Page 19 of Ancient Promises

She gave him another long look. “Why did you shift the other day and take the door off in the first place?”

It was extremely tempting to tell her the truth, to lay his soul bare right then and there, but he knew he couldn’t do that. She’d counter that she could keep herself safe from his brother, but she didn’t know just how dangerous he was. Besides, hemightbelieve her and mate her, and then she would end up on the business end of Zihndyr’s claws.

“I’m not sure.”

She grunted in annoyance, then walked around to the other side of the computer. He peeked into the box and saw a collection of different books. He didn’t want her to ask another probing question about his behavior, so he left her to whatever she was doing and walked through the rows of bookshelves, his dragon adoring that she owned a place like this. What were the odds that he treasured books and his truemate was a bookstore owner?

His senses were alive, not only with the knowledge that his truemate was so close, but also being around the books. He could smell the fresh ink and paper of the new books, and the musty tang and rot of the older ones. He loved old books. They were often the most valuable, and his dragon coveted valuable things.

Just not his truemate.

He sniffed at the wayward thought.

Hedidvalue her. That was exactly why he couldn’t and wouldn’t claim her.

Something caught his attention and he inhaled, sorting through the various scents until he pinpointed what it was.

Turning down another row, he found what he was looking for on the bottom shelf of the historical section. The old book had a wooden cover that was cracked with age, the edges of the pages painted gold and marked with ink to resemble a map.

The entire book was filled with maps, in fact.

Courses for Sailing Around the World, 8th Edition.

The title was carved into the wooden cover with a skilled hand.

His dragon trilled as he pulled the book from the bottom shelf and opened it ever so carefully.

Inhaling, he picked up the scents of salt and sea, the weathered pages marked with ink and pencil by some old sailor.

What a treasure!

He strode to the counter where Diem was wrapping a book in bubble wrap.

He set the book of maps on the counter, his dragon practically purring at having a bookish treasure so close to his truemate. What a boon!

“How much is this book?”

* * *

Where the hell was he going?

She tried to ignore him as he headed toward the shelves, but he smelled too good. His presence was making her beasts go crazy.

She purposely tried to put him out of her mind and turned her attention to the books she was prepping to ship the following day from an online order.

He appeared suddenly, setting a book down on the counter and startling her.

“How much is this book?”

She looked down at the book, which she didn’t really ever remember seeing before, and then looked up at him.

He was far too good-looking, and he smelled too good.

Damn it.

She reached for the book, and his fingers tightened on it for a heartbeat before he released it.Interesting.

The book was old with a wood cover, which was unique.