For one split second, I’m paralyzed with complete shock, but I quickly cover it with a bright laugh.
“Oh, those silly old tales!” I say. “That’s all fantasy. None of it is real.”
“Well, you may say so,” Hyacinth says, adjusting her glasses. “But that doesn’t stop me pondering.”
“No, I suppose not,” I reply, backing away. “I’ll leave you to it.”
I practically flee from her, knowing that I’m not adept enough at lying to cover up what I know about the subject. Even though I try to go back to work, Hyacinth’s words keep tugging at my brain, and I find myself in the shadowy back corner of the stacks, looking through the dark arts books.
I’d love to go through that old library out back, but it’s Sadie’s territory. If there was anything there that could help, she would have told me.
I flick through one of the spell books, weighing my feelings back and forth. The idea of me being a witch is a pretty impossible one, but I’m starting to warm up to it.
It would be nice to have some power of my own. I still feel like a useless human, and I’ve been unable to help the pack—which means staying stuck with Owen.
As I go back to shelving books, I remind myself that Owen has gone to extreme efforts lately to give me space and has stopped acting like an arrogant jerk. That hasn’t stopped the little flare-ups, though, and there is a rising tension between us that can only mean one thing.
He’s attracted to me… and I’m attracted to him, too.
I shove the thought away, not wanting to face it, but it keeps coming back until I slam the books down in frustration and go outside for some fresh air.
When I was perving on him and his friends, everything seemed so easy and fun. Why did he have to be such a jerk about this? It could have been beautiful between us.
As quickly as that thought comes, I dismiss it. It wouldn’t have mattered how sweet and caring he was. If he’d approached me talking about werewolves and witches, I would have immediately told him to get some therapy.
“Hey, Trina,” Sadie says, coming through the museum doors. “I was just looking for you. Did you want a ride home?”
“Sure, that would be great,” I reply. “Owen’s busy.”
“You didn’t come out for lunch.”
“No, I was caught up with the books. I still have a lot to catch up on.”
“Ugh. We do, too. Damn Angela and her big, fancy occasion.”
“She isn’t around much, so don’t worry,” I say. “She never stays in town long, but she likes to show off the place to some of her rich friends. Before you know it, she’ll be back in the big city, and Fern can go back to running the place on her own.”
“Fair enough, but this is still Silver Valley, not Paris.”
I chuckle, shaking my head. “Well, it will be Paris for a night, at least. Have you seen the dress requirements?”
“Yep. And I might not attend simply on that basis.”
We laugh together as we go out to the parking lot, and in that moment of closeness, I want to ask Sadie about the books in the private room out back and if there’s anything else we could do to trigger my powers.
But what if I don’t have any powers and she’s trying really hard to be nice to me by not saying anything?
That thought makes me shrink back into myself, and I don’t ask Sadie any questions. We stay on light topics for thedrive home, and when we get to Owen’s, there are a few pack members waiting out front.
“Oh, it looks like Owen’s not back yet,” Sadie says. “Do you need me to hang around?”
“No, it’s okay,” I say, not really meaning it. “He won’t be long, and I haven’t interacted much with the pack. I should get to know everyone.”
“Okay,” Sadie says, smiling as I get out. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
As I walk towards the house, I realize every single person is staring right at me. None of them is wearing a kind expression.
Not quite hostile… but definitely not welcoming, either.
