Page 26 of Tall, Dark and Haunted

Chapter Twelve

Rhiannon

“Igiveup!”I practically fling myself down on the table.

It feels like we’ve been at this for hours, but there’s absolutely nothing useful in any of the books we’ve looked through. My guess is that the coven keeps the really powerful stuff hidden. Which is definitely not a good thing, seeing as how they’re trying to kill us.

Topher and Davy look up from where they’re sitting across the table from me and stop their bickering. Red takes my hand in his and gives it a squeeze.

“There has to be something,” he says quietly. “We can’t give up.”

My shoulders slump, and I can feel tears threatening to fall. I really don’t want to give up either, but I have no idea how to save us. I think the heavens must be laughing at me. Imagine giving someone a second chance at life just to steal it away again.

At the risk of sounding childish, I grumble, “It’s not fair.”

“I know,” Topher says, climbing to his feet and walking around the table. He crouches beside me, his hand going around my waist. “I’m sorry, Rhia.”

I reach out and tangle my fingers in Topher’s hair. Then I pull his head towards mine, seeking a kiss. I don’t want to waste another second trying to find a solution that doesn’t exist. I want to spend my last living moments with my mates.

Topher’s arm tightens around me as his tongue brushes along my lips. With a small moan, I open my mouth, deepening the kiss. My whole body seems to tingle as I pull him closer, which nearly causes him to topple over.

Davy coughs loudly, and we pull apart. My cheeks grow warm, and I sneak a peek at him. He does not look happy. Not at all.

“Stop kissing my mate, Topher.” His voice is barely audible, just a low, almost feral hiss.

“Technically, my mate kissed me,” Topher replies, clearly pleased with himself. He’s enjoying this. And I don’t just mean kissing me. He loves pissing off Davy.

“You shouldn’t tease him,” I whisper.

“But teasing Davy is the only fun I’ve had in centuries,” he complains before nuzzling against my neck. “Until I met you, at least.”

“What are we going to do?” Red asks. “We’re not getting anywhere with these books.”

No one says anything. We’re all out of ideas. No one wants to be the one to say it, but everyone is wearing matching expressions of resignation. It’s all over and we know it.

“We should just make the most of the time we have left.” My voice breaks slightly, even as I try to sound upbeat.

“We can do that,” Topher agrees, his voice husky. He picks me up off my chair so he can sit down before settling me on his lap. “Tell us, Rhia. What do you have in mind?”

I hesitate. We’re in the library. We can’t do what I want to do here! That librarian will shift into an old lady again and chase us out of the library. Or worse, call her mate and get us put in jail. I really don’t want to spend my last night alive in a jail cell.

Before I can reply, I hear an old woman a short distance away say, “There are some very strange books in this library. Not at all your usual sort of books.”

“What are you saying, Doris?” a man replies, his voice far too loud for the library. “I can’t hear you. What did you say?”

“The books here, John. They’re not normal.”

“What do you mean not normal? Are they naughty? I like naughty books.”

“No, John. They’re not like the magazines you hide in the garage.”

“What was that?” John asks, shouting now.

“YOUR MAGAZINES, JOHN.”

“Oh, do they have naughty magazines here, Doris?”

Grumbling, Doris begins to walk away. John follows after her, asking her where the magazines are. My mates are all chuckling softly, and I can’t help but smile, all of us struggling to remain quiet.