Chapter 11 #2
Now the smile curls up on one side, like it’s taking over his face without his permission. My stomach does a little flip.
Encouraged, I let some of my questions out. “Can you tell me more about it? Who curates it? How many texts does it have? Is there a large repository?”
“You’ll find out soon. Almost there now,” he says. “But I will tell you this—it’s in a stronghold of the Wardens. Stay by my side, don’t wander.”
“The Wardens?”
“It’s the group I work for. Remember I told you it’s my job to contain anomalous magic? The Wardens are an organization dedicated to containing magic and preventing harm. I’m a field agent. The organization is huge, though I work alone.”
“Like a lone wolf,” I say, as I get a fleeting flash of him—working solo on his missions, living in his warehouse, reporting back rarely, refusing partnerships. I try to home in on the flash, but it’s gone too quickly. The descriptor fits him, though.
His gaze sharpens on me. “Too right, Librarian.”
“So, tell me everything about the Wardens.”
“So inquisitive,” he chuckles, turning the truck onto a long, gravel drive, shrouded by a forest of ancient, overgrown trees.
The tires crunch loudly on the loose stone.
I crane my neck, trying to see where we’re going, but the forest is all-encompassing, blocking any view of what lies beyond.
Then, as we round a final bend, the trees fall away. “See for yourself.”
Rising on the hilltop like a sleeping giant is a mansion, sprawling and imposing and beautiful.
Dark stone, ivy-clad walls, and a steeply pitched roof hint at centuries of history.
Gothic spires pierce the sky, and arched windows, deep-set with iron-wrought detailing, seem to watch us as we approach.
A sense of gravity emanates from it, as if the house itself holds some kind of power.
Tucked away behind the dense old-growth forest, it feels less like a building and more like a secret, waiting to be discovered.
I cannot wait to see what its private library looks like.
Kade pulls up to the front of the building and we get out of the truck.
The front door, a massive oak double door that looks like it belongs on a castle, stands as an imposing barrier to entry.
But Kade creaks it open, leading me through into a surprisingly muted foyer.
No grand chandeliers or sweeping staircases here, only understated elegance, and hallways leading off into the depths of the mansion.
No doubt where the Warden’s secret activities take place, whatever they are.
“No security?” I whisper, feeling it would be wrong to disturb the quietude.
“None that you’ll be able to see,” Kade replies at normal volume, ushering me through a hallway on the left. A few more turns past branching hallways and dozens of closed doors, until he stops in front of a large door. His voice is full of indulgence as he asks, “You ready?”
For once, I am at a loss for questions. I can only nod.
Then he pushes open the door.
And I forget how to breathe.
I’m on the precipice of a sight more magnificent than I could have dreamed.
The chamber expands out ahead of me, grandeur unfolding in every direction.
Towering shelves, carved from rich, gleaming wood, rise impossibly high, disappearing into a vaulted ceiling that’s painted like the night sky, with constellations that actually twinkle and shine.
The shelves curve around the room, creating a vast, circular space that seems to stretch into infinity.
Books. So many books. Thousands upon thousands of volumes line the shelves, their spines a riot of colors.
Every wall, every alcove, stacked with texts, filled with knowledge.
The library hums with the low frequency of thousands of sleeping minds.
Rolling ladders, marvelously tall and sophisticated, hug the curved shelves, ready to carry patrons to every hidden volume and beyond, to the very stars painted on the ceiling.
Sunlight filters through high, arched stained-glass windows, streaming down in shafts of ruby, gold, and sapphire, illuminating intricate carvings on the shelf pillars.
Comfortable, worn leather armchairs and rich velvet chaises are scattered throughout, inviting knowledge seekers to lose themselves in the texts.
The air smells of old paper, leather, and crisp joy.
And that’s not all—I can see the chamber winding away at the edges, more discoveries to be found in unseen nooks and alcoves.
I stand frozen on the edge of the entrance, utterly spellbound, lost in time, until I feel a gentle push at the small of my back.
“Go on,” Kade murmurs in my ear, and I swear it feels sensual. A shiver that has nothing to do with the library runs through me.
Awestruck, I step inside.
It’s a library from my childhood fairy tales, made real.
The sheer abundance of knowledge, the quiet reverence of the space, the promise of hidden knowledge and forgotten truths waiting within these pages .
. . My chest swells with wonder, bringing tears to my eyes.
This isn’t just a collection; it’s a priceless treasure, worth more than all the wealth in the world.
I could lose myself in these stacks and never want to be found.
Eyes shining, I turn back to Kade. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me,” he says, his voice rough, already turning away. “It’s a resource. Now, let’s see if we can find anything useful.”
The rebuke stings, and I know my uninhibited exuberance is probably too much for him.
He’s already heading down into an alcove to inspect some of the books, putting distance between us.
But nothing can dim my joy right now, in this incredible place that’s more magical than any of the actual magic I’ve experienced.
I wander further into the spacious chamber, my head tilted back, taking in the dizzying height of the shelves.
Then I trail around edges, touching the books lightly as I go, reading the titles.
I try to contain my shock at titles like “Vampire Dietary Restrictions” or “A Legal Guide to the Mortal Plane for Celestials.” Oh, there is so much I don’t know.
My Cognitive Resonance whispers louder here, a chorus of voices, each book a potential conversation.
This is my area of expertise. This is how I will make a difference. With books and research and knowledge. I close my eyes, ready to focus my magic on my questions, ready to reveal the secrets these books hold.
“Hate to interrupt,” comes a playful voice, “but can I help you find anything?”
I give a startled jerk and snap my eyes open, my reverie interrupted.
Standing directly in front of me is a man, tall and lean, who holds himself with a predatory grace that, strangely, reminds me of Kade.
His hair is jet black, falling in artful waves around a handsome face dominated by dark blue eyes, which are assessing me with an almost unnerving intensity.
A relaxed, open-collared shirt stretches across strong shoulders, hinting at an athletic physique beneath.
He’s smiling, a slow, confident curve of his lips.
“Not every day someone so captivating graces these halls.” His voice drips with easy charm, inviting and flirtatious. “Usually just the same old crowd.”
“Um. Who are you?” I stammer, flustered by his sudden appearance and his close proximity. I glance instinctively toward where Kade disappeared, but he’s nowhere in sight. I’m alone with this . . . Warden?
“I’m the Keeper,” he answers, a roguish glint in his eyes.
He sidles beside me and throws one arm around my shoulder with a casual ease, the other sweeping above us in a broad gesture at the entirety of the library.
“I’m in charge of this place, and I make sure people find what they’re looking for.
Except the Fae section, that’s off-limits until their territorial dispute ends. ”
“Fae section . . .”
“You got it.” He squeezes me a little closer. “My name’s Sebastian, but you can call me Seb. Do you have a name, or should I keep calling you ‘captivating’?”
“I’m Alanna,” I manage. I’m still pulled against his side, which isn’t entirely unpleasant, I’ll admit. “So, you’re the librarian here?”
“In a manner of speaking. And I must say, I’ve never seen anyone quite so taken with my . . . books.” He grins and his charm intensifies, a palpable current between us.
My cheeks warm, despite myself. After days of Kade’s terseness, feeling desperate for so much as a brush of his fingers, Seb’s open flirtation is a stark contrast. I don’t quite trust it—and I can’t help but wish I was currently squished up against Kade’s side—but it’s nice to feel desirable, even for a moment.
“I’m a librarian, too,” I say, not sure how I feel about the breathiness of my voice.
“Sebastian!” Kade barks, cutting through the air, making both Seb and me jump.
He emerges from the shadows of an adjacent alcove, a thick, antique scroll clutched in one hand, his eyes narrowed, fixed on Seb.
His posture is rigid, every line of his body coiled with a dangerous warning.
The air around him seems to crackle with suppressed energy.
Seb’s smile doesn’t falter, though I feel a loosening of his hand on my shoulder. “Kade. Always a pleasure. Just introducing myself to my lovely new guest. We already have so much in common.”
Kade emits a low growl at this, stepping closer, looming over us both. He looks like he’s about to fight Seb, and I don’t really understand why.
“Alanna,” Kade says, and I am surprised to hear him use my name. It’s always “Librarian” this and “Librarian” that—not that I mind, I actually sort of like the nickname. He holds out a hand to me, as though he needs to save me from Seb’s embrace.
Fixing him with a searching look, but trusting him all the same, I take the proffered hand. He pulls me out of Seb’s orbit, encircling me with one huge arm, pressing my back flush against his chest. I swallow, immediately flushing with renewed heat. This is the closest he’s voluntarily been to me.
“She’s here to work. Not to be distracted.” His stare is cold and hard.
“What are you doing?” I whisper. “He was going to help me find the right books.”
“You don’t need him,” Kade replies, refusing to take his eyes off Seb, his stance around me unremittingly possessive.
His free hand slides up the base of my neck until his large palm settles at the nape, heavy and almost proprietary.
The heat from his touch travels through me, all the way down to my toes.
Seb looks at us and inhales sharply. Then his eyes widen, some kind of sudden understanding dawning on his face.
“Oh. Oh Kade, holy shit. Hey, I didn’t mean anything by it, okay?” Gone is the charm now, replaced by a look of intense, almost respectful, caution. He’s backing away, hands raised in a swift, placating gesture.
Kade’s arm around me doesn’t loosen, but the tension in his shoulders eases by a fraction. “Mm,” he grunts, sounding dangerously displeased.
Seb offers a tight, apologetic smile. “Right. Well, I’ll just . . . be over here, then. Plenty of books to oversee, lots to do.” He gives a small, deferential nod to Kade, then turns and skulks away, disappearing into another distant alcove as silently as he appeared.
I watch him go, my mind reeling from the rapid shift in the atmosphere. And as I replay his expression in my head, a flash of knowing hits me—Seb broke a rule. Something . . . dangerous? But the flash is gone just as quickly, leaving me wondering: what rule?
I turn my head to look up at Kade. “What was that all about? Why did he suddenly get so weird? And why did you grab me like that? Is there a danger I should know about?” My voice is a low whisper, a mix of confusion and a lingering, heady thrill from being held so tightly against him.
“Yes,” he says, still watching Seb’s retreating form. Then he finally shifts, looking at me, and the raw edge softens slightly. “I mean, no. He’s not dangerous. But you’re here for a reason. He was distracting you.”
“That didn’t feel like the reaction someone would have to just a ‘distraction’.” I call him out, glaring up at him. He’s still holding me, like he’s forgotten that he hates being close.
His grip tightens for a fraction of a second, then he releases me, stepping back.
“My reactions are . . . calibrated to the threat, Librarian. And some threats, when it comes to our kind, are handled instinctively. He was overstepping.” At the last word, the rumbling growl creeps back into his voice.
Narrowing my eyes, I plant my hands on my hips. “Well who’s going to help me find what I’m looking for now that you’ve scared him off? Plus, I wanted to ask him more about the Wardens.”
“You don’t need to ask him about the Wardens,” Kade says, his voice flat. “You can ask me. Later.” He gestures around the immense library. “And you don’t need him to find anything you’re looking for. Use your Cognitive Resonance. This is the perfect opportunity for practice.”
I huff with annoyance, but he’s right.
He prowls around me, before coming to a stop behind me. Before I can turn around to face him, he settles his huge hands over my shoulders. “Close your eyes.”
It’s so intimate and I don’t understand why he’s willingly touching me now. It must be something to do with Seb, the flirtation. But he’s right, Seb was a distraction.
His voice is low, caressing, and his breath tickles my ear. “Are you focusing? Good.”
I am absolutely not focusing, not with him doing this, making heat pool in my lower stomach.
But, oblivious to my plight, he continues, “We’re looking for anything on echo-beasts. Their origins, weaknesses, how they’re contained. Anything that might give us an edge.”
Eyes closed, I try to ignore the feeling of Kade’s hands on me, awareness of him zipping through my body like an electric current.
As always, with Kade touching me, my magic feels amplified.
I can use that. I force my focus to the books and turn the magic toward seeking answers.
But the sheer volume of knowledge here is a roaring firehose, not a gentle stream.
But I’m accustomed to that. Every day in the city is a cacophony of noise, of movement, things to look at, smells—an assault on the senses. And every day, I have to work to filter through it all, to block out the extra and focus only on what’s important to me. So I can do it now, too.
My breathing slows as I guide the magic outward, listening to the whispers of the tomes. Seeking, probing, letting the Cognitive Resonance parse the information and highlight the materials we need.