“Exactly. Only me, you, and those four knew about it.” He gives me a dark look.

No…he’s wrong. There was one other. The person who overheard me and the guys, the one that told the Library group…and that could’ve been Gregori.

Maybe he did this before he came to attack me in the basement?

“No, Isaac. It’s not them. It could’ve been Gre—”

“Rhys,” Isaac cuts me off, his voice turning cold. “You don't even know them.” His tone is sharper and clipped, his eye darker and void of emotion. “You can’t put your trust blindly in people just because you want to fuck them.” His words cut like a blade, never before hearing such anger from him.

His face stiffens, a slight look of confusion etched across his features before he shakes it off. Returning with a regretful look toward me.

“Rhys…I’m sorry, I don’t know why I…I didn't mean that.” He sighs, his face dropping and shoulders hunching forward, his eyes full of regret as he glances toward me.

“I haven't been getting much sleep lately and not feeling myself, and now all this.” He gestures around us, exhaustion taking over his face. “But that’s no excuse.”

Looking closer, he had large dark circles under his eyes, and his face was much paler than usual. He needed to get some rest.

“I should never have taken it out on you.” His face softens slightly as he stares at me, a pained expression in his eyes. I give him a small nod. I can see he’s exhausted and regretting his words. I could always kick his ass after he got some rest.

“I just don't want anything happening to you.” His brows scrunch together before he looks away. He clears his throat, not used to displaying such tender emotions.

I give him a small smile, and just as I’m about to open my mouth, we hear a creak on the steps below.

I look down to see Jace making his way up the stairs from the basement floor.

Isaac stirs beside me. “I’ll check the spells and security around the building….” He turns back to me, a stiff look on his face.

“Just be careful,” he whispers as he passes me, heading toward the first floor.

Jace reaches me, an anxious look in his eyes. “Can we talk…in private?”

I nod and point to the small staff room on the second floor, nearest us. An uneasy look in his eyes as he heads to the room.

Great, more things to worry about.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

The staff room is a small room on the second floor, so Mirin can take her breaks away from the Library and relax. One side of the room is a small side kitchen and dining area, and on the other is a larger table we use for small meetings. Not that we have many.

Jace heads over toward the large table. He turns around toward me as I enter the room.

My thoughts wander as I watch him fidget nervously, his eyes flickering between me and the floor. What could he possibly be so worried over? I knew from the mate bond how he felt about me. So affectionate and warm, I couldn’t question those feelings, so what was it?