Page 55 of The Librarian’s Familiar

“You don’t know that for sure. What will they do if they find out you’re a familiar and that I lied about my magic?” He adjusted all the papers on his desk, so they were neat, orderly piles. Even those small things helped. The library might be a mess, but his desk was immaculate.

August walked over and grabbed his hands so he couldn’t continue fiddling. “They aren’t going to do anything. Yeah, they’re my older brothers, but I’m an adult and can make my own choices. They’ll be happy for me.”

Charlie glanced up. “You don’t know that.”

“You work for the Coven. You’re hardly a dodgy witch who goes round kissing shifters hoping to find a fated mate. If anything, your magic does the opposite.” He grinned. “Third time lucky, right?”

“Sinclair has worked it out.”

August’s grip tightened for a heartbeat, and a flash of a panic ricocheted through the bond. “What do you mean?”

“He smelled polar bear and sex on my clothes and skin and remembered you bought me coffee. So he put two and two together.” Charlie shrugged. “He’s not going to out you.”

“But you didn’t deny it?”

“It didn’t make much sense to lie.” And he was a little hurt that August expected him to.

“I guess not.”

“Do we need a story to tell your brothers if they ask?”

August grimaced. “It’s probably best to tell the truth.”

“Including the fated mates part? Your family should know in case things get complicated.” Their lives were tied together, and he didn’t know if he could force his magic to unravel the bond in an emergency, and that was assuming he was able to do magic in an emergency and that he wasn’t unconscious.

“Nothing happens out here. Besides, where are you planning to run off to without me?” August kissed him.

“I’m not going anywhere. I can’t. This is a three-year contract.” He didn’t say the obvious bit out loud. Which was that if he was stuck here and August wanted to leave, the bond would unravel naturally. If August wanted to remain his mate, he also needed to stay in town.

“Three years? Why so long?”

“Because the preparation to come here took months. They want to give whoever takes the job time to get established in the community and be trusted. There are so many paranormals here that if trouble does happen, people need to want to talk to me about more than books. Being the Coven outpost means back up is at least twenty-four hours away.”

August frowned. “Are you actually a librarian?”

Charlie laughed. “Yes, that’s what my degree is, and I was working as a librarian for the Coven for a few years before I moved into researching for their active cases and helping agents.”

“That doesn’t explain how you ended up here.”

“The job came up, and I liked the look of the bonus. It wasn’t that deep.”

“What about your family? Aren’t they worried?”

“No. My mother was Coven. Besides, as you said, I’m an adult and quite capable of making poor life choices without anyone’s assistance.”

“Do you regret coming here?”

“Nope. My mother did say that three years was a long time and that it may not suit my personality, by which she meant my magic and my sexuality. I think she was worried that I’d be lonely and accidentally unravel the whole town.”

August smirked. “So I’m taking one for the team and helping to save the town?”

Charlie rolled his eyes. “Like you aren’t begging for it.”

“All I’m hearing is win-win.” August tugged him to his feet. “Come on, we’re almost done.”

“I regret this entire plan.”

“It will look great when it’s done.”