Page 151 of Librarian

Anyone with a brain would hide their magical signature and use an invisibility spell if they were attempting to stay after closing. Fortunately, most people don’t think to hide the germs that have hitched along for the ride. So we catch the two idiots making out in a closet and the magister who’s fallen asleep in a corner.

“I’m getting tired of this shit,” North complains once we’ve swept the first floor.

Yeah. I can only imagine how Kyrith must feel. We’ve been doing this for four days, and already it feels like four years.

“Thank feck she decided to close on weekends.”

“We still on for tonight?” he checks.

Despite my tiredness, I nod. “Do you think…?”

“She’ll love it.” North grins. “I get why you’re nervous, though. I thought she’d put me on my ass the first time, but underneath all of those prickles is a delightful brat with a pain kink. She’s…” His face flashes between a dozen expressions all at once. Softness. Adoration. Amusement. Lust. “She’s perfect.”

Far from reassuring me, his words make my mouth twist.

While her enjoying pain is a significant step, I don’t often enjoy the battle of wits that comes with the kind of dynamic they share. What I delight in, what I need, is a partner who lets me lead. A soft, submissive Kyrith who can trust me to bring her to the heights of pleasure and eagerly obey orders.

It seems impossible for her to be North’s brat, Jasper’s Domme, and my good girl all at once. Before, I was so certain that we’d work. Her kneeling at my feet, the way she let me rest my hand in her hair. They all felt like signs that she was made for me.

Now, on the edge of finally fulfilling all the fantasies I’ve held for so long, the butterflies are staging a full-on riot in my stomach.

Have I ever been this nervous before?

North’s expression turns thoughtful.

“What?” I prompt.

He shrugs. “Nothing.”

I’m not Lambert to pull it out of him, but this time it’s pretty fecking evident what’s got his knickers in a twist. “You’re in love with her. Is that going to be a problem?”

He’s shared her with Lambert and Jasper in the past. If his feelings entering the mix has changed things, then that’s something we should talk about.

North’s eyes widen. The hand that was rubbing the back of his neck freezes as he searches the empty hallway like he’s checking it for witnesses. “No. No problem…” A heavy pause. “It’s not obvious, is it?”

I snort. “Only to anyone with eyes.”

His quiet groan makes my lip quirk. “Well, don’t tell her that, will you? I only ticked the sex box on her contract, and now…”

“Now you’re trying to figure out how to tell her?”

We make it to the parapet, but he stops as soon as we’re outside. “I kind of only worked it out for myself when she told me I might be stuck in the Library for the rest of all time and I didn’t hate the idea.”

“You don’t even like reading.”

“Exactly.” He groans. “But there’s a TV now, and I figure Eddy’s probably going to visit Kyrith every day for the rest of her life anyway. I can ask her to add a garage to the place, eventually.”

“You’ve really thought this out.”

He makes a face. “Yeah. Well…”

I sigh. “I suppose there’s no reason that the parriarchycan’tbe run from the Arcanaeum… I’d want to transfer it over to my heir, eventually. Or hell, I’ve been debating bringing up a few changes with Dakari and Jasper now that I’ve got the title.”

The leadership of our people should be more collaborative and democratic than it is, with safeguards to prevent another Isidora or Mathias taking over. With all the liminals and intermarrying between families, who can really say they’re only an Ó Rinn or a McKinley? It should be all six parriarchs working together to govern everyone.

If I were rector…

I blink. My thoughts rushing to a screaming halt.