Page 36 of Rejected Mate

He didn’t even consider my request to see my grandfather. Not that he heard me. He was drunk on wine and… lust.

Another shiver ran down my back. I pinched my legs together and took a sip of cold water, half wishing I could pour it over my head to cool myself down.

“Violet,” I said, turning towards her. “What do you know about vampire and shifter history?”

She shrugged and pushed a hand across her mouth to knock away cookie crumbs. “Probably the same stuff as you. The Battle of 1947, where all those shifters died. The Attack on the River’s Edge Compound where we fought back. The Treaty of 1989 that stopped the fighting and called a truce that’s lasted until now. All old boring stuff.”

I picked at my plate as I considered. “Have you heard anything about vampires and shifters being tied together? Like… some sort of prophecy?”

“Prophecy? No. What are you talking about?”

“Nothing,” I said, standing up. “I think I’m drunker than I originally thought. I’m going to take a shower and change.”

Under the hot water, I tried to piece more of the information I’d learned together, but it was a puzzle with only half the pieces. No matter how I tried, nothing seemed to fit. I wanted to dismiss it as nonsense, but Ares had been so upset. It had to be more than a drunk vampire’s ravings.

Once I’d toweled off and dressed, I came out to find Maurica gathering up the ruined dress I’d left on the floor outside the bathroom.

“Sorry about that,” I said, gesturing to the rip. “I stepped on the hem.”

“It’s alright, miss. We have a seamstress.”

She turned to go.

“Maurica, wait. Can I ask you something?”

She paused and waited patiently, but I could tell being a maid was far from her life’s dream. I wondered what Maurica did when she wasn’t catering to Violet and me.

I hated to bother her, but she was the only vampire I could talk to. “Is there a library in the castle?”

She opened her mouth to answer, but a male voice from the doorway cut her off.

“There is a library,” Callan said, stepping into the room like he owned it, “but you would need a vampire escort to get in. Pity you don’t have one of those.” The corners of his mouth turned up slyly as he shook out his shoulder-length hair.

“Callan.”

“Wren,” he leaned on the doorframe, regarding me casually. “I went looking for you.”

“Did you?”

He gazed at his nails before meeting my eyes. “But I heard you were… preoccupied.”

I could feel my neck flushing red. “I went for a walk.”

Callan snorted. “Would you like to go for another? The library is boring, but I am sure we can make it more interesting.” One eyebrow raised flirtatiously.

Being with Callan would certainly complicate things, but I did want to get into that library.

“Sure,” I said, faking enthusiasm. “Let’s go.”

Together, we left my room and walked down the halls I was familiar with. However, a few turns later, we were in another part of the castle I’d never been to. How big was this place and what other secrets did it hold?

Callan stopped at an ornate door and opened it, revealing a dark and dusty-smelling room the size of a large living room. “Ladies first.”

Carefully, I stepped inside.

On the wall, I found a light switch and flicked it on. Dim lamps flickered to life, revealing a small but substantial library. About a dozen shelves lined the walls, each holding a collection of ancient-looking books. The titles etched in archaic, golden scrawl were difficult to read. A heavy wood table and chair sat in the center of the room with four chairs around it, a perfect spot to hunker down and get some reading done.

It was exactly what I needed, except for one thing: Callan.

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