Destin POV
I am lying on the floor of the library, tossing a book about magical mates into the air and catching it. About sixty other books surround me, all open to various pages. My brain hurts from trying to soak in the information. There is no way I can remember it all. I will have to take some of the books with me.
A very grumpy Gray Creature is flitting through the stacks, cussing at me under her breath. Apparently, corrupted Fae Creatures can be reformed into bitchy librarians. She drops down beside me and tries to pick up one of the books.
"Not that one," I snap at her.
Her black eyes bore into mine, and she bares pointed teeth at me. I am sure she would look terrifying to anyone else, but my Arabella was a Gray Creature. There is little this one can do to intimidate me, that Arabella hadn't already done. She is going to have to work harder than that.
"Which books are you done with?" She hisses through her teeth.
"I don't know," I tell her for the fiftieth time. "They all say the same thing, but they all have different information. I don't know which will be helpful."
"Perhaps if you would let me help you," she chastises me. "Then we could find a solution together. There isn't a book in this library I haven't read."
I have been avoiding asking her for help. First of all, I don't need help, but more importantly, I don't know how much the werewolf world wants other creatures to know. Macy and Nyx knowing is one thing, but I know how rumors spread in the Immortal Realm. The werewolf plight would be everywhere in a few hours.
"I am fine," I reply, but she doesn't take the hint to leave.
Instead, she sits down beside me and looks at one of the open books. "Werewolf mate bonds…" Her voice trails off.
I try to rip the book out of her hands, but she is fast. Before I can get to my feet, she is already hovering above me, reading the pages of the book that I left open. I expect her to laugh or taunt me while she hovers, but her face is locked onto the pages. Her black lips move slightly as she reads the words. I am tempted to fly up after her, but I have probably caused her enough stress for the day.
She looks down at me and tosses me the book. "I know your mate is a werewolf. We all do."
I roll my eyes in frustration. Of course they do. "Yes, well. That isn't exactly why I am here."
She lowers herself to the ground and looks at me curiously. I attempt to put up mental blocks to keep her from reading my mind, but I am rusty. There is no need for such magic when I am in the Human Realm. No one can read my mind there.
I feel her walking through my memories, and I do my best to force her out. Goddess, she is strong. Sweat beads on my skin as I work to keep her out of the more important memories, but she is relentless. My teeth grind together, and I am sure they will break under the pressure. I do not know how much more I can take.
"Enough, Onyx," a man says from the doorway.
She leaves my mind willingly and tosses another book in my direction. "This isn't the one you need."
"Be a peach and get our guest the correct book," the man says again.
I turn and see Edward standing behind me. He looks amused, and I hate him for it. "How did you know I was here?" It is the nicest thing I can manage to say.
"Nyx saw you," he replies simply. "Macy wanted to come, but she is dealing with my mother. So, I told her I would see what has brought you back to your home."
"This is not my home," I remind him.
He studies his fingernails as if he is uninterested. "Of course. Why are you here?"
I gesture to the books scattered on the library floor. "Isn't it obvious? I am studying."
He steps into my circle of books and looks down at the pages. He lets out a sigh. "You are here for Wren."
"Why else would I come back to this fucking place?" I snap at him. "There is nothing here for me but depressing memories."
"I am sorry," he replies, and it sounds genuine. "I don't like you, and you obviously don't like me. But you are my sister's mate. We should probably learn to get along."
"Did Macy make you say that?" I snort.
He chuckles along with me. "In so many words. But she isn't wrong. We have never been a close family unit like Macy's family was. She misses it, and if I can make that happen for her, then I will. If that starts with being nice to you, then I guess I will have to do it."
His thumbs are hooked into his jeans pockets, and he is shuffling from foot to foot. I think this mother fucker is being sincere.
"What about your Dad?" I ask the real question. "Do you think he will ever come around?"
"No," Edward laughs, but at least he is being honest. "But Mom will make him fake it."
Something hard hits me in the side of the head, and I spin to see Onyx smiling at me. A black book with gold filigree is at my feet. "That is the book you need."
I am almost scared to bend down and pick it up. She might choose to attack me again when my back is turned. She flutters closer to me and begins picking up the mess I made.
"I should help you with that," I mutter as a peace offering.
"No," she sighs. "You need to go home to your mate. Plus, you will do it wrong anyway."
Edward is hiding a laugh behind a well-placed hand. If Onyx notices, she doesn't care. She is too busy putting her library back in order. I scoop the book off the ground and glance at the title. The Arcane Bond: A Study of Dark Magic and Soulmate Tethers.
A lump forms in the back of my throat. Just holding this book feels wrong. It is like the magic within me is trying to fight against me as I flip the cover open.
"Let none who value their soul unseal this tome. For within lies the binding language of the Gray Creatures- those who walked the shadow between life and magic. The Fae King Roland outlawed the rituals herein. To read is to remember. To perform is to be claimed."
"I think you are mistaken," I call after Onyx. "This is about dark magic."
"I am not mistaken," she replies. "You will have to find a witch."
"What kind of witch?" I shout as she disappears into the stacks.
She peeks her head around the corner and smiles. It is an unnerving sight. "A Gray Creature."