Page 42 of First Ritual

Want? Or need? I was intrigued enough to continue down this path either way. I gripped his chin, then kissed him.

Releasing his chin, I then swiped up the book I hadn’t really been reading anyway. “Do you feel distracted and breathless?”

“Confused,” came the vague answer.

“Because you’re falling for me?”

“No. Still unsure what the fuss is. I went through that for nothing.”

Laughter burst from me. “Sorry I don’t do it for you.”

The magus stood, absently running his fingers over the spines of books closest. “You have the wrong parts.”

“Huh?”

“This pickle is tickled by other pickles, not by the pickle jar.”

My brows rose as he departed. That was one way to end a conversation.

Still didn’t know his name.

Also didn’t care that much.

I shrugged and wrinkled my nose at the sight of so many books around me. There was a lot of information in this library, but not a lot on tethers. Mr. Glasses was right. Magical bonds had everything to do with the heart. The rules were straightforward. Why would there be a wide selection of books on the subject? Family had bonds. Good friends could form bonds. Lovers often had bonds. End of story.

An esteemed left his private cubicle and disappeared through a door on the opposite end of the library.

After crossing the library floor, I tried to follow. The door didn’t budge. I tried again, then stepped back for another esteemed to leave the room.

“Can I help you, Bronte?” the ancient magus wheezed.

“Is there a trick to get through this door, sir?”

“You must possess grimoire affinity to get within.”

Dammit. “Are there many books inside?”

The esteemed smiled, then coughed a few times. I half expected dust to come out.

“Yes, child,” he said. “In plain terms, this open section of the library is the tip of the iceberg.”

Double dammit. “Why are the bulk of the books kept from some members of the coven?”

The esteemed looked at the book in my arms. He extended a hand, and I passed the text over. Opening the book, the old magus gently flattened a folded corner of a page.

Oops. “I was marking my place.”

His expression was smooth. “Those with a grimoire affinity tend not to mark their place. The tomes through this door are very fragile. Precious.” There was no judgment in his words.

I grimaced. “Right. Thank you, sir.”

The magus hobbled away, and I banished the book to where I’d found it. I’d work through the five or so titles on tethers in the open section first, but something told me the juicy stuff would be found through this door.

Leaving the library, I beelined for the eating area. Lunchtime. I needed to meet me some children. Once I’d scoped them out, if the tether in me wasn’t showing any signs of life, then I’d ask for a transfer.

“Bronte!”

I waited for Rooke.