it had been full of so many people, but now there were hardly any, most of whom were just a handful of guards patrolling the aisles.
Von and I kept to the shadows as we made our way down a narrow row of shelves.
He pressed his back against the shelving and snuck his head around the corner, looking to see if anyone was coming.
Swiftly, he jerked back, his eyes meeting mine. He flicked them toward the way we had come.
Message received.
I nodded and headed back that way, Von following behind me.
When we made it to the end of the row, I peeked around the shelf, scanning the hallway. I didn’t see anyone.
I glanced back at Von, jerking my head to the left .
On silent feet, we advanced, slowly weaving toward the back of the library, where Naia’s coveted private room was. When we were close to it, I placed my back against the wall and looked around the corner.
Oddly enough, there were . . . no guards.
It didn’t sit well with me. It was strange for the room to be left unguarded, considering all the valuable items inside. I found it even more weird that the rest of the library had guards patrolling it, so why not Naia’s most treasured room?
Well? Von mouthed the word, raising a brow, the one with the slit in it.
“No one is there,” I whispered back, my words barely audible.
He gave a small nod, his sleek black hair glinting in the dull candlelight. The feather he usually wore— my feather—wasn’t in his hair tonight. Although he didn’t always wear it, I felt proud when he did. The same could be said for his eyes and the vibrancy of the green in them.
At some point, I’d become just as possessive over my mate as he was over me.
Focus, dumbass , I scolded myself.
My attention shifted back to the room. I debated what to do.
What if it was protected in another way, or what if—
Von slipped his hand in mine and pulled me around the corner, straight for the room.
“Von, wait,” I whispered as he rushed up to the double doors, dragging me with him.
“We don’t have time,” he urged. “Someone’s coming. ”
“What?” I breathed, glancing over my shoulder to see if I could detect movement behind us, but my inferior mortal-acting ears heard nothing.
Von opened the door and pulled me inside. That’s when I noticed it, my feather wasn’t the only thing he wasn’t wearing tonight. His wedding ring was also missing.
The bond gave a desperate tug— away from him.
My eyes widened—
“You’re not Von,” I hissed, rearing back.
“No, I’m not,” he said, turning to face me. “Hello, Moonbeam. It’s so good to see you.”