I try to pull my hand from Jace’s, but his grip tightens slightly. His eyes narrow on my hand as the gold slowly ebbs from them, his amber eyes reappearing.

He suddenly releases me, a sheepish grin spreading across his face as he drags a hand down the back of his neck, his eyes never leaving mine. “Rhys—“

I walk around the desk and toward Isaac, pulling my eyes from Jace and his smoldering gaze.

It wasn’t the time for this. What was I even thinking? I didn't know anything about the guy except his name. How could I be his mate?

I glance quickly back to Jace, his stare still on me and just as intense.

I try to shake the faint feeling of warmth still caressing my fingers from his hold on me as we make our way over to Mirin and the group.

Lucien watches on from the side as we get closer, his eyes meeting mine with a knowing gaze. A dark glint in them as they peruse over me, his lips tilting seductively to one side.

I turn away, the conversation from the group catching my ear as it becomes louder.

It seemed to be a heated discussion between two people.

We make our way to Mirin, the small witch sitting happily off to the side, clutching her favorite brew and watching the argument as if she were watching some soap opera.

“What’s happening?” questions Isaac, his eyes narrowed toward the two raising their voices.

“Not sure…but it’s entertainment, I can’t complain,” she answers, completely engrossed in the scene before us.

The first aggressor is a brunette woman with a tight ballerina bun. She wears a white suit jacket and matching pencil skirt, now decorated with small blood stains and frayed edges from the attack.

The man opposite her was clearly a hybrid, maybe part elf with forest green tones running through his hair. He looked the younger of the two, but with supes, you can never really tell. He wears an embroidered ivory and green waistcoat and a white silk shirt underneath. The left sleeve of the shirt is ripped apart, blood trickling down his arm from whatever battle he fought in the attack. He clutches his injured arm as he looks at the woman standing across from him, a furious glare in his eyes.

If I can gather anything from the irate look on his face, they’re not talking about happy memories.

“We have to go back and protect the Records! The Third Sector holds all the Records from the North-West Regions. Dolph, the Third Sector Librarian, Mr. Ellonz is still there!” Her face stiffens as those words settle on her.

“We barely made it out alive.” The young elf grits through his teeth.

“Our Librarian Mateo is seriously injured after risking his life to get everyone he could safely to our Vault for protection.” He looks at the unconscious man that Cole carried earlier.

Tears filling his eyes, he furrows his brows, anger beginning to rise once again.