Chapter
One
Corin sprawled across the reading chair, one leg draped over its arm, the other stretched toward the coffee table. He'd assumed seventeen different positions in the last hour, trying to kill his boredom, trying to attract Azelon's attention.
Nothing had worked.
"I cannot believe we've been trapped in this strange building for an entire week." Corin flung an arm over his eyes. "The wilderness was at least interesting. This place is just..." He waved his free hand vaguely. "Rectangles."
Across the room, Azelon didn't bother lifting his strikingly yellow eyes from the book he was examining. His blue fingers traced the spine with evident fascination, the bioluminescent markings along his forearms pulsing softly.
"These 'rectangles' contain entire worlds." Azelon turned a page while his strong tail curled around his leg. "The stories are remarkably vivid."
Corin sighed. "Are those rectangles really more interesting than me?"
"Without question," Azelon replied, still not looking up.
The dismissal stung more than it should have. After everything they'd been through—after Azelon had literally rescued him from his nightmares—the beautiful Tideborn still maintained this maddening distance. Corin felt that familiar tightness in his chest, the buildup of emotions he couldn't quite contain.
Around them, the air in the bookstore grew charged, a restless energy rippling outward from where Corin lay. The lights flickered slightly. A stack of bookmarks on the counter scattered as if caught in a breeze, though no windows were open.
Azelon finally glanced up, his expression unreadable. "Control yourself."
"I am controlling myself," Corin snapped. Seriously, Azelon should know that much. "If I weren't, this whole place would be a disaster zone by now."
Before Azelon could respond, they both froze at the sound of someone crashing through undergrowth outside the store.
Corin rose from the chair and eyed the door warily.
Azelon closed his book and moved to position himself between the entrance and Corin—always the protector.
The front door burst open and a dark-haired human male stumbled inside, disheveled and wide-eyed. Leaves and twigs clung to his dark hair, and a thin scratch marked one cheek.
"Finally!" Relief washed over the human's face as he took in his surroundings. "My store!" He smiled. It was a nice smile too—until his gaze settled on Corin and Azelon.
The human straightened. "Who are you and what are you doing in my bookstore?"
The lights throughout the store flashed. Something they had never done during the week Corin had been stuck there.
How peculiar.
Who was this man?
The way he surveyed his domain, taking inventory with sharp eyes, suggested someone used to being in charge.
Interesting.
Corin approached the newcomer with his most charming smile. "Well, hello there. I'm Corin, and the walking glacier over there is Azelon." He gestured toward the Tideborn. "And you must be the owner of this delightful establishment."
The human's gaze hardened. "How did my store get here? And where are my brother and his friends?"
Corin and Azelon exchanged confused glances.
"Your store appeared about a week ago," Azelon said, his deep voice resonating in the quiet space. "There was no one inside when we arrived."
The human ran a hand through his hair, displacing more leaves. "I'm Jamie. This is—was—my bookstore on Earth."
"On Earth?" Corin echoed.
