Chapter 40
Niamh
Istood near the back of the library, returning books that had just been dropped off by one of the local schoolteachers.
We needed more books, and I wasn’t sure how we’d get them, but I had a few ideas that involved traveling to nearby kingdoms and initiating a trade system between our libraries.
From what I could tell, nothing like that had ever been done before, and I thought it was about time we started sharing knowledge instead of keeping it for ourselves.
The more we worked together, the easier it would be to defeat the brotherhood and keep them from gatekeeping our magic.
I slid in one of the books, and it popped back out, flying past me and situating itself on the opposite shelf.
“Oh no.” I shook my finger at it. “Stop trying to move yourself.” I grabbed it and put it back. “We have system of organization so you can be found and read. Don’t you want that?”
The book vibrated, and I took that as a yes.
“Well, if you keep moving yourself to the wrong place, then that won’t happen because no one will be able to find you. You’re also ruining the system Morton and I are implementing.”
Some of these books had such strong personalities, and I was getting to know them more every day.
Morton slithered along the floor, raising the upper half of his body. “I’m having trouble with the War of Godwitches and Earth. It keeps trying to pick fights with the other books, and when I ate it, it gave me a horrible stomachache.”
I tapped my chin. “Maybe put that one behind the counter on the bookshelf. Separate it from the other books for a while and see if that makes it behave.”
My gaze caught on Wolfe’s form as he stepped into the aisle behind Morton.
“Why are your cheeks getting all pink like that—” Morton stopped when Wolfe cleared his throat, and the bookwyrm turned his head. “Ah, I see.”
It had been over a week since Wolfe and I had returned, and I’d been so busy with the library, and Wolfe so busy with his new position in the council, that neither of us had been able to see each other much.
Wolfe strode toward me, lifting my chin and pressing a kiss to my lips that set my body on fire.
“Oh, here we go.” Morton huffed behind us, and Wolfe pulled away as we turned to the little bookwyrm.
“Do you have a problem?”
Morton glared at Wolfe as I tried to suppress my smile. “Just don’t go fornicating”—Wolfe choked—“among the books. It’s completely inappropriate.”
“The library was closed and you weren’t supposed to be here,” I said, trying to suppress my laughter as Wolfe’s eyebrows furrowed, and the memories of that night flooded me.
How he’d lifted me up on the front desk, pushed up my skirt, and stuck his face right between my legs. It had been glorious—until Morton interrupted, and Wolfe just about threw him out the window. Neither had forgiven the other for what they both considered unconscionable actions.
Morton was sure that Wolfe was corrupting me, even though I told him I was the one who’d started kissing Wolfe.
Morton then shoved the end of his tail into one of his ears and started singing loudly, effectively ending the conversation.
Love and sex were two of the many things Morton did not understand about humans.
His shaggy eyebrows furrowed. “Well, I was here, and I saw many things I’ll never be able to unsee.” A shudder ran through his body as he turned and slithered away, mumbling under his breath.
Once he disappeared, Wolfe turned to me, yanking me into him and smothering my mouth with his.
Heat filled the area between my legs, and all thoughts of Morton fled as Wolfe pushed me up against the bookshelf.
I threaded my fingers through his hair and inhaled his musty, salty scent, reveling in this new life, this new reality where I could kiss Rafe “Wolfe” Wolfgang wherever and whenever I wanted to.
One of the books pushed into my back, and I broke our kiss off to step to the side. “Oops. I guess the book didn’t like me leaning against it.”
Wolfe let out what I could only describe as a growl.
“It’s probably for the best.” I patted his chest. “Don’t want Morton coming back here and slithering in on another inappropriate situation.
“I don’t give a damn what Morton sees,” he said.
“Are you ever going to like him?” I asked.
Wolfe grimaced. “I don’t like anyone.” He grabbed my hips and drew me to him. “Except you.”
“Well, I suppose that’s okay.” I looked up at him. “Is that why you came, or are you here to check out a book?”
He pressed a kiss to my nose. “I came to let you know I won’t be available for dinner tonight.”
“Oh?” I asked.
He swallowed. “I’m . . . going to my mother’s.”
My heart swelled. “She’s going to be so happy. Your whole family is.”
“Yeah.” He scratched his neck. “It will be nice.”
“You don’t have to be nervous.” My voice softened. “They’re going to welcome you back with open arms.”
“What about the other thing I have to tell them?” he said in a low voice.
Right. It had been a week since we’d discovered that Lor was still alive, and Wolfe had yet to tell his family. It seemed like he’d wanted to process his feelings about it first, and I understood. All I could do was assure him that I’d be by his side no matter what.
“Maybe you don’t have to tell them everything. Just that he’s alive. Do you want me to come?” I asked.
He shook his head. “I should do this alone.” His gaze turned feral, his voice low. “But I wouldn’t object to coming home to you naked in my bed.”
My cheeks flushed. I still wasn’t used to him talking this way to me. He had always been so short, so reserved, but I couldn’t deny that I loved hearing his innermost thoughts, loved the way my blood sang at his words.
“I think I can arrange that.” I took his hand and put it between my legs, and his eyes turned black. “This is what you have to look forward to.”
He let out a feral growl that almost made me consider yanking him into the nearby closet.
Morton cleared his throat, and Wolfe snatched his hand back from under my dress. “You two cannot help yourselves, can you? I’ve eaten so many romance books, and I always thought the lusting and trysts were a little over-the-top, but you’ve proven me wrong.”
My cheeks turned red. “We do have some control,” I mumbled as Wolfe’s lips twitched.
“Not from what I can see.”
“Do you need something, Morton?” Wolfe asked, an edge to his voice.
“Well, I would like some help at the checkout line,” he said pointedly, staring at me.
“Yes, I’ll be right there.”
“And don’t you have a council meeting to attend or something?” he asked Wolfe.
“He’s just taken the last few days off.” I patted his arm. “He deserves a little break.”
“I’ve definitely been enjoying it,” Wolfe said, gaze dipping to my lips, which only made my cheeks turn redder.
“Stop encouraging him,” I whispered out of the side of my mouth.
“You two are insufferable.” Morton shook his head. “I simply do not understand people at all.”
“I better go get ready for dinner.” Wolfe leaned down and pressed a swift kiss to my lips. “I’ll see you later tonight?”
He walked away, and I stared after him, unable to help the wide smile on my face.
Once he disappeared, I finished putting the books away and walked toward the front desk, where Morton was checking out a book to a father and his little girl.
They left, the library now empty, and I looked around, sighing, so completely content in a way I never thought I’d be.
Except for one thing. I’d passed the six-week mark, and I was still here.
But I also still didn’t have my key, and it hadn’t escaped me that at any moment, the castle could disappear me.
Something pinched my arm, and I gasped.
“What’s wrong?” Morton slithered to the edge of the desk, stretching his neck.
“I think there’s a bug in here or something!” I swatted the air, the sting on my arm intensifying. “Ow!” I slapped my forearm, then flipped my palm over to look for the bug.
“I don’t think it’s a bug.” Morton pointed his tail at my arm, and I looked down, gasping as ink scrawled across my skin.
“Is that . . .”
“It is,” Morton said. “You’re getting your key!”
I watched in fascination as the full golden key formed, flourishes and swirls on the body of it that made it decorative. I realized it didn’t look like Wolfe’s or Cillian’s or Ceri’s. It was my own unique design.
My eyes filled with tears as the key fully formed, the pain no longer bothering me, the shiny golden ink thick. “It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” I said through tears.
Morton slithered from the desk onto my hand and up my arm. “Welcome home, Niamh.”