Page 17 of Legends and Librarians
“We should bring some researchers here,” I said.
“I’ve already got somebody working on it,” she said, “besides, there’s no way I’m letting strangers in on this just yet.”
I leaned forward, elbows on my knees. “Aren’t I a stranger?”
Her eyes darted to mine, long lashes blinking slowly as the corners of her eyes crinkled.
“Less and less,” she said. “I wouldn’t mind hearing more about you though. What’s the guild like?”
“Full of possibilities. It’s honestly a dream job. I get to travel the world, taking interesting missions and meeting all sorts ofpeople. Nothing ever ties me down.”
That last part was my own personal rule and the main reason I’d become an adventurer in the first place, but whenever I told people about it, they tried to fix me. Like there was something wrong with not wanting attachments. For right now, it’s what I needed. Because that demon was right about one thing: humans were the worst sometimes.
Nyssa frowned, finishing up the last of her sandwich and handing me the other. “Isn’t that lonely?”
Personal questions already, huh? I usually preferred to avoid those, but that might be hard if this job took more than a day or two. Might as well give her a few details.
“It’s not that lonely. I partner up with other adventurers when I need to and go out with people often. There’s something about only having a short time to get to know people that makes you experience it all the more deeply.”
“So you’ll be leaving soon then?” she asked, fiddling with the sandwich wrapper.
That downcast look of hers tugged at my resolve. “Well, not right away. I did lose the bet, so I’ll help you repair the library.”
“Ah, right, that bet,” she said with a small smile, “almost feels like youwantedto stay.”
Keeping her safe while I figured out what was going on here was part of my job, so the bet was just a means to an end. I didn’t want her to send me away again though, so I went with it.
“Just for a bit,” I said with a shrug. “This library’s full of interesting things.”
“Interesting things, huh?” Her gaze lifted to mine as a slight rosy hue spread across her cheeks.
That blush was beautiful. She was beautiful. Staying to help repair the library was one thing, but getting close to her was entirely different, especially since we were stuck in this room together all night.
Wait.
I glanced at the bed that Nyssa sat on, then around the room. How had that not crossed my mind earlier? There was only one bed.
“Something wrong?” she asked.
“No, just thinking about where I’m going to sleep...”
Her eyes widened, then she laughed. “You can have the bed. You are the one who traveled all the way here after a mission.”
“What makes you think that?”
“Well unless you got that dirty walking,” she paused, motioning at my clothes with her hand, “I’m guessing you ran into some trouble.”
More like I was in such a rush to get back here that I slipped in some mud on the way up the mountain, but I wasn’t about to admit that. No way. I had a reputation to uphold.
“Nothing I couldn’t handle,” I said, standing to stretch to cover up my embarrassment. “Why don’t I go get cleaned up and you can get some sleep? I’ll take the floor. I’ve slept in far worse places.”
“I won’t argue with that,” she said, falling back on the bed again with a sigh. “But the bed is more than big enough for two.”
I froze at the entrance to the bathroom. Was she offering to share the bed with me? When I glanced back, she was smiling so innocently that she had to know what I was thinking.
Oh, she was trouble.
I forced myself into the bathroom instead of taking her up on that offer, no matter how much I wanted to. Fleeting romances and one-night stands felt pretty hollow after a while and Nyssa deserved better than that. I should focus on the job, not on whatever I might be feeling right now.
