Page 50 of Dragon Compelled
“Paige was one mistake away from being dismissed from her internship,” Tawny says. “And then suddenly, Hoc vanishes, and she’s chosen as his replacement. Awfully convenient, don’t you think?”
I snarl before I can stop myself, shoving my hands behind my back so the woman can’t see the claws descending from my fingertips as my dragon surges to the surface.
Blossom looks ready to explode, her arms and hands trembling as she tries to hold herself in check. “Exactly how do you think Paige knew the library was going to choose her?” she demands. “It’s not as though we could slip her name in the fucking suggestion box. Besides, she isn’t the one who sent Hoc through that portal, and she’s not the one who killed him. So, explain to me just how you think this is her fault?”
Tawny whirls on the keeper. “Fine. Let’s look at the facts we have. She opened the portal to bring him through, did she not?” Tawny demands. “She is the reason there is a body currently rotting in the basement and the very reason a keeper nearly lost his life.”
I step forward, a low growl rumbling through my chest. But before I can get a word out, Blossom says, “None of that is Paige’s fault, you crusty old goat. I opened the portal that brought Hoc through. And I am the one who pushed forward to keep searching for Hoc.”
I tense at her words, knowing they aren’t going to help the situation. The unicorn is admirable, though. And I am grateful she is on Paige’s side.
Tawny narrows her gaze. “You do realize that, if either of those things is true, I could have you imprisoned or extend your assignment here permanently?” Her voice is low, her tone beyond threatening. It beckons to the creature inside of me. The one that desperately wants this woman to suffer.
“You will not,” Paige says, snapping out of her grief. Planting both palms on the desk, she pushes to her feet, and her angry gaze flashes with a clarity that has me exhaling in relief. “You are a member of a three-person council,” she says. “You are not the head of this library; I am. It was me who gave the order to look for Hoc, just like it was me who opened that portal. A portal that brought him back to us.”
“Brought him back?” Tawny shakes her head in disgust. “He’s decomposing!”
“Yes.” Paige sniffles and crosses her arms. “But now we know he is gone. Which means that I can start putting things back together without feeling like I am abandoning a member of this team.”
“Team.” Tawny shakes her head. “This library never would have these issues if Hoc were still in charge. Of all the people who should have suffered, he is not even close to the top of the list.”
“Is that a threat?” I ask, fury pushing me out of silence.
Tawny turns to me. “Your services are no longer needed. You are to leave this library at once.”
“No,” Paige snaps. “I am head librarian. Not you. You do not run this place!” She yells now, damn near screaming with her own rage. Cheeks pink, she stares at Tawny as though she’s looking down the barrel of a loaded cannon. “I was chosen to replace Hoc. I am in charge. Which means that everyone here works for me. You do not have the right to dismiss a member of my staff.”
“Maybe not,” Tawny snaps. “But I do have the right to vote you out of this place. Which is exactly what I will do.”
“With all due respect, Tawny,” Oliver says. “You don’t have my vote. And it has to be majority rules.”
“Then I will go speak with Phillip,” she snaps, glaring at Paige. “Once I have his vote, we will wipe your memories and send you out of this place so it’s like you never even existed.” She turns on her heel and stomps out of the office.
I start to follow, to ensure she never makes it out of this place, but Blossom stops me with a hand on my arm. “She’s not worth it.”
Oliver sighs. “Phillip doesn’t care much for Tawny, but he takes library matters seriously. If it weren’t for his daytime position, he’d have been here already.” He smirks. “But I’ll talk to Tawny and see if I can talk her off the ledge. She means well. The safety of this place is all she cares about.”
“She means well?” Blossom shakes her head. “That’s a joke.”
He smiles hopefully at her. “We’re not all bad, you know.” He looks to Paige, who has paled slightly. “I will do everything I can, Paige. But my advice? Have this place cleaned up before Phillip gets here. Otherwise, there’s nothing I can do.” He leaves, and Paige sits back down in her chair.
“What are we going to do?” Blossom demands.
“We are going to do what we’re supposed to,” Paige replies. “Protect this library and shelve dangerous books.” She opens something up on the computer, and Blossom meets my gaze before looking back at Paige.
“You can’t be serious. We can’t just sit here and wait for her to come back and wipe your memories.”
“As far as I see it, we don’t have a choice.”
“Paige—”
“This library has to be protected. It’s what Hoc would have wanted.”
“Hoc wouldn’t have wanted you to have everything about your life—every memory of him—wiped. It’s why he protected you like he did,” Blossom snaps.
Paige looks up at her now. “Excuse me?”
“Every mistake you made. Every time you accidentally freed a book. Hoc was there, taking the heat. We’d do clean-up and pretend it never happened. Not once did any of us report it because you are our family, and as twisted of a place as this is, and as angry as I was to be sentenced here, we were all we had.” Tears fill the unicorn’s furious gaze. “And now you’re just going to lie down and take it?”
