Page 16 of Ancient Promises
“Sleep well,” Rehlik said.
Eivross turned and headed out of the bar, squinting at the bright spring sunshine. His gaze immediately strayed to the bookstore across the street, and it was then that he realized there was a tarp blocking the front door.
It should have been fixed yesterday.
His dragon let out an unhappy chirp.
He let out his dragon a little to enhance his eyesight and saw a sign taped across the tarp that read “Closed for renovations.”
Spinning, he returned to the bar, the door slamming against the wall with force. Rehlik and Trace both looked at him in surprise.
“Why isn’t the bookstore’s door fixed?” he demanded.
Rehlik’s gaze narrowed, and for a heartbeat, Eivross wanted to lower his head and bare his neck to the male in deference to his authority, but he was too keyed up with sudden worry for Diem to do so. His fingers dug into the wood of the door as he stared at the two males and waited for an answer.
Trace coughed to clear his throat. “I heard from Veron that the size of the door is unique and they couldn’t use a stock door, so one had to be ordered. It will take a week to get here.”
“So she’s unprotected? That’s ridiculous.”
Rehlik gave him a long look. “First of all, she’s perfectly safe and also capable of protecting herself. And second, I’m not really sure why you care.”
He stared at the alpha.
“It’s not right to leave her unprotected.”
“It’s not really up to you,” Rehlik said.
His eye ticked. Now wasnotthe time to point out anything like that.
“I’ll stand guard.” He turned and stalked toward the front door.
Rehlik was in front of him in a heartbeat, a growl rumbling in his chest. “Now wait a damn minute. You said she’s not your mate and you’re not going to claim her. You’re new to town and you don’t have any authority to say who you will or won’t be guarding.”
Eivross wanted to protest, but he wasn’t sure what to say that wouldn’t make him sound like an asshole or an idiot, or both.
Trace appeared next to them. “If he wants to stand guard at the bookstore, whichisfilled with valuable items, then I don’t see why we don’t let him. He can fly his rounds at night but stand guard as well.”
Rehlik frowned, but then nodded. “It’s up to Diem. You have to speak with her and get her approval, since you’ve done nothing remotely close to starting a conversation with her. If she doesn’t want you guarding her, then you won’t be, period.”
Well, he’d just see about that.
He might not be planning to claim her as his mate, but he would certainly see to it that she was safe until the front door was replaced. It was the least he could do, all things considered.
“I’ll speak to her,” Eivross said.
“Good luck,” Rehlik said, stepping aside.
Eivross left the bar and crossed the street to the bookstore. He pulled aside the tarp and stepped inside.
So. Many. Books.
His dragon wanted to explore and find more treasures. But then he smelled something wonderful and knew it was her.
“What are you doing here?”
* * *
Diem felt Eivross enter the bookstore before she heard the swish of the tarp being pulled aside. Her heart pounded in her chest, her stomach filling with butterflies. She’d never felt so nervous in her entire life, and that included when she’d faced her former alpha for her exile.