Page 25 of Wolf Mate

He raised one and smiled. “I hope you like vanilla latte. The barista in the student center said most girls enjoy it.”

“I don’t discriminate as long as it’s not decaf.” I eagerly took the cup, not only because of the drink but also because I wanted to hurry through the pleasantries. “So, what did you find out?”

“Something that will blow your mind.” He lifted his cup as if to toast me then took a sip.

My blood fizzed. I needed him to tell me, and fast.

But when he opened his mouth, fear strangled me. What if I didn’t like what he had to say?

Before I could tell him to wait, the words were out of his mouth.

CHAPTER EIGHT

“Ilooked through one of the oldest witch’sBook of Twilightand found references to someone with magic like yours.”

My hands shook. I was at odds with myself, afraid that whatever I learned might make things worse for me. “Book of Twilight?” I needed to focus and make sure I understood what he told me and exactly how he’d gotten the information.

“Oh.” He grimaced. “Right. Sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel like I was talking gibberish. ABook of Twilightis what coven members call their journals. It contains stories of their lives, their spells and dreams, and the wisdom they gained during their lifetime. If the book isn’t destroyed upon their death, it’s handed over to their coven, and it becomes coven knowledge. If a book survives ten generations, the individual coven is required to turn it over to the supreme priestess. Once that happens, if the supreme priestess determines it has information that should be shared with all covens, it’s stored here at EEU, and students can learn about that history as part of their education. Of course, any witch or warlock tied to the supreme priestess is allowed to visit the library and research the books as well.”

My brain had gone hazy. That was one hell of an answer for what I’d thought was a simple question. “Why here?”

“Because the supreme priestess lives nearby, and she’s on the university board.” He shrugged. “She’s responsible for the books’ safekeeping since they’re no longer allowed to be taken off campus.”

“Is there a guard?” That seemed like a costly venture, but hell, the United States government did similar things, and the documents and books were more secure than here.

He chuckled. “No, she spelled the books. They literally can’t be taken past the perimeter, and if someone activates the perimeter spell, the witches and warlocks on campus are notified with a warning zap. The person wouldn’t get far with a book, given where the library is located.”

My head tilted. “The books aren’t kept in the Wright Library?”

“And let humans stumble upon them?” He arched a brow.

“Where, then?”

Clutching his cup to his chest, he blinked. “I’d love to tell you, but I can’t. You’re not part of the organization.”

“Organization?” I snorted. “Here I thought you called it a coven.” Maybe that was what the collective covens were called.

Instead of replying to my coven comment, he took another drink and avoided my gaze.

Great. Clearly, I’d said something he hadn’t wanted me to. The time had come to change the subject. I blew out a breath and steeled myself. “What did you learn?”

He licked a bit of foam from his bottom lip and stepped toward me. He whispered, “I need to use magic for a minute, so stay close.” He lifted his free hand and held it out as he walked around me, murmuring, “Keep the conversation we’re having away from nearby ears.” The air shimmered where his fingertips touched and remained until the circle completed itself. He stopped where he’d been standing before.

My jaw dropped. I glanced through whatever spell he’d created and saw a faint gleam in the air, but I had to actively search for it to notice. “How did you change the air?”

“Since you have magic within you, you have the ability to see it.” He stepped closer to me and ran a hand down my cheek. “To any human, it’ll look like we’re having an intimate conversation they can’t hear.”

“What about supernaturals?” At this point, I knew there had to be a reason.

“They’ll know something is up but won’t risk ruining the spell. What I have to tell you is something you shouldn’t share withanyone. Even I will only share it with people I trust because, if what I suspect is true, you’re something rare.”

Being rare was never a good thing. People felt threatened by something different, someone they didn’t fully understand. I’d dealt with that for most of my life. “I won’t, but we have to come up with an explanation for the others who were there last night. I’m sure they want to know what I am too.”

He nodded. “You’re right, but I think I have a workaround.”

Slade had been nicer to me than anyone else. If I was going to trust someone, he made the most sense. Even though I had a weird attraction to Raffe, he was all growly and douchey. He’d saved me twice, maybe three times, depending on who’d been watching me that first time in the woods. But he wouldn’t hesitate to share whatever information he had with his best friends and father. They were a pack, and with my knowledge of wolves, I understood what that meant. They were a family unit. “Okay.” I blew out a breath. “Let’s have it.”

I clutched my cup so hard the lid lifted on one side. My blood fizzed as if it were rising as well, and I could sense the excitement rolling off Slade. Whatever he had to say, his eagerness had my bloodwhooshingin my ears.

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