Page 12 of Legends and Librarians
“I guess I don’t mind,” I said, joining him in his secluded hiding spot. “This might take a while anyway.”
He glanced sideways at me. “Looks like we’re having a stakeout then.”
Our knees brushed against each other, sending sparks through me. He reclined, arms resting on the back of the bench, mere inches from my shoulders. If I leaned back, I’d be encircled by him, protected by those strong muscles he’d probably spent most his life developing. Oh how I wanted to give into that urge, but I was too busy for romance. I had to focus.
Thankfully, we didn’t have to wait long for the door to crack open a tiny bit, like somebody was peeking outside. It closed again, but that peek was everything. They were interested. This was going to work!
Roan chuckled warmly. “Look at you, you’re like the cat that got the cream. They barely even opened the door yet.”
“Oh, but they will. Just you wait.” I leaned back without a care in the world. His hand flexed on the bench and I couldn’t help but smirk. “Want to make a bet?”
“Only if I can set the stakes.” He paused until I nodded. “If this plan of yours works, and you manage to get back inside the library, then I’ll help you fix the place up, free of charge.”
That sounded like quite the deal. I could think of lots of things for a strong guy like him to help with, especially with how many repairs it looked like the library needed. Turning down a chance at free labor would be foolish, but I had a feeling my sideof this bet wouldn’t be as enjoyable.
“And if they don’t come get the books?” I asked, curling the edge of my shirt around my fingers. “What do you get out of this?”
He leaned closer, until my entire view was full of him and my breath caught in my chest.
“If you lose,” his eyes sparkled dangerously as he lowered his voice, “then you post a job request at the local guild for somebody to help repair the library. I’ll make sure to take it.”
I blinked. “Wait, so no matter what, you’d be helping me with the library?” When he nodded, I grinned, leaning forward with laughter. “You’re a terrible gambler. I win either way.”
“That’s how I like it.” He winked, then turned around slowly at the sound of a creaking door. “I think somebody’s coming.”
I almost jumped up to see, but his hand clamped down on my leg and he put a finger to his lips. I froze. Of course, we didn’t want to scare off whoever was opening that door. I forced myself to sit calmly as it opened.
After what felt like hours, a beautiful woman in a purple dress stepped outside, gathering the books in her delicate arms one by one. I hadn’t seen her in the library last time, which meant there were even more story spirits than I’d thought. I had the sudden urge to run inside and see them for myself, but the woman was way too close. She’d catch us for sure.
As she hummed, dancing along the book path, Roan and I slowly inched off the bench. He held up three fingers, lowering one at a time until there were none left. Then we ran.Adrenaline surged through me as I flung the door open, finally victorious!
The sounds of metal slamming against the floor froze me in place. Dozens of tiny armored knights lined the shelves, swords held against their chests and pointed at the ceiling. Pint-sized dragons circled the shelves, as if they were the knights’ backup.
“Hello,” I said, smiling politely, “don’t know if youremember me, but I’m Nyssa, the new librarian.”
I held out my hand, then realized how foolish that was since they were only a few inches tall.
“On me, knights!” The voice was quiet, but seemed to come from the knight with the most intricate glowing armor. He shifted, pointing his sword at me. “We promised Lady Lisa that we wouldn’t let them pass.”
“Remind me who these guys are again,” Roan said. “Something about people who loved the library so much they didn’t want you here? No wild magic involved?”
I laughed awkwardly, drawing my outstretched hand back. “I might have left a few details out. There’s a tiny bit of wild magic here, but nothing dangerous.”
“Right, they’re totally peaceful.” He motioned at the knights, who looked like they were about to leap off the bookshelves at us, and ducked as a tiny dragon spewed fire at him. “Maybe we should go back outside.”
“You definitely should,” a woman said behind us, “especially after playing that trick on me.”
A towering stack of books blocked her from view as she swayed, slowly walking inside. She must have picked up every book in the trail all at once! I rushed forward, grabbing half the stack from her.
“Sorry,” I said. “I just wanted to talk, but nobody would let me in.”
“Did you consider we didn’t let you in for a reason?” She smiled as she set her books down on a nearby table, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
I gripped the books in my own arms tight. Honestly, I hadn’t let myself really think about why they wouldn’t open the door, because if I did, then I’d have to accept that they didn’t want me here, and I couldn’t do that. I’d quit my job, moved out of my apartment, and traveled all the way here just to open this library.I was in too deep to give up now.
“But she’s the librarian,” Roan said as he took the books from my hands. He gave me a reassuring smile before setting them down next to the other stack. “I’m guessing you’re Lady Lisa?”
“Lisa’s fine.” The woman waved her hand in the air. “But I’m the librarian. We don’t need another.”
