Page 14 of Dragon Compelled
“What?” Blossom’s eyes widen almost comically. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You are. I can tell. You have that ‘getting laid regularly’ look about you.”
“Oh, so what? You get in one serious relationship and now you’re an expert?”
I laugh. “Something like that.” After finishing the last bite of crust—no carb left behind—I reach in and grab another slice.
“Fine. If you must know, I am casually seeing someone in the wee hours of being away from this prison.”
“Well. I’m happy for you.”
Blossom smiles. “Thanks. Now, moving on from me, we need to address the dragon in the room.”
I turn, half-expecting Aries to be behind me. “What dragon?”
“The fact that you’re not eating, sleeping, or getting any kind of relaxation. You do realize that, if you keep going at this rate, the library is going to need yet another new head librarian, right?”
“I can’t slow down, Blossom. I can’t let this place go to shit in Hoc’s absence.”
“It’s not going to.”
“I want him to just be able to slide right back into his role the second he gets home.”
Blossom’s broken look tells me that she doesn’t see that as a possibility. “Paige—”
“No.” I hold up my hand. “I will not lose hope, and you better not either. Hociscoming home.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure of that.”
We both turn, and Blossom lurches to her feet, a dagger in each hand. She moved so fast I didn’t even see her draw weapons. My attention refocuses on the two strangers standing in the doorway of the break room, and my heart pounds as I try to determine how much of a threat they pose.
The woman is a few decades older than me, her silver hair in tight curls around her face. It doesn’t fall past her jaw, and there’s not a strand out of place. She studies us with hard, dark eyes. Her mouth, painted a light pink that matches the long-sleeved dress she wears, is flattened in a tight, unapproving line.
The man beside her is another story altogether. His obsidian hair is styled neatly, but his bright green eyes lack all hardness. He smiles softly at both of us, hands shoved into the dark jeans he wears. That is until he spots the pizza.
“That for everyone?” He starts toward it, and Blossom holds her blade out.
“Take another step and you won’t ever eat again.”
“Who are you?” I ask. The fact that they got in here without the alarms blaring is a huge red flag. “And how did you get in here?” Memories of Constantine sneaking around fill my mind, kicking my adrenaline into overdrive.
The woman scoffs as she holds out her wrist.
I stare at it in disbelief. Every sense I have tells me that these two are humans, but they bear the marks of a keeper. Which makes them—
“My name is Tawny Josephine, and this is my associate, Oliver Stark. We, young lady, are two of the three governing council members for this library.”
My disbelief turns to utter and complete shock—then incredible irritation. I cross my arms. “Then you’re late.”
“We’re right on time from the looks of things in here,” Oliver says as he gestures toward the pizza again. “May I? Skipped lunch.”
“Go for it,” Blossom says, sheathing her blades though she remains wary. “I’ve never met a single one of you.” She keeps her attention on Tawny, but I know she misses no movement of Oliver’s. “So how do we know you’re legit?”
“You never needed to see us before.” Tawny’s tone makes it clear that it’s not a good thing to be needed. “The previous head librarian saw to all matters that pertained to council members. Now, though, it seems everything has changed.” Her gaze shifts to me then back to Blossom. “As to how you know we’re ‘legit’,” she says, popping the ‘t’, “the library didn’t expel us, nor did an alarm go off when we stepped through the portal. Therefore, one could surmise that we belong here.” Arrogance drips from her tone, laced with anger that makes no sense.
This woman has literally never met me before. So why does she already despise me? Is my inability to serve this library properly that obvious?
“Then how about you tell us why you think you’re needed now,” Blossom says, crossing her arms. “We’re doing just fine.”
