Page 56 of Bind Me

“Thanks for letting me know.” I hand him the key, and he takes it with a tight grin before scuttling away. Climbing into my car, my mind races with the warning left at my cabin.

Why would anyone threaten me? I see you. What the hell?

So, I’m being watched, but why? The strangest thing I’ve done recently is move in with Kaden, but he’s new in town, and I’m not sure if it’s a jealous partner. He seems the obsessed, stalker kind who doesn’t jump partners too much. So, it doesn’t feel like it’s related to him. My mind skips to my last few days and right back to the dock, where things felt odd.

The warning from that sailor woman, the words from those sailors I eavesdropped on… did someone see me doing it? But it’s not like I learned anything new… Unless it has to do with Asbesta. Except Kaden was adamant she wouldn’t dare touch me, seeing as I’m his fated mate.

Whoever it is, I’ll be ready. Until then, I’ll be extra diligent. I can only assume they don’t know where I’ve moved to if they attacked the cabin… at least for now.

I arrive at the bibliotheca soon enough, devouring an apple in the car before rushing into the three-story building. Made of stone, it appears as though it’s come out of Ancient Greece—spectacular with its huge wooden double front door and large glass windows.

Once out of the car, I can’t help but scan around me, a sense of paranoia skidding down my back.

Inside, I find out where the news article archives are and head up to the second floor, where it’s dead quiet. I dive into my research on northern Norway, curious about what those men were talking about by the dock with regard to more attacks. I scan physical articles bound together, each page covered in a clear, hard substance that gives off small sparks of magic. Of course, they’re protected from damage. I go through the folders I initially pulled off the shelves, looking for anything about attacks on ships and sailors out at sea.

Twenty minutes later and not a single article. I sigh. Perhaps I need to go back beyond ten years.

Up on my feet, I move from the tables against the wall to the wooden bookshelves packed with archive books from years upon years filled with articles. Evidently, I might be spending more time in the library at this rate.

I shove the books back on the shelf where they belong and run my fingers across the thick, leather-bound spines embossed with the dates of news articles. The smell up here is less like books and more musty. Shadows fill the aisles, and I doubt anyone comes up here, not even the librarians, based on the dust on some of the shelves. I move to several aisles farther back, where it’s darker, away from the steps that lead to the lower floors. I find older folders, from roughly fourteen years ago. With no real clue to follow, I randomly select a folder to begin with when the wooden floorboards creak.

I glance up to the end of the aisle, where a large figure stands, blocking out the light. Panic saws through me, thinking whoever went to the cabin found me. I shake so hard that the folder slips out of my grasp, hitting the floor near my feet.

I reach for my belt, not feeling my taser. Right, it’s in for repairs.

The brawly figure steps forward, and the light hits a gorgeous face.

“Fuck, Kaden, give a girl a heart attack!” Catching my breath, I release a deep exhale, still clutching the shelf.

He struts forward with a grin. “Why are you in a place like this? Don’t tell me my mermaid loves books.”

I glare at him. “Are you following me?”

He gives me one of his shining smiles that melts my knees. “Maybe I am. Or maybe I just happen to find the same interests intriguing.”

I roll my eyes. “Right. Because the ancient mansion with the hidden kraken cave wasn’t enough for you?”

Kaden steps closer, his presence filling the narrow aisle. “I’m a man of many interests. And right now, my main interest is you. After I saw you coming into the library in a mad rush, I was curious about what was going on.”

I cross my arms, trying to tamp down the heat rising in me. “Wait, you were already in here?”

He nods, those dark, stormy eyes admiring me, smiling. Then he stretches his body, his chest expanding with his intake of air, arms over his head, muscles bulging. Is he doing that on purpose to show off how buff he is?

“I followed to ensure you were safe.”

“So, you’ve been watching me this whole time?”

That devious nod again.

“Has anyone told you how creepy you can be?”

“Why, thank you.” He has one hand resting on a bookshelf, the other in the pocket of his black pants, one leg crossed over the other at the ankle, appearing right at home.

“Why are you really here?” I ask, trying my best not to show him how much my body yearns to lean in toward him, eager to press in against him. It’s ridiculous how out of control this fated-mate thing makes me feel.

“Research.”

“For what?”

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