Page 8 of Fated In Forever (Nocturne Vampire Clan #4)

Even years of Silas’s brutal training couldn’t hide that flash of excitement in her eyes. Hell, yes. what were you thinking? This is a big castle. she scanned the room. But I’d like to see more of it than an office and the throne room that reminded me too much of Tyrell.

She wrinkled her nose at the name and another bolt of something went through my heart—that feeling of impending loss and aching emptiness I was about to become very familiar with.

How about a library? I asked. The biggest, oldest one you’ve ever seen?

Now that sounds like an interesting proposition.

My glamour worked better than even before, and we arrived unseen at the Shadowsend Library, where I took a moment to savor the familiar smell of old books and patchouli, one I hadn’t experienced in over two hundred years.

You were friends with the female who was the librarian? Her tiny hand was swallowed up by mine, but I couldn’t let her go.

Very good friends. Many of these books I found and brought to her for safekeeping. It had become a game, almost, to find the rarest books, no matter the risk, no matter the cost, just to see the look on Esme’s face when I presented each of my prizes to her.

I’m sorry she’s dead . Vicious squeezed my hand, then let me go as she moved to the closest stack, running her fingers over the spines. “I’m sorry, Malachi. Seeing how wonderful this place is…she must have been something.”

She really was.

I herded her through the stacks, down row after row of dusty old books and rolled up parchments, until we reached the only place I truly cared about in this library.

I paused before the double doors, carved with runes so ancient, the language hadn’t been spoken aloud for a millennium.

One thought unraveled the wards, along with some recent ones that held a decidedly male flavor.

The moment I opened those doors, the scent of parchment and ink washed over us, and Vicious let out a little sound of pleasure that had me smiling. It’s beautiful, isn’t it? These are some of the oldest books in the world, collected over the centuries, and kept in pristine condition.

But don’t touch anything , I warned her. Some of these books bite.

She curled her hand back with a wry smile. Somehow, I doubt that was a joke.

It wasn’t.

The Inner Sanctum was the heart of the library, the heart of this clan, perhaps the heart of our species. Esme had spent her entire life keeping all our species’ darkest secrets—some, I hoped—she’d taken to her grave.

Every wall was lined with glass fronted cabinets, most protected by a containment spell, the floor a patchwork of colorful, scattered rugs, an arched ceiling carved out of the solid granite, and the second we stepped inside, the fireplace flickered to life, and I nudged Evangeline closer to the heat.

Then I froze, the heated silence turning chilling as I sensed what I’d missed before. Beneath the warm scent of books and woodsmoke lurked the stench of death, of evil and dark magic.

Evangeline, stay right there, don’t take another step until I go over this room and make sure it’s safe.

Because this once-sanctuary was marked by violence. There was a scorch mark over the fireplace, faint gouges on the walls, slight burns in the carpets. And there, right there…my lungs expanded, but no air made it in, eyes staring and staring, as if I was incapable of looking away.

A small, dark stain marred the floor, the perfect size for a diminutive female with an iron will.

Someone had tried to clean it up—the burn of bleach and cleaners stung my nose, but nothing—nothing—could cover up the scent of a friend’s last moments.

The past rushed through me—our first meeting, which ended in a veiled threat to never cross paths again, then a softening of hostilities, and finally…

an odd friendship, bonding over books, of all things.

Besides Rhiannon and my brother, Esme might have been one of the only people in this world I trusted.

“Is…everything all right?” Vicious stared up at me with concern, “You look like you’ve seen a ghost, Malachi.”

I’m looking for a book, I deflected . I gave to Esme for safekeeping, which means it’s still here somewhere.

Okay. Vicious put her hands on her hips and scanned the shelves. What does this mysterious book look like?

Black cover, average size…a gold band around it, with a lock .

Sounds fancy . She slid me a look. Dare I ask what’s in this book?

Spells that will help us defeat Ravok, perhaps give us the answers to how he’s using those thralls the way he is.

A blatant lie, but necessary. The Book, also called the Wishrender, was perhaps the most dangerous relic I’d ever found, which was why it was here with Esme, and not at my castle in Nova Scotia, thank the gods.

Evie frowned. “I know you’re lying. You might be bigger, but all your tells are still there, including that thing you do with your eye.” She circled the room, craning her neck to get a better look at the top shelves. “You can tell me the truth, you know, I think we’re past keeping secrets.”

I don’t have any tells. I ran my hands over the fireplace, and pressed the release. When the panel popped open, the compartment was empty . I’m an expert at concealing my emotions. My expression is unreadable .

“Oh, you’d like to think that, wouldn’t you? Just so you know, your left eye twitches when you lie. And you always blink, afterwards. Twice.”

I certainly do not.

“Whatever. You certainly do, but I don’t want to argue. You’ll tell me about this book when you’re ready to.” She put her hands on her hips and sighed. “There are a lot of books here with black covers, Malachi. A lot .”

I frowned. How could Vicious read me so easily, when Ancients and kings and emperors had been completely clueless?

But she could. She always could, even that first time she’d drank from my wrist, and somehow, it was comforting, the fact that Evie knew me better than I knew myself. I could trust that.

I could trust her .

Because The Book’s not in here. Esme must have kept it somewhere private, possibly where she kept her personal items.

“You intend to snoop through a dead woman’s things?” She shook her head. “I don’t know if that constitutes an adventure, or a gross intrusion into her privacy.”

Not her personal space, Esme had an office, out in the main section of the library.

I breached the doors, let her pass, then closed them, returning the wards to their pervious configuration.

Which I only saw once, when the library was still in …

I shook my head, deciding the truth was too strange for Evie to believe.

I saw her office a very long time ago, but I think it’s this way.

Something guided me through the stacks, a tickled at the nape of my neck, a sureness in my gut, until finally, there was a small door, unmarked, but…

Well, what do you know, Brendan was right . Thank you, Esme . All around the door, golden magic glimmered, like sprinkles of star dust left behind. Or a trail of breadcrumbs I was meant to find. I pushed the door open and rubbed my brow.

This is an even bigger mess than Brendan’s office. Still, it should be easy enough to find what I’m looking for.

Should have been, yet it was half an hour later when I uncovered the safe, five minutes to pick the lock, another ten to unravel Esme’s protective spell. But even after I emptied the entire safe….no book.

It has to be here. I was running out of time. Brendan would come looking for us, and I’d never get another chance. I’d either be a monster, or dead, and the longer I was in this form, the surer I was that Brendan didn’t stand a chance of untangling us.

“Could she have hidden it in plain sight?” Evie asked, gesturing at the pile of very dangerous books. “Like with your glamour? I mean, the safe is the most obvious hiding place and I’ve searched every drawer and box, and these are the only books in here.”

I’d never been particularly skilled at revealing spells, especially not one cast by someone as powerful as Esme, but in my new form—like everything else—the magic worked effortlessly, washing over the furniture and walls, even the ceiling, revealing several surprising secrets.

One, a calendar featuring several unclothed, well-endowed satyrs frolicking naked in a field with some well satisfied nymphs. Grapes were involved, along with a liberal amount of oil.

And two, The Book, placed in a depression in the wall, just behind Evie.

“Are those...satyrs?” She asked, bending her head to the side. “And are they really…”

Here, I got it. I pulled The Book out of the hole, but when my fingers touched the cover, power thrummed through the contact like a lightning strike. A small golden key strung on a chain clattered down onto the desk and I scooped that up, too.

For a moment, all I could do was stare at them, clutched in my paws, black talons curled over the glossy binding as I held them out to Evie. I need you to hold onto these for me. I gave her a rueful smile. My shadows don’t come with pockets, unfortunately.

“You’re funny.” She said, looping the key and chain over her head, then pocketing the book, and zipping it securely into her coat pocket. “Please tell me this isn’t worth like a million dollars. Because if that’s the case, I’m definitely not qualified to be in charge.”

It’s only worth something to me. Sentimental value.

“Liar.” She said matter of factly, and we left the office, but not without a last look at the grinning satyrs on that calendar. “Esme was a wild woman.” Was all she said, before grasping my hand.

“Okay, we got your book, we’ve had our adventure, and you’ve had a half hand job, half blow job. What else is on the agenda for today?”

I snorted, shaking my head before I could stop myself, then swung her up in my arms, just to feel her against me. Just a few more hours, ten thousand seconds, half as many breaths, and she would no longer be mine, but as long as she was, I wasn’t fucking letting her go.