Chapter 21
Velario showed Reyninto his Family’s library. She didn’t look around in wonder, but with determination. The shelves of books were an obstacle she would face, a trial she would overcome.
Velario wasn’t sure he had ever seen her look so serious. He knew she took things seriously, but she always looked ready to break out in laughter, even when she wasn’t smiling already. Serious Reyn was alluring in a whole new way.
She put her hands on her hips. “Where do we start?”
A good question. Velario surveyed the room. “Well, we have a few treatises on magical races, several biographies, and plenty of history books. I also thought sirens were nothing more than a myth, so I don’t think they are mentioned in any of the more popular texts about the magical races. If we knew what era the rumors of sirens came from the biographies or histories might have some anecdotes.”
“In other words, you have no idea.”
“Precisely. Why don’t you take the treatises and I’ll start browsing the biographies.” He walked over to the area devoted to the non-human races and pulled out a few books he had never read. He knew the ones he had looked at over the years never mentioned sirens. “Here.”
Reyn accepted the stack of books and carried them over to the table in the center of the room.
Velario pulled a few biographies for himself and settled into the comfortable wingback chair in the corner. He flipped through pages, skimming for anything related to magic or the magical races. Nothing. He returned his first set of books.
Reyn continued to look through the ones he had given her, taking more time with each book than he did. A frown creased her brow, and Velario wanted to say something to smooth it. She wanted answers, though, not a distraction.
Velario grabbed another stack of books and retreated to his chair, but he no longer flipped through them at the same speed. He didn’t want to miss anything, but he was too distracted by Reyn to skim effectively. Determination was admirable, but at a certain point she had to concede defeat, even if only temporarily. He suspected he might have to force her to call a halt to her research. But he wouldn’t do so until he thought she was pushing beyond the point where frustration caused mistakes.
Eventually, she finished flipping through the books he had given her and cursed. “Five hells. How will we ever be sure if there is truly nothing to find?” She gestured at the room. “The answer may be here, but it would take forever to read every book.”
Velario put aside the book he had been skimming and went to stand next to Reyn. He pulled her chair out and turned it so she faced him. “Why does it matter so much? If hearing your magic described as the work of a siren resonates with you and helps you understand it, what does it matter if sirens have ever existed?”
“How can you ask that? Of course it matters whether I am a siren.”
“But why? It doesn’t change anything. You are the same person you’ve been your entire life, whether or not that person is a siren.” He could see that she still wanted to protest. Her need to know the answer had nothing to do with logic, and everything to do with insecurity. “You are getting worked up over nothing, Reyn. Could knowing the origin of your power help you learn to control it? Undoubtedly. But you do not need to fret that you can’t find the answer in a single night.”
“I’ve been searching for the answer for months, Velario. Now that I may be on the path to an accurate answer, I can’t give up.”
“So you will visit Lisca tomorrow and see if she has the insights you need. But for now, it is time to pause. Not give up—pause.”
“I can’t forget that the answer might be out there if only I knew where to look. I can’t just stop when I am so close.”
Velario wasn’t surprised that she resisted. He had two choices now. He could banish her from his library, earning her ire, even though he’d be doing it for her own good. Or he could convince her to take a break using underhanded methods.
So long as he didn’t pressure her, it wouldn’t hurt to offer. If she said no, that would be that.
He hoped she wouldn’t say no.
Velario gave Reyn a slow, predatory look. “You need a distraction.”
Reyn swallowed. “What do you think will distract me at present?”
Velario leaned in close and whispered directly in her ear. “Another orgasm.”
Reyn never wouldhave believed that two words could have so much power over her. Or maybe it was Velario’s breath against her ear. Or his body crowding her against the chair. Whatever the cause, the effect was immediate. Reyn’s entire body lit up in anticipation. Her skin tingled. Heat pooled in her core and her nipples tightened.
“Yes,” she agreed, and she felt her own power rush out in time with the word. Whether it was a normal lure or the call of a siren no longer mattered, only Velario’s response.
She wanted him. It didn’t matter how much she told herself to ignore her attraction, she couldn’t. Her reasons for ignoring it were growing flimsier day by day. She didn’t know where their ruse ended and Velario’s true feelings began, but she could no longer convince herself that he hated her. Without his hate as a barrier, she found it easy to justify one more night with him.
He was right. She could accomplish nothing more until the next morning. A distraction—a release—would help her get through the night.
Velario pulled her out of her seat, but did not lead her to the door. Instead, he steered her back to the large chair he had occupied while they scanned books. He sat in the chair, grasped Reyn’s hips, and pulled her onto his lap.
Her skirts bunched in front of her and draped over his legs behind. She straddled his thighs and moved against him.
