“Hi Giles, I brought you this.” He adjusts his round, wire-framed glasses, looking at the cup of coffee I’m offering him like it’s a trap. It’s actually a bribe that Dove assured me would get the cranky wolf shifter to help me but now I’m having second thoughts. “Um, it’s a latte. Dove said that’s your favourite,” I explain, setting the paper cup on the desk and nudging it towards him. At my mention of Dove’s name, his stern expression lightens a fraction.
He picks up the cup and takes a cautious sniff. “Thank you.”
“Thank Dove, she said you’re one of her best customers.”
“She makes the best coffee in town.” A hint of colour rushes up his neck to flush his cheeks, and he straightens his burgundy bow tie.Interesting. Giles tugs at the cuffs of his blazer and clears his throat. “I assume this is an attempt at bribery?” he asks, gesturing to the latte.
“No, you take too much pride in your work to need extra incentive to do your job.”
He gives me a flat look.
“OK, fine. I need something.”
“I’m shocked.” His deadpan delivery would suggest otherwise. For someone dressed head to toe in tweed, he sure is sassy. Guess it’s true what they say about not judging a book by its cover or, you know, a man by his three-piece suit.
“I need specific information on moon witches, and I’m hoping you might be able to point me towards the books most likely to have what I’m looking for.”
“As you said, I don’t require additional incentive to do my job, so why the coffee?”
I drum my fingers against the desk nervously. “The information I need might not be available to the general public. The coffee is my way of asking nicely if you’ll let me look at the texts reserved for academic use only.”
“Sounds like a bribe.”
“You say bribe, I say a friendly gesture.”
Giles rolls his moss-green eyes so hard I’m afraid he might strain something. “What is it you’re looking for?”
I look over my shoulder before replying furtively, “Anything about moon witches having recurring visions and what that might mean.”
Angular chestnut brows wing toward his hairline. “I see.” He unfolds himself from the office chair and comes out from behind the desk. “Follow me.”
Giles’s tan oxfords tap against the dark floor as he leads me through the maze of bookshelves and up to a dusty corner on the second floor. He methodically pulls several thick, leather-bound volumes from the closest shelf, stacking them neatly on a nearby desk. “Wait here. There are a few titles from the academic section that may be of use.”
Curious, I move to the desk, eyeing up the titles of the books he’s picked out.Moon Witches Through The Ages,The Art Of Divination,Understanding and Interpreting Visions. My heartsinks. These were all required reading for my Academy courses, they don’t cover recurring visions.
“Here.” Giles’s baritone makes me jump, and I narrowly avoid stumbling into him. His moss-green eyes silently judge me while he carefully places a stack of dusty tomes next to the first batch of titles he pulled. It’s then I notice he’s wearing a set of white cotton gloves. “Please use these while reading the academic titles.” He sets a second pair of gloves and long tweezer type things on the desk. “No photos. Take handwritten notes if you wish to keep a record of something.”
“Got it.” I nod. “Not that I don’t appreciate it, but why are you helping me?”
“I’ve always disagreed with the way witches like yourself are treated. Knowledge is power. Those gifted with certain cards shouldn’t receive more comprehensive training than witches who specialise in other types of magic—it gives them an unfair, unearned advantage.”
My throat grows thick with emotion. How is it that this grumpy wolf shifter has more compassion for me than a great percentage of my own species? “So not the coffee then?” I ask with a lightness I don’t feel.
The corners of his lips twitch. “No. Although it has brightened my Saturday afternoon.” I must have imagined his sense of humour because he instantly switches back to strict librarian mode. “Leave the books here, but stop by the desk before you leave so I know when you’re finished. That way I can put everything back before anyone notices you’ve been reading something you don’t have permission to access.”
“I will. Thank you.”
He inclines his head before walking away without another word.
Sitting on the rickety wooden chair, warmed by the sunlight streaming through the domed glass ceiling, I cast a low-strengthrepelling spell under my breath. Now if anyone comes up here, they’ll feel compelled to look away from me, and even the chattiest neighbour won’t have any desire to talk to me. Perfect. Donning the gloves lest I face the wrath of Giles, I decide to start from the top of the stack of titles reserved for academics and work my way down.
The first couple of titles turn out not to be much use and I’m beginning to think the afternoon might be a waste bar the fact I’ve enjoyed being swaddled in the comforting scent of old books, but hope flickers to life in my chest when I scan the contents page of the third chunky volume. There. Mindful not to rush in my eagerness, I carefully flip through the pages until I find the chapter I’m looking for.
The most common reason behind recurring visions in a witch who drew the moon card at their Naming is that they are seeing their fated mate. It is not uncommon for moon witches to have visions of their mate in the days before they meet. The longest recorded case of this kind of recurring vision was in 1864 when moon witch Lucinda Pierce received visions of her fated mate for eleven consecutive days.
I sit back in shock. That can’t be right. Pushing aside the book I open the next one from Giles’s selection, scanning the contents for anything useful. OK, got something. I hastily flip to the right page, foot tapping nervously. This book must have another explanation for my visions.
Moon witches often receive recurring visions of their fated mate or mates in the days immediately leading up to their meeting. This usually lasts for three to five days but can continue on for longer. The longest recorded instance of a recurring vision of a fated mate waseleven days. Considering the deeply personal nature of the subject, independent researchers and the Supernatural Investigation Bureau believe it is possible some moon witches have seen visions of their mates for a longer period of time without disclosing the information.
