Page 39 of One Last Wish

“Alora, that’s not even funny. Blacking out isn’t a joking matter. You could have been seriously hurt. What if you’d been walking down a flight of stairs or something?”

“Oh, lighten up,” I grinned, nudging him. “You’re as bad as Evelyn. I. Am. Fine.” Darce gave me his soft, beautiful smile. “I’m guessing from the hospital yesterday with you touching my arm, I can touch you if there is a barrier between us?” I wasn’t going to press the matter any further. Hopefully, in time, Darce might explain, but I wanted to make sure I knew his boundaries.

“Yeah, it’s only skin-on-skin contact we have an issue with.” It didn't stop me from gazing at his lips, though. I only hoped that one day, I might learn what they tasted like. “You’re okay with all this? With the friendship and no skin-on-skin contact?”

“For the time being, yes. All I know is that I like having you around.”

“Does blacking out make you gain more common sense?” he teased, his mouth twisting into a crooked grin. “I’m a big fan of this more responsible, Alora.”

“I know I can punch you in the arm now. I’d watch it if I were you.” Darce let out a loud laugh. Watching him this way was addictive. I wanted to see more of this side of him. Carefree, and oh, so beguiling.

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MALCOLM TRIED TO MAKEme go back home when I arrived, but once Darce explained that he’d look after me for the day, Malcolm felt better.

Theo was off today, which I was glad for. “Did you want to finish getting upstairs ready?” Darce asked once we’d opened up. Ned and Daisy were at the cashier’s desk and Alice was wandering the floor, helping the customers. “We'll have to bring the painted dragon eggs from your apartment tomorrow.”

“Yeah, I might get a cab. It will be easier to transport them that way.” I stretched, grabbing the master set of keys. “I need to grab the fabric I left in the secret, secure room behind the bookshelf.”

“The what?” Darce frowned.

“Oh, it’s where we keep all the expensive, first edition and rare books. I like to call it the secret room because you can lock yourself in. It’s a bit like a panic room, but full of books.”

“Why haven’t I seen this room yet? It sounds exciting.”

“Come on, I’ll show you now.” Making my way towards the back of the room, Darce followed me, his eyes widening as I pulled the bookshelf away to reveal the secret entrance. “Some of the books here are really rare.” I punched the code in and twisted the key a few moments later. It was quite a small space, with a small oak table and a couple of matching chairs. The room had to be kept a certain temperature to protect the books, so the door always closed by itself.

“You can’t touch any of these books without gloves if they're not in their casing.”

“Is that afirstedition ofRomeo and Juliet?” Darce gulped, gazing over the titles.

“Yep, printed in 1597. It’s worth around two million dollars. Only serious collectors come in here. Most people have no idea this room even exists. It has CCTV, and only Malcolm knows the codes to the cases the rare books are locked in.”

“I’m impressed! This is quite a collection.” Darce perused the shelves, looking at all the rare books.

“I have a favourite one,” I muttered, putting on the special gloves that enabled me to take the book off the shelf. “The Book of Elder World. No one really understands where it came from. It has to be at least eight hundred years old, but reads like a fantasy novel.” Darce was motionless, watching me open the book. “It has this wonderful idea abouteverythingbeingVeils, but only certain beings with unnatural power can pass through them. About wars that have been raging since the dawn of time, and Guardians that control everything from the land we stand on to the air we breathe. How amazing is that?”

“That is quite the fantasy story.” Darce almost had to force his words out. “When did Bookends acquire that book?”

“Eighty years ago. It was gifted by a Priestess whose signature no one could make out.”

“Interesting.” Darce pulled at the collar on his shirt uncomfortably. The room could get a little claustrophobic when you entered for the first time.

“Are you okay? We can head out if the room is getting to you.”

“Yeah, air would be good.” Quickly, I put the book back on its stand and opened the door.

“Don’t like confined spaces, huh?” I asked him once we were back outside.

“Yeah, something like that.” He rubbed his knuckles as if he was trying to wipe something off. “I might...take a five minute break outside. Don’t start putting the fabric up without me. I’ll be back in a minute.”

Realising I’d actually forgotten to get the fabric from the panic room, I headed back in quickly. I was making my way out of the room when Darce came back.

“Do you feel better after getting some air?”

“Yeah, much better. Thanks. Now, let's get this place looking like a dragon lair.”

I had to admit, Darce and I did a great job. Malcolm was so impressed, he took pictures to show our head office. We hadn’t even brought the dragon eggs to put in place yet. Bookends was an independent store, but was owned by a high-end book company. Coming up with marketing ideas like this kept the store in business and all of us with a job. I was pretty damn proud of myself.

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