Page 42 of The Librarian’s Familiar

Charlie gave that shrug again as if he didn’t care, but August felt it behind his breastbone like a hit that almost winded him. Charlie did care, and he wanted the bond, even if he didn’t want to believe it was possible. He didn’t want to be seen as a monster when he stepped out of the shadows and into the light.

August stood and walked around the small table. He placed one finger under Charlie’s chin and tilted his head up. A frown formed between Charlie’s dark eyebrows, and August ignored it. He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. This time, he was aware of the spark as it lit something in his chest and traveled down his spine. It was so close to lust that it was easy to mistake, but the heat was different, and he was sure that he felt bonds forming and breaking like he was at the very beginning of the universe.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“For the record, this is a very bad idea,” Charlie whispered against August’s lips as the bond between them reformed faster than his magic could undo it. It didn’t feel any different than it had last night. No stronger and no more permanent.

But that didn’t mean it wasn’t.

“Lots of things are bad ideas, but people still do them,” August whispered, his breath on Charlie’s cheek.

His lips curved into a small smile. “Did you not listen to anything I said?”

“I did.” August’s beard tickled his skin as he spoke, his lips brushing over Charlie’s in the smallest of kisses. “And I figured that if you were going to turn me to goo, you would’ve already started. So I’m safe, for the moment.”

“You’re currently my fated mate, so killing you is going to kill me.”

“See, I’m safe. And you’re safe because I can’t kill you for the same reason. So you don’t need to be afraid of polar bears.”

Charlie’s toes gripped the carpet through his socks. “This is a stupid conversation. We shouldn’t be discussing mutually assured destruction while we kiss.”

“Then stop talking. We have established this is probably a bad idea, but like so many bad ideas, it’s also irresistible, so what’s the point in resisting?”

Charlie ignored the way his dick wanted more of the kissing and tried to focus on the dangers and the many, many reasons they shouldn’t be playing with the bond.

“Because we will be able to share magics.” Which meant he’d have access to August’s polar bear, and he had no idea what that meant or how it would impact his own magic.

“I read that, and that assumes that your magic doesn’t eat the bond before I can get my paws onto it and learn how to do something with it.”

Charlie put his hand on August’s chest and pushed him back. “This isn’t something safe to play with like fire magic. There’s no cute flame on the end of your fingertip to light a candle.”

August blinked at him. “I can’t believe you called fire magic safe.”

Charlie gave a one-shouldered shrug. “I mean…comparatively.”

“The only thing I want to learn is how to stop your magic from putting holes in my socks and underwear.” August grasped his hand.

“Get out of your clothes faster.”

“I mean, in general, as there’s nothing worse than a hole in your socks when you’re skating.”

“My magic can’t prevent things from falling apart.” He’d tried and failed many times to make his magic create instead of destroy.

“Then can I put holes in my opponents’ socks?” August pressed.

“Sure, but it’s going to be obvious if they all get holes in their socks, so you need to mix it up, loosen a bit of elastic, break a couple of ties.”

“Undo some laces…I’d have been a menace.”

Charlie laughed. “The Coven wouldn’t have let you. They are very strict about shifters and witches playing professional sports. The moment you start using magic, or your shifter nature too obviously, someone would’ve had a word.”

“And then what? Ship me off to paranormal prison?” His lips were curved in a smile, and only inches from his.

“There are several steps before that. It is a prison of last resort for those who have shown contempt for other paranormals and humans. The Coven doesn’t strip magic lightly or bind shifters in their animal form without due process. So they would’ve spoken to you, and you would’ve received a warning, then they’d monitor you very closely, and if you fucked up again and were too obvious, they may have forced you to wear magic dampeners, which means you’d need to check in to shift.”

August rocked back a little further, even though Charlie wasn’t pushing him. His fingers were too busy curling into the front of August’s shirt as if trying to drag him closer against Charlie’s will. “This has happened before.”

“Of course it has. But no one in the prison is there for cheating against humans, so you’re safe. And now we know the bond reforms.” He wasn’t going to take the next step. That was all on August.