Page 1 of Bound By Honey

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Dragon

Sagesippedonherwhite chocolate lavender latte, listening to the screams of her fellow librarians and patrons. She could see books flying above the distant shelves on the second floor from her seat in the coffee shop near the entrance. A man in the royal palace's green robes darted from the shelves toward the balcony railing, only to be smacked on the back of the head with a rather thick leather-bound book, resulting in a loudthunk. The man face-planted onto the polished wood floor.

"Are you going to help them?" her best friend, Piper, asked.

She smiled and took another sip. "Not until I finish this. Let them learn not to mess with the restricted section before I save them ... again."

Piper glanced up at the balcony, tucked an escaped chestnut brown curl back into place, and chuckled as she began wiping the tables.

It had only been two months since Sage started at the Royal Library for the Public Citizens of Sarash, and from her first cup of coffee served to her by Piper, she knew they would become close friends.

Sage downed the rest of her drink much faster than she would have liked and carefully set the delicate, blue-and-white cup on the table. It was her favorite among the coffee cups used. Her heart sank at the thought of something happening to it. With a heavy sigh, she rose from her chair and walked toward the stairs.

The Royal Library for the Public Citizens of Sarash was magnificent in its design, from the grand arched doorway to the window-covered walls, each with a full complement of shelves.

The polished dark wood stairs glowed under the twin crystal chandeliers that hung on fine silver chains. Sage took the stairs two at a time on her way to the restricted section. Her breath came harder as she smelled the musk of old books, the aroma of old leather and ink. The smell of knowledge, wisdom, and power.

Sage ducked under a rogue-flying book before heading toward the section's center. This happened anytime someone tried removing a book from the restricted section. She was slightly out of breath when she got there.

It was really a very simple process to let Freddie the gargoyle, who ran this section, scan the book and your identification. He slept during the day anyway, and while his appearance was quite intimidating, he couldn't move. The sign next to him was clear.

To check out books from the restricted section, please place one book at a time in my right hand and your identification on my left. Sing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Dragon once before removing both. Repeat the process for up to three books. All books are due back in one week. If you have forgotten the words to Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Dragon, they are as follows:

Twinkle, twinkle, little dragon

If you're hungry, eat a sheep

Up above the world so high

Soaring, flying in the sky

Twinkle, twinkle, little dragon

If you're hungry, eat a sheep

For each book after the first, please change the animal you feed your dragon. Remember to always start with a sheep, though. They are most dragons' favorite food.

Your Friendly Gargoyle Librarian,

Freddy

By the time Sage approached Freddy, most of the individuals had escaped. The books floated high above the empty shelves, waiting for their next target. Freddy knew she was there based on the fact they no longer aimed at her.

While technically frozen in stone during the day, his magic still ran this section smoothly. At night all books were put back in their place, and her antisocial friend could read to his heart's content without a soul in sight. A sentiment she understood completely.

Approaching Freddy, she placed her hand on his shoulder, and an image appeared before him as books began falling around her. A fae man with long, black hair and a grey tunic embroidered in silver carriedThe Book of Carnivorous Plants and Other Hungry Thingsunder his arm. If she wasn't mistaken, he was heading toward the exit next to the coffee shop.

"I will be back in a moment to start cleaning this up, Freddy! Sorry about the mess!" she yelled as she hurried to catch the book thief.

Her dark brown hair and white skirts billowed behind her as she ran to the stairs, then slid down the railing. As soon as her feet hit the floor, she took off running, only to be stopped by a crowd of women blocking her way.

A quick jump up, and the top of the head she was looking for was visible above the crowd.

Sage elbowed her way into the group. "Stop! Let me through!"

Two women pushed her back behind them.

"We were here first!" one of them snapped.

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