Page 58 of Dragon Unleashed
“Shit, Aries, I’m sorry. I can’t imagine how hard this must be for you being cooped up in here.” Her compassion transforms into hesitation. “I guess we should try to do some sleuthing tonight. See if we can find the spell that will open that portal for you. Though, I did spend two days scouring the alchemy section and found nothing. But hey, we can try the reference section next.”
“Yes,” I say, ignoring the tightness in my chest and putting aside my own agenda. “We probably should.”
She downs her wine and stands.
“Should we wait for the others to go home?” I ask.
“Mag and Blossom already have. The gnomes are on duty tonight,” she explains, walking to the kitchen and returning a moment later with a bag of something called Sour Patch. She holds it up and adds, “This will distract them so we can get into the reference section unseen.”
I can’t help my skepticism, but Paige seems certain of her prediction, so I follow her out and down the stairs. When we arrive on the first floor, I slip in front of her, stopping her from exiting the stairwell.
“What is it?” she asks, startled.
“I want to make sure it’s clear.” My dragon needs it, actually, but I don’t tell her that. Nor do I tell her we’re past the point of non-violence when it comes to protecting her. My dragon will kill anything that moves against his mate, no question.
Hopefully, it won’t come to that, but if it does, I’ll take the consequences willingly if it means keeping her safe.
She sighs but steps back, letting me ease the door open just far enough to sniff the air inside the library. I recognize the others: Blossom, Hoc, and a scent I’ve come to know as the other keeper Paige has told me about, Mag.
I also recognize the little men and their domesticated rodent from the other night. Their scents are strong as if they’ve come through here recently. Listening intently, I try to pick up their location among the quiet shelves.
Instead, what I find is another presence.
Too large to be a gnome or a rodent. And somehow, threatening.
When I sense movement, I react instantly. Yanking the door closed, I lift Paige off her feet and carry her to the back of the stairs, pressing her into the small alcove where we hid once before.
She tries to protest, but I press my hand to her mouth, silencing her with a look.
She stares up at me with rounded eyes. I hold her gaze, all my senses trained toward the library. Something pauses on the other side of the door.
In the silence, the handle clicks as it moves.
The door creaks open, and the familiar evil scent slams into me.
The stranger from Paige’s bathroom.
A figure moves into the open doorway. No, not a figure, I realize as I watch it enter the stairwell. A shadow.
Paige goes still. Fear rolls off her now.
My scales rush to the surface of my skin. My dragon wants blood, though I’m not sure there’s any to spill from a phantom creature like this one.
And I can’t risk Paige until I know for sure how to kill the threat.
Hating my options, I press Paige against the wall, covering her with my body, and wait.
Slowly, the shadow drifts through the doorway and up the stairs. The door clicks quietly shut behind it. I breathe silently, using its scent to track its progress. Up and up it goes.
Straight to the second floor. The door opens there too, and I listen as the shadow passes into the hall, letting the door click shut again in its wake.
Finally, we’re alone again.
Not that having the damned thing upstairs is any better.
Paige reaches up and pulls my hand from her mouth, her hand trembling. “It’s going to my apartment,” she whispers.
“It is,” I agree grimly, my muscles straining with the need to go after it.
