Page 74 of Of Shadow and Moon

A soul that wanders is never enough.”

I closethe book with a soft thud, leaning back in my chair. My gaze drifts to the vaulted ceiling, my thoughts spiraling…again.

The magic described here is no ordinary magic. It’s oldand primal, the kind of power that reshapes worlds and leaves nothing but ash in its wake.

I feel like I’m on the edge of something, like whatever truth is hiding, is right beneath my grasp. But every time I think I’m close to a revelation, the ground crumbles beneath me.

The sound of footsteps pulls me from my thoughts, echoing softly against the stone floor. I glance up, and bite back a groan.

Ugh. I don’t have time for his hotness.

Tomas strides into the library like he owns the place, uncaring of the hungry eyes that follow his every step.

He’s shirtless, his skin glistening with the sheen of exertion. His shorts hang low on his hips, the fabric stopping scandalously short, leaving little to the imagination. His red eyes are sharp and unrelenting, and when they lock onto mine, it’s as if the world around us falls away.

How the fuck is this allowed? Does the sanctity of a library hold no grounds here when faced with a prince? No shirt, really?

I can’t look away. My mind screams at me to do something—glare, roll my eyes,anything—but I’m frozen, caught in the force of his gaze. His confidence is magnetic, pulling me in whether I like it or not.

Tomas smirks as he approaches, his movements unhurried, every step a calculated display of power. “Princess,” he drawls, his voice smooth and teasing. “Hard at work, I see.”

Tomas drags the chair closer, his body is close enough that I can smell his smoky scent—a scent that clings to him like a signature. His grin is wolfish, sharp around the edges, but his eyes are soft, like they’re daring me to lean in just a little closer, tricking me so he can bite me.

“Do you mind me joining you?” His voice is low, a velvet drawl that feels more like a caress than a question.

I should say I do mind. I should get up and walk away. But I can’t seem to summon the words, so I shake my head. Resisting these princes gets harder by the day.

He chuckles. It’s not loud, just a breath of sound, but it ripples through me, pooling somewhere low in my stomach. He rests his arm casually on the back of my chair, his fingers brushing just barely against my shoulder. The contact is electric, sending sparks racing across my skin. I try to focus on the book in front of me, but the words blur, meaningless shapes on the page.

Tomas notices.

“You know,” he says, his voice a little closer, his breath tickling my ear, “you’re not very good at pretending to ignore me.”

I snap the book shut, more out of instinct than intent, and twist to face him. He’s already leaning in, his expression infuriatingly cocky. He’s too close—so close I can count the flecks of silver in his red eyes.

“I’m not ignoring you,” I say, though the tremor in my voice betrays me.

“No?” His gaze dips, lingering on my lips for a heartbeat too long before dragging back up. “Good. Because I’d hate to think I wasn’t getting through to you.”

Isn’t this just common sense?Look away, Selestina. Don’t fall trap to the vampire prince.

I can’t look away though. It’s this damn pull that I feel to each of the princes. They aremyprey, not the other way around. I am supposed to know their every move and yet I can’t help unlearn everything I’ve ever been taught in the blink of a second when one of them pops up in front of me.It’s so frustrating. I’m not some simpering woman, who folds the second the hot guy shows up. Right?

I take a deep breath and meet his gaze. “Can you please put on a shirt? Some of us are actually trying to study.” I fold my arms over my chest, trying to pretend I’m unbothered by him.

His grin grows wider. “Am I distracting you, princesa?” He moves even closer to me, and I can feel his breath on my lips. “Do you need me to leave?” He says like a purr.

Rolling my eyes, I sneer, “Does that work on all of your fangirls?”

Tomas’ eyes widen before he bursts into a fit of laughter. For the first time since he crowded my space, I think I have made him speechless. I hear a scoff to my left and look up to meet a pair of flirty, obsessive, green eyes.

Chapter 43

Rhyker

Istep through the arched doorway, and I find my kitten exactly where I expect her to be in the library.

“Hello, Kitten,” I murmur as I approach, my voice low.

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