Page 59 of The Librarian’s Familiar

“Yeah, I think he found a job where he could sit around and do very little and had no plans on leaving.”

“Clearly he did, or you wouldn’t be here.” August closed the distance between them and kissed his cheek. “I’m glad he did leave. If you don’t want me to come round tonight, I won’t.”

Charlie closed his eyes. “I do. But I know you have better things⁠—”

August silenced him with a kiss. “I have obligations.”

“And we need to find out if the bond can be remade after unraveling completely.” This might be his only chance to test the workings of his magic and the bond fully. It was also something to add to the database about his magic. He hadn’t said anything about the previous two bonds, as it hadn’t seemed worth it at the time.

“I’m a little scared that it won’t come back. I’ve gotten used to feeling you there at the edge of my brain like a thought I can’t grab. I can tell when you’re annoyed and disappointed…I felt it last night.” He sucked in a breath. “And I haven’t told my parents.” He held his hand up, asking him to be allowed to continue. “Not because I don’t want to or because I’m worried about what they’ll say, but because it feels like a lot of steps, and I’m barely used to walking.”

Be understanding.

Charlie took a moment before answering. “I don’t want to push you, even though the bond makes it more complicated. Maybe your parents haven’t noticed yet because you’ve been away so long, but someone in town will. You’ll be talking to a witch, and they’ll sense it.”

August nodded. “I don’t want to lose it…lose you.”

Charlie leaned into the embrace. He didn’t want to lose him either, which he was blaming entirely on the bond because jocks had never been his thing. Though August wasn’t like the guys he went to school with. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”

Charlie smiled even though August couldn’t see it. “I can honestly say that I definitely want to remake the bond with you.”

“Is that what you call it when you put me through the mattress?”

Charlie laughed. “Every time we kiss, it reforms a little, but my magic is faster. So no, you don’t need to take your clothes off.”

“If you’re going to make me wait another day, I’m definitely taking my clothes off.”

“That could be awkward in the middle of the library.”

“I’ll come round tomorrow night? Will it be gone by then?”

“I think so?” He didn’t want this to feel like an experiment, even though it was.

“So what I’m hearing is that we need to be more proactive in maintaining the bond.” He lifted his eyebrows. “Sounds like an excuse for you to get me naked.”

Charlie drew back and looked at him. “I’m not sure you need an excuse…and you don’t need to get naked. Be more creative.”

The library door opened, and they snapped apart. One of them should’ve been more careful. Anyone could’ve walked in and seen them. It was a teenage girl who’d already been in a few times.

August ran his hand over his hair. “I’ll leave you with the books. I don’t want to mess up your system.”

“Thank you for helping move the shelves.” He wanted to continue their conversation, but August was already walking away, and there was nothing more that needed to be said.

The girl dropped the book into the return slot on the desk and walked over to his newly created young adult section. No more books had arrived; however, she was pacing herself, only borrowing one book at a time.

She glanced at the door as it closed after August, then her attention shifted to Charlie. Was she about to say something that he didn’t want to hear? She grabbed a book and walked over to the desk.

Charlie made his way over. He smiled, but his cheeks were tight, and he was bracing for something he didn’t want to deal with. “You’re enjoying the new selection of books?”

“Yeah, I like the fantasy ones the best when people have magic.”

He gave a small laugh. A lot of paranormals didn’t like fantasy books because they were unrealistic. As if any fiction was realistic. It was called fiction for a reason.

She leaned on the desk. “What’s it like having magic?”

Charlie scanned the book and her library card. She must be one of the humans in town. Was it terrible living in a town surrounded by shifters and witches, knowing that you didn’t have any special ability? “A lot like having another sense.”