Page 34 of Dragon Compelled

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I step forward. “What?” I demand again.

“The alarm didn’t work when the werewolf got out either,” she says.

“It didn’t...” I trail off, though, because I realize she’s right.

I was so distracted by my own fear that I didn’t even notice.

And if the alarm isn’t working, there’s no telling just how much damage Constantine can inflict before we manage to figure out what’s going on. I look at Blossom then Mag, determined to focus on the solution rather than the mounting list of problems. The idea that Constantine might have used my magic without my knowledge or consent—again—is a final straw for me. I have to find a way to stop it from happening, starting with making sure he can’t get into this library undetected ever again. “How do we fix it?”

She shrugs. “I have no clue. It’s never failed before. Not in the entire history of the library as far as I know.”

“Not until Constantine,” Mag adds, earning a glare from Blossom.

She turns back to me and says, “I’m not even sure it can be repaired.”

“There has to be a way, and we need to find it.” I shut the case and wave my tattoo over the lock to secure it. Then I turn on my heel and head for the stairs. “No one finds out about this,” I tell them. “We don’t breathe a word about this missing collection. Not to anyone.”

“Agreed,” everyone says in unison.

My gaze lands on Aries, and the vise around my heart tightens as I remember how Tawny looked at him—like he was disposable. I brought him into this. Ripped him from his world and subjected him to danger time and time again.

But Irefuseto let anything happen to him. A silent promise I make to myself right here and now.

No matter what happens to the library.

No matter what happens to me.

Arieswillreturn home.

He will survive.

Chapter9

Aries

With a waning sense of hope and severe lack of sleep, I step through the day’s portal with Mag. It closes behind us, and I take a moment to survey our surroundings. Lush green grass expands as far as the eye can see while huge trees jut up around us on all sides.

The air here is crisp, the sun bright. The thick trees and fresh air almost remind me of my homeland of Astronia.

“Let’s get this over with,” Mag grumbles, and we begin walking. Aside from birds chirping as they fly by, I see no signs of life. No people, no houses, just endless nature. My dragon shifts beneath my skin, desperate for the freedom of stretching his wings.

Soon,I think to him, hoping that it will ease some of his anxiety. Before the library, I’d never gone more than twelve hours without shifting. Now, it’s days between each shift. I’m not sure how much longer my dragon can do this.

“We don’t normally get guests this time of year.”

Mag and I whirl, both of us prepping for a fight. The woman standing just behind us is slender and dressed in leather pants and a black tank top, her dark hair braided down her side. A blade is sheathed at her side, but she does not reach for it.

And it’s no wonder why.

Power pours from her, radiating and filling the very air around her.

“We don’t mean to bring you any trouble,” Mag says warily.

She cocks her head to the side. “No, I don’t think you do.” She turns to me. “But that still leaves me wondering who you are and why you’re here.”

“Why couldn’t we sense you before?” I ask. “There is nowhere for you to hide.”

The woman grins and waves her hand. A swirling blue portal appears behind her in a flash of light. We both stare at it, shocked and confused at another creature who can conjure a portal. “It’s a skill set of mine.”