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I nodded once. “I’ve no idea what his financials look like.”

“You know what his gift is. He’s cared for. He technically owns this library—owns its individual trust, at any rate.” Mesmer smiled, those vivid eyes of his dancing with glee.

“I’m more interested in my own situation.” Mesmer laughed, his lips curling into a bright smile. “What would it cost me to also become an omega?”

That was not what I expected.

“I—I don’t know how to do it again… Not without Zeke… And in my condition…” I wrapped my arms around my waist in embarrassment.

Mesmer shrugged and gestured for me to stand. “That can be handled in due time.”

I did so, and he brushed his hair back, staring up at me with an expectant expression. “In that world, what’s the average gestation time?”

“Six and a half months…” I cleared my throat as he nodded.

“So, we have about… Five months or so…” He pulled an older-model flip phone from inside his jacket and let his thumb fly, brow furrowed. I must have made an odd expression because he glanced up at me then glanced at his phone with a short sneer. “It was the height of technology when I paid for it to be pulled from a Lauren Groff novel.”

I blinked. “You pulled it out of the precursor to Matrix?”

“And The Terminator!” He stuck his tongue out. “It hasn’t aged well, but it’s surprisingly functional. Besides, I don’t have a requisitor in my favor right at this mo—”

He pointed at me.

“You fucked my boyfriend.” I stared him down.

“Touché.” Mesmer snapped his fingers. “Long before you came along… So that makes us like brothers…or cousins?”

“I liked you better as the guy coming to punish me for getting freaky in the book.” I hoped he took the nudge playfully. It was hard to read him, but I knew he needed me. Also, still, we vibed on a weird level.

Mesmer’s expression went flat. “I have something you want, and you have many things I want.”

“Approval?” I raised a brow.

“You want to know if whatever you did to Zeke messed with his mind, made him love you.” He caught my gaze as I sat bolt upright.

“Uh-huh. I have a quick way to check.” He folded his arms. “So, first, pay up.”

“Pay up, what?” I huffed as the bottom fell out of my stomach. “I don’t have a lot of money… I mean, I have some but—"

“Money is worthless between us. I want three wishes.”

“I’m not a flippin’ genie!” I flinched as he laughed.

“Might as well be.” He stared at his nails. “I want three things taken from books.”

“O-okay. If it won’t get me in trouble.”

“Mm-hmm.” He pulled a notebook from his pocket, fervently sketching out something with a pen he really shouldn’t have had in the library. “Sign here.”

I took the notebook as he thrusted it into my personal space and read the flawless handwriting declaring upon granting an investigative favor, I, Alexei Zaslavsky-Wolfram would be—“What?”

“Mates. Keep reading.” He gestured at me as I turned my attention back to the paper.

“I, Alexei Zaslavsky-Wolfram, will grant a one, Mesmerach Aloysius Holiday— Damn, that’s a mouthful—” I snorted.

“That’s what I said the last time I was with your darling Zeke.” He pinned me with a terse stare.

“Point.” I continued reading as my skin prickled. “Three uses of great skill in the field of requisition. The first feat is to dive into a chosen book to physically alter Mesmerach Aloysius Holiday into his ideal version of omega. The second task is to draw from a fantasy one technology item—a cellphone. The third is yet to be determined and to be kept open until such time as he decides it is time to fulfil. Said task will bring no harm to Alexei Zaslavsky-Wolfram, nor his friends or family.”