Page 68 of Dragon Unleashed
“I thought it might hold the answers for what I need.”
“Even if it did, it’s locked for a reason.” I gesture to the mechanism binding the book closed.
“Do you know how to open it?”
I bite back my frustration at the way he’s completely disregarding the rules he’s broken. “No, like I said, only the head librarian—”
As if on cue, the lock springs free.
I stare down at the book in my hands then up at Morris. He’s watching me, but there’s no surprise in his expression. Only a gleam of interest I can’t quite interpret. My heart begins to pound, a heavy drumming in my ears.
Whirling, I hurry away, clutching the book tight. Now that it’s unlocked, it’s begun to tremble in my hands. I have no idea what kinds of monsters it holds, but I damn sure don’t want to find out either.
“Paige, wait!”
Morris hurries after me. I make it as far as the table and drop the book, holding my hand against the cover so it can’t spring open.
“Don’t come any closer,” I warn him as he comes up beside me. “Clauseruntque,” I order the book, but nothing happens. Of course, it won’t respond to a normal keeper command. This book is so much older than our current protocols. “Shit.”
“Just let it open,” the old man urges.
“Are you crazy?” I glance up at him then back down again, gritting my teeth as I struggle to keep the cover closed. Whatever’s inside is really shoving against me to get out now. I can’t afford to discover what the hell it is.
“Clauseruntque!” I nearly yell the command.
Still, the lock remains free, and the book struggles against my hold.
“Paige, you don’t need to worry.” Morris’s voice is strangely calm, and that, more than anything else, freaks me out. Suddenly, it’s crystal clear to me that, whoever he is, he wants this to happen. Maybe even orchestrated it in the first place.
I look over at him, eyes narrowed. “Who are you, and what are you really doing in this library?”
He doesn’t answer.
“Tell me the truth,” I nearly scream at him.
Behind me, a couple of books fly off the shelf and thud against the carpet. Morris looks from them to me and finally loses his cool as he says,
“I’m just trying to get fucking free!”
His answer shuts me up. I don’t understand it, and all I can do is blink at him, still grunting against the weight of whatever’s fighting me inside this book.
Morris looks at me like he knows something I don’t. When he speaks again, he’s calmer, more composed. “Just let go, Paige. Your power is so much bigger than you realize. You’ll see. Just let go.”
He takes a step toward me, and I panic. “Stop,” I tell him, and the force of my voice echoes around us. “Don’t come any closer.”
“Help me get out, Paige. I know you can do it.”
“Get out of what?” I ask, completely confused by this entire sideways fucking scenario.
I still have no idea what’s happening here, but one thing is for sure: Morris is definitely a creeper. And his time in this library is officially expired.
“Help me,” he repeats, looming closer, and my breath catches. If he attacks me now, I’ll have to choose between fighting him off and keeping this damn book shut.
It's not a choice I want to make.
Just before he can reach me, a roar sounds, and a figure drops down from above. Pecs and sinewy muscle flash before me.
A familiar scent slams into me.
