Page 82 of A Dusk Of Stars

He shakes his head, but he’s still smiling as if this is all just so amusing to him. “No magic is the only way I can pull this off without leaving a trace. You have five minutes, not a second longer.”

It makes me put on a smug smile, when it hits me. “I don’t think so,” I start a little mockingly, “because even if I could do what you’re asking me to do, how do you plan on making Derek just open the door for you?”

“Why don’t you leave that to me?” he says with a mysterious wink.

I just blink at him for a second. It’s through gritted teeth that I say, “You’re crazy.”

“Do you want my help or not?” he asks with a shrug.

I blow out a frustrated breath. “Fine.”

“Perfect,” he says, “now go your separate way and position yourself near the stairs.”

I shake my head, but I do as he says.

I start aimlessly browsing the books in the Mind Magic section, the one closest to the stairs.

Fuck, I definitely will not be able to do this. So if I fail, should I just pretend I’d had a nervous breakdown or what?

But it doesn’t take long for me to hear his voice. “Derek, my man. How’s it going?”

My ears pricked up, it makes me grab a book, open it and lift it up high enough so I can keep my eyes on the stairs.

“Not exactly an exciting shift, I have to say,” I hear Derek reply with a smile.

“Yeah, I can imagine. Saw you up here and I was like, what would we do without people like you?”

Flattery?That’shis brilliant plan?

“Come on,” I hear Derek chuckle, definitelynotsounding like he minds, “it’s not a big deal.”

It makes me frown, the very thought of him pulling it off.

“You know,” Bane starts again, that contagious mysteriousness in his voice, “I’ve always wondered what goes on in there.”

“Yeah, I get that a lot,” Derek replies.

Well, he’s messed it up now, I think, already breathing a sigh of relief, because it’s over, right? If he goes any further, it’ll seemverysuspicious.

I think I hear him take a step closer to Derek. “I’m sure you do,” he says in an even more enigmatic voice. “But of course, you’d never put your integrity on the line for, what?” He pauses for a second before he adds, “Spending time alone with curious strangers?”

It makes my eyes round. He’s flirting with him? And I know Derek’s gay and it’s not like it’s just girls pining after Bane, but…It’s still aterribleidea.

Then I hear Derek almost start stuttering. “It’s not that I, um, I’venevermade an exception.”

“Really? How interesting,” Bane drawls.

“Yeah, and well, if you’re reallythatcurious…”

“I am.”

Quickly, I put the book back. Holy hell, he’s done it. I hold my breath and start climbing, as silently as I can, up the carpeted stairs, and I hear Derek let out a soft laugh and open the door.

My heart starts pounding like crazy.

“Let’s see what dangers lurk behind,” Bane lingers to say just as the two of them appear in my line of sight, and motions for Derek to lead the way, giving me a chance to dart through the door and glue myself to the wall to the right.

Bane closes the door behind him, his large frame hiding me in plain sight. I keep holding my breath. I see him leading Derek deeper into the room.

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