Page 19 of The Librarian’s Familiar

“Which explains why you ended up in the Coven.”

Charlie pulled a face. “I didn’t get hired because of my mother.”

“So you don’t have a home to go back to?”

“Not really, not like you. Besides, I like moving around.” He shrugged. “My parents are retired and living in Vancouver, so maybe that’s home base.” He finished his coffee and tossed the cup in the trash. “So why did you leave?”

“Are you kidding?” The reason was obvious.

Chalie shook his head. “No, I don’t know how they scouted you out here.”

“They didn’t. My grandparents pushed for me to go to high school in Fairbanks and made it possible.”

“So you weren’t here when you started shifting.”

“No. That was the worst. I was ready to throw it all away that year, but the team was playing well, and it got me through. Then I figured I had to see how far I could get.”

“How far without revealing what you are?”

“Correct.” He lobbed his cup at the trash bin; it bounced but went in. “Did you ever worry about revealing you had magic? Catch a cup before it hit the floor or something?”

Charlie laughed and shook his head. “No, I think I was so paranoid about fucking up I hardly used it.”

“I imagine it’s hard to master. I think we’ve all heard horror stories about witches who didn’t manage to get control.”

“I think it’s less about control and more living with this extra sense. Your hearing is sharper than a human’s?”

“So I’ve been told, but I’ve had it all my life.” He didn’t want to talk about himself. “Your magic kicked in as a teen?”

“True. So imagine suddenly getting super hearing, you can’t turn it off, and you can’t reveal that you have it, but it is a part of you regardless. It’s not the kind of thing that can be forced into submission, so it’s a case of working with it.” He picked up his muffin and broke off another piece. “It’s kind of like the way shifters can’t ignore that side of them,” he said before shoving the muffin in his mouth.

“It’s very inconvenient at times.”

“I can imagine.”

“I don’t think you can. Feeling the heat rising and being on the road, sharing a hotel room, and trying to find ten minutes alone to shift…not wanting to do it inside but having no choice…”

“Okay, that’s worse. So you’re back to enjoy some shifting and family time.”

“Yes.” That was a simple way to put it, and much better than saying that he didn’t know what he was doing.

“Then why are you wasting time with me?” A small crease formed between Charlie’s eyebrows.

August swallowed as words fled. He wanted Charlie to be a mind reader and understand the pull. “I saw you and…” It wasn’t lust. Well, it was, but not only that.

“Couldn’t think of anything but getting me alone?” Charlie put his hand over his heart. “I’m flattered.”

August shook his head and looked away. “I don’t know what I was thinking. Maybe I wasn’t.”

“Blood rush to the wrong head.” He ate a bit more of the muffin like this was a perfectly normal conversation to have.

“You really aren’t making this easy,” August grumbled.

Charlie’s smile faded into something cooler. “Were you expecting me to be easy?”

“Your tongue is dangerous.” Sharper than a skate blade, August was sure Charlie could sever limbs with a few words.

“I’ve been told that before…though there were less clothes involved. Maybe when you’re more comfortable with yourself, you can find out.”