“I could sit here and rattle off the list of things I know about you because of my life here in Alfemir, but it might just freak you out more.” Honestly, he was probably right. I already felt on edge by him simply knowing my name. If he started rattling off my star sign and habits, I’d be inclined to think he was a stalker. His hand fell back to his side before he inhaled deeply. On his exhale, he continued, “I’d say that I could prove it to you, but there isn’t time, and this isn’t the place to show you how my appearance has been disguised, Little Star.”
There was that damned nickname again, making my heart flutter.
I cocked my hip, placing my hand on it. “So I’m just supposed to point blank believe this absolutely incredulous situation because you’re telling me it’s the truth? With no proof.”
He shrugged, completely unapologetic at the situation we found ourselves in. “Yeah, I guess I am. But if you help me get what I need, I can prove it to you after.”
The most insane part of this situation was that I was actually considering it, just to get the answers I wanted. On one hand, I was placing myself at risk to be arrested if we were caught, and the angelic prison was not a place I would make it out of in one piece considering my father had put the majority of the people in there away. Retribution would be swift from those inmates, probably under the misguided notion they could hurt him through me. He wouldn’t shed a tear if I died. On the other hand, I wanted to know who the hell I’d given my body to. It was really that simple. Were the answers I sought worth the risk?
Fuck, they were.
“What are we stealing?”
His shocked expression actually made me chuckle. Reaching out with one finger, I closed his unhinged jaw. He jerked out of his stupor as my hand fell, grabbing it before it could reach my side. Hope shone so clearly in his eyes. “You’ll really help mefirst and trust that I’ll prove everything I’ve said to you after the fact?”
That was a tricky question, but the simple answer came to me as I stared up at him. My words were quiet as I nodded, “If you’re really Gabe, I know you will.”
That was the truth. While Gabe and I were never close, what I did know about him was that he was honest, sincere, and just. He came from a well-loved and respected family, and if this whole situation was real, I had to believe there was a damn good reason for the ploy.
If I was wrong…Well, did I really have a lot to lose? I still didn’t have an affinity. Ronan and Niz flitted through my head. There was a spark there, but there was no guarantee of a placement, or a relationship. I couldn’t deny something in my heart sparked as I thought of them both the last few days. Placement aside, there was a flutter of nerves and excitement to be back with them tomorrow.
Pushing the thought of the Beast Tamer and his wyvern away, I couldn’t help but ask, “Why do you look so shocked?”
His eyes fell to where he held my hand in his. He stared at them for a moment before one corner of his lips tugged up in a lopsided smirk. “I guess all the things I know—or have heard about you—aren’t right. That’s all.”
A lifeless laugh crested my lips as my brows raised. “Yeah, well, I’m beginning to realize that no one really knows me…” I trailed off. “I don’t even know if I do, honestly.”
His eyes snapped back to me, and the level of scrutiny lingering there had me quickly changing the subject. This wasn’t the time to get into my issues. Withdrawing my hand from his, I quickly snatched up the same textbook from earlier before cradling it to my chest with my arms crossed against it.
“So, what’s the plan, and how can I assist?”
Distance was needed between us. I still wasn’t sure what I’d do or how I might feel if he proved to be honest in what he was telling me.
Thankfully, he seemed to very quickly understand that I was done with our previous line of conversation, obliging in focusing on the task at hand. We quickly formed a plan that consisted of me leaving with Mrs. Sadria and letting her know that I’d seen him walk out just a bit earlier. He’d let me back in after, and I’d take him to where I knew he needed to go, having practically grown up in this space.
The first part of the plan was easy enough, and so was him getting me back into the library, shockingly enough. I looked at him like he had two heads for knowing the ins and outs of how to disarm the security system here.
“Do I even want to know how you obtained that information?”
His cheeks tinged with a pink blush. “Probably not.”
With an eye roll at him, he quickly fell in line behind me as we navigated through the dark maze of aisles. Adrenaline pulsated through me as the minutes ticked by. I’d be a liar if I didn’t say all of the exciting moments of my life now revolved around the two times I’d seen this man…At least in this version of him.
All I could hear was the soft sounds of our feet and our breathing. It was an oddly intimate moment, the knowledge that we were relying on each other.
His voice startled me from my thoughts as we approached the east wing of the library, nearing the older history archive. “Can you promise me something?”
Without stopping or turning around to look at him, I lobbed back with a hefty dose of sarcasm, “Do youreallythink you’re in the position to be asking me for promises?”
I heard a quick huff of air come from him, like a strangled laugh of concession. Maybe it just showed how low my standards were, but the huff brought the tiniest smile to my face. He got my brand of sarcasm and humor and wasn’t offended, much like Ronan.
“Well, it’s more a promise I want you to make to yourself.”
His rumbled words piqued my curiosity as we arrived at the far wall and headed toward the door that I’d seen Text Keepers coming in and out of a multitude of times.
“Interesting,” I mused as my eyes darted around the deserted building, feeling on edge about silent alarms we might not know about. “Tell me more.”
Suddenly his footsteps stopped, forcing me to turn around and see what the hell he was doing. He just stood there, staring at me.
