CHAPTER SIX

I enter the Library and walk toward Isaac, who is talking to Mirin. She seems very frustrated with the arrival of the people from the other Libraries. She side-eyes the people passing her, an agitated look on her face as he’s talking. She’s none too happy about sharing her space. I’m glad he’s the one filling her in.

I look over to the group of people settling down at the tables nearer to the bookshelves. The view is blocked the further I reach the reception desk by a couple of the large bookshelves around them.

I head to the large wooden desk, carefully stepping over the small charred mess from earlier, making a mental note to clean that up later.

I rummage through the desk drawers, combing through the old documents and small artifact fragments left around by Isaiah, trying to find something of use, maybe an old communication device or magical transmitter.

Hope dwindles as I crouch further down on my knees, trying to reach the last case here, an old filing box. Pushed to the very back, under the desk, something Mirin should have cataloged last month.

Dust pours from the small box as I pull it toward me. I cough, brushing the dust away, and forage through the box quickly, only old parchments and small relic fragments, nothing of importance.

“Rhys?”

I bang my head on the desk at the sudden call from behind me. Damn, that hurt.

I turn around, holding my head, still crouching, to see Jace standing behind me, a worried look on his face.

“Are you okay? I didn’t mean to scare you.” A frown tugs at his full lips, a hesitant look in his eyes. “I just wanted to see if you needed any help.”

“It’s fine.” I push the old dusty box to the back again, catching my finger on its corner. A small droplet of blood forms as I pull myself up. A headache and a papercut, great.

A hand suddenly reaches out, taking my cut finger into its own.

Jace’s eyes dilate, his nostrils flare, as a deep guttural “Mate” falls from his lips.

Mate?

Did I hear wrong? Was he talking to me? That wasn’t possible. We only just met. How could I be his mate? I mean, I know that’s not how this whole fated mate’s thing worked…but he had to be wrong.

His eyes meet mine, a golden glow to them as they stare toward me, such surety in them.

I shake my head as he leans closer, his nose dipping nearer as he takes my scent in, a low growl rumbling from his chest as my heart rate picks up a beat. His scent wafts toward me, a heavy woodsy scent with a deep musky undertone.

Isaac clears his throat, standing on the other side of the reception desk. Eyebrows raised, with a questioning look toward my hand in Jace’s.

“We should focus on organizing everyone and reinforcing our defenses, Rhys.” He gives Jace a pointed look.