Page 17

16

Bo

“You wouldn’t want me as an employee.” I blurt the response when Mor’s question registers.

She stares up at me with a curious slant to her brow.

“Why? Are you planning on destroying books? Being mean to patrons? Not showing up for shifts?”

“No.” I hold up my hand that isn’t cradling the black cat, as if that’ll prove my lack of destructive urges.

“Of course not. None of those things.”

“Then explain.”

Lay myself bare, more like.

Mor doesn’t understand that asking me to explain why I’m the worst employee for a library means revealing my vulnerabilities.

But if anyone deserves the truth, it’s her.

Especially because I physically can’t tell her how I ended up in her statue garden.

This I can at least discuss, no matter how much it makes my gut twist.

“I … I can’t read.”

Her brows dip.

“At all?”

“Some.” I look anywhere but at the intelligent witch.

“But slowly. And it gives me headaches.”

“Headaches?”

I nod and brace myself for her to press.

I get the sense that this curious witch wants to.

Instead, Mor redirects.

“You wouldn’t have to do a lot of reading. Just enough to sort and shelve the books. Mostly, you’d cover the front desk while I do other tasks and helped patrons with their research. Help straighten up the place. Maybe move heavy things. Dust. Point people in the right direction.”

She’s still offering?

“Your patrons wouldn’t want me to be the one helping them.”

I’m a monster.

But she knew that before telling me about the position.

“You can just tell me you wouldn’t like working in a library, Bo. I won’t be offended.” Her smile is rueful.

“Ame struggled to tell me, too, but I understand the work isn’t for everyone.”

“That’s not it.”

If it wasn’t for the fact that this building cursed me, I’d find the place cozy.

How Mor has arranged the place is so different from the dark house Dimitri Novac lived in.

And the idea of having a profession where I can spend the day inside with a kind witch nearby instead of working in a cold garage, where customers get mad at how much they’re charged, is so tempting.

“You don’t need to make up a job for me.”

“It’s not made up, Bo. And selfishly, I’d like you close by. I’m going to help you navigate this world until you don’t need me anymore. What do you say? Do you want the job?”

I frown.

“I don’t need your charity.”

Mor sighs.

“First off, could you not say charity like it’s a bad thing? People need help sometimes, and they shouldn’t feel shame, asking for it.”

My neck heats at her words; I’m embarrassed that I never thought about it like that.

“Second, I really do need help. There’s maintenance, cleaning, greeting patrons, repairing books. Yes, the searching for items requires reading, but I can handle that. I’ll have more time to do that if you’re covering all those extra tasks.” She crosses her arms and stares up at me.

“I’ll give you a week to decide if you want the job. That’s it, Bo. I can’t wait any longer because I need help around here. If you’re not it, then I’ll start posting Help Wanted signs around town.”

She’s serious.

The librarian actually wants me to work here even though my reading skills are elementary at best.

But those tasks she just listed off, I could do those.

Take care of the house she keeps all her precious treasures in.

Even if it freaks me out.

“I’ll take it.”

Her red brows pop up, and then a slow smile blooms over her lovely face.

I have to clear my throat a few times so I don’t choke on my own breath.

“Fantastic. I’ll get a hiring contract written up for you to sign.”

Hell—

“And I’ll read it to you, or you can ask someone else you trust to read it over before you sign it. Maybe Griffith? He said you all are friends. I won’t be offended.”

Griffith said that?

I rub my suddenly warm chest.

“That’s … he is. My friend. But he doesn’t need to read it. I trust you.”

Mor blinks her big green eyes, and I can’t read the emotion in them.

I hope it’s not pity.

“Thank you,” she says eventually.

“For trusting me.” Then the witch reaches out and claims one of my hands, clasping it between hers.

“It means a lot.”

I shuffle my feet, sure my entire body has gone red with a blush.

“Do you have a place to stay?”

Is your bed an option?

I don’t blurt that totally inappropriate question.

It’s just that it was the comfiest bed I’d ever slept in.

“I think Levi … maybe …” Gods, I split in the middle of the night on the only housing option I had.

Who knows if the monster will give me a second chance?

“Well, I know this place makes you uncomfortable.” She waves around the library.

“But I have an RV in storage. Not doing anything but collecting dust. I can park it out front for you. There’s an electric and sewage hookup and everything.”

“Seriously?”

“Seriously. I’d be happy to know it’s getting some use.” She tilts her head and reroutes again.

“Do you have friends in town? Other than Griffith?”

After a pause, I shake my head.

“How would you feel about hanging out with Jack and Ophelia? Ophelia is my brother Broderick’s mate.”

As I resume petting the purring cat, I gnaw on the inside of my cheek.

“Why them?”

“They went through something similar to what you did. I thought it might be helpful for you to talk to people you could relate to.”

Mor mentioned that before.

How I wasn’t the first one who needed help starting over after a curse.

“Yeah, I guess.”

“Great. I’ll set it up.”

Why does it feel like the witch just planned a playdate for me?

Hell, she just arranged my entire life.

And … I’m not mad about it.