HUGO
WhenIwas back in stone at the library,Icouldn’t keep my eyes offAnya.She’dinvited me in last night, and she’d kissed me.Althoughhope flared in me that we could be together,Icouldn’t allow myself to be that foolish and naïve.
Dumontcommunicated to all theSentries.Thedemon is conscious.We’vebeen questioning him about the break-in and about the book.Whatwe got from him so far is there was a prophecy.Awitch will rise in power with the aid of grimoire.
Adelaide?Isuggested.Shewas a witch, and this was her library.
Perhaps,he replied.Youshould move the book somewhere safer.
Yes.Adelaide’sattic?Iasked.Thatwas our reference to her hidden room adjacent to the rooftop.She’dadded additional layers of protection to her secret space.
There’ssomething more.Thedemon said he knows the librarian hid the book—and he’ll make her give it to him.
Ohhell.Itensed in my stone.She’sin danger,Isaid flatly.
Shecould be.Youneed to watch over her,Hugo.
Iwill,Ipromised.
Notthere,he added.Notuntil we get more information from this demon.Takeher to theVault.
Dumontwanted me to takeAnyato our residence where we conducted operations?We’dnever had a human there as far asIknew.Forhim to suggest this, the threat must be serious.
Ofcourse,Ireplied.ThenafterDumontfinished relaying more information,Iasked ifIcould speak to him privately.Oncewe had a connection,Iadmitted,There’ssomethingIshould tell you.
What’sthat?
AnyaandI—I’dnever said this aloud to anyone before and the words took a strange route to my lips.Sheis…
Goon,Hugo.
Iswallowed the lump churning in my throat.Anyais my mate.
Dumontdidn’t reply for several seconds.Whenhe did, he floored me.I’vesuspected that for some time.
Ohhell, wasIthat transparent?Iwasn’t even certain of our bond until we’d kissed.Isuppose my requests to watch over her as much as possible could have signaled my obsession to keep her safe.
That’swhy you need to be the one to get her safely to theVault,Hugo.Andstay with her there until you hear further instructions from me.
CHAPTER10
ANYA
AfterIclosed the library,Hugorevealed what his commander had told him about the prophecy and the book.
“Itsounds likeAdelaide,”Isaid.
“That’swhatIthink,” he agreed.
“Butshe’s dead.Whywould we worry about a prophecy?”
“It’smore about preventing the demon from accessing the book.Orthem.”
“Youthink there are others?”
“Idon’t know.”Hismouth tightened into a grim line. “Weneed to hide it in a safer spot to keep them from accessing it.There’sa place whereAdelaidehid things that were important to her.Come,I’llshow you.”
Oncewe retrieved the book from special collections,Hugoextended his large, gray hand.
