Chapter 43

Anila’s POV

I peeked around the corner to watch Damien intently, crinkling my nose at the fact that this was the second time I was peeping on him. His brown hair was tousled, and his glasses reflected the lights high above him as he smiled at the librarian.

The old man grins widely, placing a hand on Damien’s shoulder as a warm gesture. I didn’t even know the librarian was capable of smiling after my interaction with him earlier.

“I need to take a look at the restricted section, Alfred,” Damien said, using his name with such a casual cadence it was obvious they were close.

The restricted section was on the other side of the door behind the counter and there was a sign that read: ‘Professors only.’

However, Alfred, the librarian, fished the keys out of his pocket without any sign of hesitation.

“What’re you after this time, Damien?”

He stuck a large iron key into the even larger lock, twisting it as it clanked open. The door swung open revealing a small room with a bunch of bookshelves. My eyes grew impossibly large from the sight.

It was like a mini library in that room.

“If I tell you, nobody else can know about this,” Damien said, dropping his voice to a low whisper, but I, for some reason, had no problems hearing him.

Alfred looked around like he was making sure nobody was in earshot and I stepped further into the section I was in, trying not to be seen.

“Your secret is safe with me, per usual,” Alfred said as if this was a common occurrence.

Damien hesitated for only a moment; I peered around the corner so I could get a look at his face. Though he was turned from me, I could see a little redness on his ears, and I wondered if he was blushing.

“I’m curious about fated mate bonds,” he said, audibly swallowing. “If they can inflict shared dreams.”

Nothing could have prepared me for those words. I guess that answered my question about witches having mates. There was so much I didn’t know that I was determined to find out. But more importantly, why would he be wondering if the bond could inflict shared dreams?

Was he saying that he had the same dream as me? Did he see the dream?

Did they all see the dream?

Panic started to consume me, and I found it incredibly hard to breathe in the small aisle I was cramped in.

My hand gripped the corner of the wooden shelf until my knuckles turned white. I couldn’t bear the humiliation at the thought of others seeing the depraved state I was in, even in my sleep. My mind instantly went to Harley and the embarrassed look he gave me in class. Then to Zach and how he blamed me for his latest fuck buddy leaving early.

Then Xaden and how unusual he’s been acting.

I blanched.

Holy shit.

Alfred looked just as confused.

“Fated mates? Why would that concern you? Wizards don’t get that bond.”

I swallowed a lump in my throat, I could certainly feel that bond pulling in my chest just to be closer to him.

Damien didn’t respond though, or if he did, I didn’t hear what he said. He stepped into the small room, and he was only in there for a moment before he resurfaced with a thick tome in his hands, bound by a leather buckle.

“I’m just curious,” Damien murmured without looking at Alfred.

The book was incredibly old, from what I could tell, and I got the growing idea that… maybe there is more about the moon-queen in there. I’m not entirely sure why I have a growing obsession with the woman, but I wanted to know more about her, just like I want to know more about my mother.

“Find what you were looking for?” Alfred asked, eyeing the book carefully before his aged eyes shifted to Damien’s face.

“Yes, thank you, Alfred,” Damien said, his face growing a little red as he held the book close to his chest.

Alfred gave him an uncertain look before nodding and locking the door to the restriction section. I watched for a moment longer, seeing Damien disappear, and another student walk up towards the librarian.

As he snapped at the student with the same cruelty, he greeted me with, my nerves settled a bit. At least he treats everybody that way.

Everybody except Damien.

I couldn’t help but wonder why that was.

I chewed my cheek, glancing back at my abandoned spot of records and magic for dummies book, before deciding I’d get more done with help. Scooping the books up, I placed them on the return tray that sat next to the receptionist's desk and then followed my nose as I sought out Damien.

His scent was faint, easily overwhelmed by the ink and parchment all around me. But as I caught a trace of cloves and vanilla, I moved in between the shelves to avoid the detecting eye of Alfred, not wanting him to spot me and turn his frustrations towards me.

I definitely didn’t want him to kick me out again. Twice in one day? Yeesh, I’d be on his shit list forever. If I wasn’t already.

I snaked around corners, navigating the library as I followed the trail of cloves and vanilla. As I walked along a bookshelf, my eyes caught sight of Damien on the other side.

I paused, admiring the slant of his jaw, and the sharp angle of his nose. His glasses rested on the tip, sliding down little by little as he read his book intently. He used his finger to push his glasses back up to cover his gray eyes, and I felt my heart thump in my chest just a little harder.

If anybody could get me into the good graces of the librarian, it would be him. But how would I even approach it? “Hi, I saw you were chummy with that crotchety old librarian, think you can get me in my good graces so I can find information on my mother?”

Yeah right, like that would work. My frown was deep as I resigned to re-grab the books I dropped off and just do this research by myself as I planned.

But as I shifted to leave, Damien’s voice called out. “Spying on me again?”

I turned; unsure he even spoke to me since his face was still buried within the book. It wasn’t until he peeled his eyes away from it to look at me through the bookshelf, that my fingers interlocked with themselves.

“No,” I said in a barely a whisper. My cheeks flushed. “I wasn’t trying to. I had a goal.” I clear my throat, coming around the corner to face him fully.

He narrowed those cold eyes slightly, suspicious before he placed the book down and leaned back in his seat. I saw the curiosity evident on his face as he took me in.

“And what goal is that?” He asked.

I fidgeted, not sure where to start. So, I took a deep breath and just went for it.

“I’m trying to find more information about my mother. But I managed to get on that librarian's bad side, and he won’t tell me where to look in the student records. I’ve never met her before, and I just… I want to know something about her.”

Damien tilted his head, mulling over my words. For a moment, I think he’ll dismiss me. But it never comes.

“That doesn’t exactly explain why you are lurking in the aisles, watching me,” he said, furrowing his brows together, his eyes remaining on me.

I lowered my gaze to the ground, my fingers fumbling with one another. This was a lot harder than I thought it was going to be. Damien was intimidating, but I was also so intrigued by him.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and tried to settle the butterflies that took flight in my belly.

“I really wasn’t trying to spy…” I murmured. “I just happened to hear you joking around with him and I figured you were close…”

His face was indifferent, and I wondered desperately what he was thinking; when he didn’t say anything in response, I decided to just continue.

“So, I was hoping that maybe you’d be able to help me?” I finally asked, biting my lower lip and bearing myself from the rejection that was bound to come.

I wouldn’t blame him if he denied me and went about his business. It’s not like Damien and I were close; in fact, I’m pretty sure he couldn’t stand me despite this nagging bond that ties us together through these threads.

Damien didn’t owe me anything; in fact, I probably owed him considering I’m always causing him problems it seems. I’m sure my face was completely red from my embarrassment as I fixed my eyes on the ground sheepishly.

But then Damien spoke, bringing my gaze back up to his.

“Yes,” he finally said after what felt like a lifetime. “I’ll help you.”