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“Who are your favorite authors?”
I list off a few classics, and then a few romance authors, and Archie nods like he knows what I'm talking about.
“Do you read romance?” I ask skeptically.
He nods, and his cheeks take on a red tint. “Vampires have a lot of time on our hands.”
I'm still not convinced. “What's your favorite romance book?”
Archie gets to his feet and heads towards the romance section. He starts to reach for a book, spots the classics farther back, and detours.
“Wait,” I cry after him.
“I promise I won't touch Pride and Prejudice, or any glowing books,” Archie assures me.
I swallow, nod, and follow him. There isn’t much I’ll be able to do if a book sends us on a trip, but I can’t stomach the thought of Archie teleporting out of my life for good. Plus, there’s always a chance that this time, we’ll end up in Paris.
Archie almost makes it to the romance section before he changes his mind and turns to the classics. He stops and surveys the shelf. “Pride and Prejudice isn’t here.”
“It isn’t?” I step up next to him. He’s right. All the other beautifully bound editions are there, but not Pride and Prejudice. “I don’t suppose someone came in while I was out?”
He shrugs. “Maybe it disappeared when you teleported? One magical use only?”
I nibble on my lip.
“I’m glad you’ve kept my donations,” he continues.
“Your donations?” My eyes widen. “Wait, you’re the one who’s been buying these for the library?”
He traces his fingers along the spines. “Making them, actually.”
My jaw drops. “You’re making them? How?”
“I was a bookbinder before I was turned.” He rubs the back of his neck. “I’ve missed it, so I set up my own printing press at home.”
“Those take way more than a printing press. They’re masterpieces.”
“It’s kind of you to say so.”
“I’m serious. Books like that…” I wave my hand vaguely, at a loss for words.
“Thank you,” he says softly. “I’ve really missed the craft. The hand-sewn binding, page trimming, lettering, the designs.” He sighs. “Modern paperbacks just don’t have the same feel.”
“Is that why you’ve been making classics?”
He shakes his head. “I only create titles that are out of copyright. I considered getting permission from some of my favorite authors, but that would involve asking them to send me their original manuscript.”
“So who are your favorite authors?” I press. I know Archie mentioned reading romance, but I still expect him to pick up mystery or horror. He grabs a paranormal romance instead. “If I could have my pick of titles, I’d hand-bind this one. Brown leather, gold leaf wolf on the cover.”
“Not a vampire book?” I chuckle.
“No. Books about vampires get so many facts wrong that I can't read them,” he says, leading me back to the couch.
I can’t help but agree. Now that I've met an actual vampire, I'm not sure if I'll be able to read them, either. “Do authors get werewolves right?”
Archie grins. “Can't really mess up howling at the moon, can you?”
I smile back.
