CHAPTERSEVEN
CAMI
Uh,that can’t be good, I thought, shivering as the growls reverberated off the bookshelves. I couldn’t see the owner of that noise, and I really doubted I wanted to meet him.
“Um…”
“Ready for my help?” the handsome fae asked, his stance casual and completely unbothered by the snarling beast-like sounds echoing through the library. “Or shall I leave you to it?”
Shit.I’d handled plenty of Hellhounds and could certainly take care of myself, but I had no idea what kind of creature was making that awful sound.
I also had no idea what waited for me outside the library doors. Probably more creatures.
Or worse—razor-tipped crow wings.
I glared at the fae arching a brow at me. “Well, if I’m going to rely on you to help me, at least give me your name so I know who to curse later.”
His lips spread into a tantalizing smile. “Melek.”
“Well,Melek.Get us out of here. Preferably in one piece.”
An arm corded in perfectly toned muscle looped around my waist, cinching me against his side like we were best friends. “Right this way, little angel.”
I pulled away from him and grabbed the heavy leather-bound book from the table, clutching it to my chest.
He said I could take it, and the figments had all mysteriously disappeared, so they weren’t around to tell me no.
I also wasn’t done reading.
Melek merely cocked an eyebrow at me, then smiled as if he knew something I didn’t.
“What?” I demanded. “Are there some sort of hellish library late fees I should know about?” I could only imagine how that might be handled.
Payment in blood.
Or perhaps in pain.
“No late fees,” Melek assured me. “Not for that one,” he added with a wink.
Whatever the fuck that meant.
We left the grand library, walking outside—without touching—just as a roar shattered the sound barrier. I ducked, tightening my grip on the book, and blinked up at the dark sky. “What the hell was that?”
Melek’s lips curled into a sinful smile. “A Banshee, perhaps. Or a Siren. Honestly, I haven’t the faintest idea. The dark-souled Nightmare Fae are all allowed to play after hours. Hence the purpose of curfew. Our dear Warden negotiated that deal. With the aid of our fierce Commander, of course.”
I blinked at him as the ground began to shake. Between that and the residual effects from the shrieking roar, I wanted to take cover.Now.And the library clearly wasn’t the place to do it.
So I needed to escape to the dorms.
I took off in the direction of the residences, my feet pounding against the sidewalks that lined the lethal-looking courtyards. However, the heavy book slowed me down. And the shaking ground beneath me didn’t help matters.
I pitched forward as the rumbling intensified, rolling onto my back to protect the book before scrambling back to my feet.
“Whatisthat?” I demanded breathlessly as Melek smoothly walked up beside me, completely unbothered by the earthquake unfolding around us. “What’s coming?”
He simply shrugged.
Shrugged.This asshole had offered to assist me.Doing a bang-up job of that, I thought as I nearly fell again.
