Page 70 of A House of Fangs & Deceit

Before I could get up to make the tea, the door to the library flew open, causing both Alaric and me to jump in our chairs.

“Put them over there!” came a crisp command. The voice belonged to a Moroi with vibrant red hair that was shaved on the sides but was kept just long enough on top to be swept back.

“Damn, Roth.” I grinned, rose from my seat, and walked over to stand next to the new arrival. Meanwhile, more House Harker staff entered the library, carrying boxes that they carefully stacked on one of the tables. “I see you’re still as bossy as ever.”

Sharp hazel eyes looked at me from a face with even sharper cheekbones and a strong jawline. The attraction I’d felt towards them at Drudonia came back full force, but I tamped it down, remembering how throughly they had rebuffed me when we were younger. After everything that had happened with Demetri and House Laurent, I didn’t think my ego could handle being stepped on again. Especially by Roth and their often acerbic tongue.

“These books are centuries old, Samara,” they said in that typical patronizing tone of theirs that at once felt so familiar. “Usually, I wouldn’t have even entertained the idea of moving them from their safe location, but I felt it was necessary to do so.”

I snorted. “Glad to see you haven’t changed at all.”

“On the contrary,”—Roth raised their chin as they surveyed the library, lips twisting in distaste, before finally giving me a chastising look—“I’ve gotten smarter, which apparently you have as well. Heard you dumped that loser Laurent boy. I honestly lost a lot of respect for you when I learned you were willingly marrying him.”

They turned to fully face me while I stood there with my mouth slightly agape.

Roth tilted their head, narrowing their eyes. “Did you even talk to him before agreeing to marry him? You could have had more compelling conversations with a doorknob,” they sneered, shaking their head.

Alaric made a choking noise that distinctly sounded like he was coughing to cover up his laugh. My head snapped toward him, and he ducked his face behind his hands.

Just wait. I narrowed my eyes.Sooner or later, you’ll find yourself in Roth’s crosshairs too, and I’ll be the one laughing then.

I rubbed my forehead as I recalled the finer aspects of Roth’s personality. Mainly that they had zero filter and often felt the need to constantly tell you how dumb you were, and then proceeded to list all the reasons why to be ‘helpful’ so that you could better yourself and not waste so much time in the future.

Rynn had gotten along with Roth great, but Cali and I had wanted to murder them and hide their body in the library stacks on more than one occasion. We’d even selected a couple of ideal locations that were rarely visited.

“Thank you for your commentary on my failed political marriage, Roth,” I said flatly. “Really, it’s super appreciated.”

They flashed a serpentine smile. “You’re welcome.”

The choking sound from Alaric grew louder, and I prayed to the moon for patience as the staff carried in the last of the boxes.

“Mind telling me what all of this is?” I gestured towards the table that was now completely covered. “When I asked you to come and help with a research project, I didn’t think you’d be moving into House Harker.”

“Or stealing the entire library from Drudonia,” Alaric muttered as he snagged one of the newly brought in books off the stack and started flipping through it.

“I’m not moving in,” Roth snapped before stalking over to Alaric and ripping the book out of his hands.

He reached out to grab another book, and Roth smacked his hand away. Alaric glared at them murderously, but when Roth didn’t back down, he crossed his arms and looked away. Ha! Not so fun when Roth has their sights on you, is it, Mr. Know-it-all?

Alaric caught me smirking at him and narrowed his eyes in response.

“I knew the books you’d have here would be a waste of time,” Roth said matter-of-factly, and I couldn’t help but take mild offense to that.

House Harker’s library wasn’t as impressive as Drudonia, but it was still one of the best ones amongst the Houses.

Roth failed to notice my frown, which wasn’t all that surprising, and barreled on. “All of these books are ones that I have carefully curated for Drudonia, therefore, they did not argue with me when I said I would be borrowing them from a bit.”

“Probably because you murdered them all in their sleep,” I whispered, eyes wide in mock horror. Alaric caught my eye, and his lips twitched in amusement.

Roth rolled their eyes. My whisper hadn’t been all that quiet. “Still think you’re funny, I see.”

“Yes,” I said without a hint of modesty.

“Why are you so confident that we won’t find anything in our books?” Alaric asked, his tone more curious than hostile.

Roth sighed impatiently. “Because that symbol you referenced is Unseelie, and all of your books are either about the Seelie Fae or were written by the Seelie Fae about the Unseelie Fae, which makes them incredibly biased.” They rested a hand on top of the boxes they’d brought with them. “All of these are about the Unseelie, granted some written by the Seelie, but most are in the Unseelie language.”

Alaric and I both perked up with interest.

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