Page 17 of Fated In Forever
I squeezed my eyes closed. Between the frantic beats of my heart was the fierceness in every word, the firm resolve backing them up, and I had never loved anyone more than I did Evangeline Silverwood in this moment. I loved every piece of her, from her odd blue eyes to her fierce heart, to her unflinching loyalty—Vicious was the perfect mate I never deserved.
Yes.I tightened my grip.You know I have fantasies of you, down on your knees with my cock in your mouth, but never like this, Vicious.
There’s more where that came from, you know.She gazed at me with such rapt curiosity, not an ounce of fear or repulsion, and for some reason, I found that incredibly sexy, as well as reassuring.Let’s make a deal.
Her fingers slowly walked their way up my chest.Once this is over, you let me live out just one teensy weensy fantasy I might not have known I had yesterday?
I caught her by the wrist, though I couldn’t help smiling.With luck, in an hour, you’ll never see me in this form again.
Well, you’re no fun at all.
I’m all kinds of fun, but like you said, I’d never fit. And because I could never stand to hurt you…we shouldn’t ever venture down that road.I dipped my head and kissed her again, the tip of my long tongue slipping between her lips, as I imagined what she tasted like right now. Her arousal smelled thick as honey, and twice as sweet and…
I had to get my fucking head back in the game.
Vicious. I know it’s been a long day, but would you be up for a little adventure?
Even years of Silas’s brutal training couldn’t hide that flash of excitement in her eyes.Hell, yes. what were you thinking? This is a big castle.she scanned the room.But I’d like to see more of it than an office and the throne room that reminded me too much of Tyrell.
She wrinkled her nose at the name and another bolt of something went through my heart—that feeling of impending loss and aching emptiness I was about to become very familiar with.
How about a library?I asked.The biggest, oldest one you’ve ever seen?
Now that sounds like an interesting proposition.
My glamour worked better than even before, and we arrived unseen at the Shadowsend Library, where I took a moment to savor the familiar smell of old books and patchouli, one I hadn’t experienced in over two hundred years.
You were friends with the female who was the librarian?Her tiny hand was swallowed up by mine, but I couldn’t let her go.
Very good friends. Many of these books I found and broughtto her for safekeeping.It had become a game, almost, to find the rarest books, no matter the risk, no matter the cost, just to see the look on Esme’s face when I presented each of my prizes to her.
I’m sorry she’s dead. Vicious squeezed my hand, then let me go as she moved to the closest stack, running her fingers over the spines. “I’m sorry, Malachi. Seeing how wonderful this place is…she must have been something.”
She really was.
I herded her through the stacks, down row after row of dusty old books and rolled up parchments, until we reached the only place I truly cared about in this library. I paused before the double doors, carved with runes so ancient, the language hadn’t been spoken aloud for a millennium. One thought unraveled the wards, along with some recent ones that held a decidedly male flavor.
The moment I opened those doors, the scent of parchment and ink washed over us, and Vicious let out a little sound of pleasure that had me smiling.It’s beautiful, isn’t it? These are some of the oldest books in the world, collected over the centuries, and kept in pristine condition.
But don’t touch anything, I warned her.Some of these books bite.
She curled her hand back with a wry smile.Somehow, I doubt that was a joke.
It wasn’t.
The Inner Sanctum was the heart of the library, the heart of this clan, perhaps the heart of our species. Esme had spent her entire life keeping all our species’ darkest secrets—some, I hoped—she’d taken to her grave.
Every wall was lined with glass fronted cabinets, most protected by a containment spell, the floor a patchwork of colorful, scattered rugs, an arched ceiling carved out of thesolid granite, and the second we stepped inside, the fireplace flickered to life, and I nudged Evangeline closer to the heat.
Then I froze, the heated silence turning chilling as I sensed what I’d missed before. Beneath the warm scent of books and woodsmoke lurked the stench of death, of evil and dark magic.
Evangeline, stay right there, don’t take another step until I go over this room and make sure it’s safe.
Because this once-sanctuary was marked by violence. There was a scorch mark over the fireplace, faint gouges on the walls, slight burns in the carpets. And there, right there…my lungs expanded, but no air made it in, eyes staring and staring, as if I was incapable of looking away.
A small, dark stain marred the floor, the perfect size for a diminutive female with an iron will.
Someone had tried to clean it up—the burn of bleach and cleaners stung my nose, but nothing—nothing—could cover up the scent of a friend’s last moments. The past rushed through me—our first meeting, which ended in a veiled threat to never cross paths again, then a softening of hostilities, and finally…an odd friendship, bonding over books, of all things.
