Page 82 of From Frost to Flame

Chapter Eighteen

Lex

Lex sat between twoshelves of books as he waited for Silas to come for him. The cool floor had a thin layer of blue dust that he traced his finger through, making doodles to pass the time while his family sat at his side and continued their questions about his rekindled romance.

“So, he hears your thoughts?” Mora asked, tilting her head. “That’s a little invasive.”

“He doesn’t do it all the time. I can usually tell when it’s happening. I think.”

“And you feel each other’s feelings?” Julian asked slowly.

“I don’t think I do it as well as him, but yes.” He closed his eyes and focused on the foreign sensation in his body. “Like now, I can tell he’s panicked but trying hard not to be frenzied. It’s nice to have insight since he doesn’t show his emotions a lot.”

“Lex, this is odd. I don’t like you this enmeshed with a man,” Mora admitted, taking Julian’s hand in hers. “You’re sure you’re okay with all this?”

“Positive. I know you worry. I know you both put me back together when it ended, but I want to be with him.” He smiled to himself, reveling in the certainty. “I feel right with him. I feel safe. I—I love him.”

“Can’t argue with that, I suppose.” Julian sighed and leaned back on the bookshelf. “But what’s this about him living with us? Was what Castor said true?”

“Actually, yes. I wanted to ask about him possibly moving in with us. I know he’s still growing on you, but he’s working on the possessive thing, even if it’s hard for him. Plus, wouldn’t this be better than me moving away?” He looked at them pleadingly. “I really think we can all have a pleasant life together and, if you hate him being there, we’ll figure something else out.”

Mora opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted when a low rumble filled the room as the floor vibrated. The books trembled on their shelves, and sand spilled through the ceiling from the floors above.

“What is that?” she asked, squinting up the aisle. The vibrating stopped abruptly as if reacting to her voice.

“I don’t know.” Lex got to his feet and limped to the edge of the aisle. He peered to his right at the endless rows of bookshelves lit by the golden torches. Then, he looked to his left and his heart stopped.

Deep in the library, past the books and cloaked in shadow, two large, white, angled eyes stared back at him.

“What is it?” Julian whispered from behind him.

Lex looked past the eyes at a massive serpent body covered in deep blue scales curled up under itself. Its tail was made of shiny blue boulders. “We have to go.”

He took a slow step back, and the snake’s eyes sharpened. Lex went still again like a rabbit under the gaze of a fox. The snake shook its tail, and a menacing rattle filled the library. His sprained ankle throbbed as he stood as still as possible.

Shit. Silas, if you can hear me, we’re in trouble.

He attempted another slow step, and the snake fanned out its neck. The library floor rumbled as it rapidly unfurled its endless body.

“Run!” Lex called as he dashed back into the aisle and gripped Julian’s hand. Mora didn’t hesitate to teleport them between the two other shelves. In the distance theyheard the bookcases where they just stood crash to the ground as the serpent shot forward, snapping his jaws.

“What the hell was that?” Mora asked, clutching Julian’s arm.

“It’s a cobra, rattlesnake, monster thing,” Lex sputtered. “It’s massive.”

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