Neelo paused, fingers lingering on a title they’d never read before: The Witch of Haastmouth. A tingle shot through them as they selected the midnight blue book from the tall shelf, and flicked through the pages.

The momentary reprieve disappeared at the sound of the door opening.

They rushed down the stacks, hoping to disappear amongst the rows, but as they turned the corner, swift footsteps followed. They managed to climb up four steps of a rolling ladder before Talhan Catullus turned the corner and they froze.

“I knew I’d find you here.” He smirked as his honeyed eyes landed upon them. Crossing his arms and leaning into the shelf, he asked, “Were you about to hide from me on top of that bookshelf?”

Neelo’s voice dripped with sarcasm as they gave him a scornful look. “I was dusting.”

Talhan’s smile disappeared into something more contemplative, and Neelo’s pulse began to race.

“Neelo,” Talhan whispered, making their stomach clench at the sound of their name on his lips. “I—”

“She’ll forget in the morning,” Neelo cut him off. Bristling, they took a further step down the ladder and met Talhan’s eyes. Those eyes . . . like pools of amber—the sun just after dawn.

Neelo hated that look in his eyes as his lips parted and he said, “Oh?”

“Don’t worry. I’m not going to let her tie you to me like that,” Neelo reassured him, gripping the rail of the ladder tighter. “I won’t let her do that to you.”

Talhan took another step closer, his hand perching on the shelf beside Neelo’s waist. “And what if I want to be tied to you?”

Heart stuttering, they shook their head. “What you’d be getting yourself into . . . you don’t understand what that means.”

“Then show me what it means.” His low gravelly voice made their toes curl in their boots. “What if I come visit Saxbridge? I could stay for the summer and—”

“In the heat?” Neelo scoffed. “You Easterners melt into a puddle in the Southern summer. It’s the worst time to—”

“Neelo,” Talhan said their name again, like a chant, like a prayer.

“Okay, yes.” They sighed, folding their arms tightly across their chest. “Come visit. In the summer.” They rolled their eyes. “Then you’ll understand why this is a bad idea.”

Talhan smirked, shuffling closer still. He lifted his hand and for a moment, Neelo thought he might touch their black velvet jacket, but his hand dropped lower and he plucked the book from their hands.

“Have you managed to find one you haven’t yet read?” he asked, smoothing his large calloused hand over the linen-bound tome. Gods, the way he touched that cover, as if that little witch story was worthy of such reverence. It made Neelo’s own palms buzz as if they could still feel the texture of the fabric beneath their own fingertips.