Page 6 of The Librarian’s Familiar

The only reason he knew that was because the old librarian had left notes—not about the library, that would be logical. No, he’d written journals about the town. At first, the history, and then it had become his own gossip column.

There’d been no handover as the old librarian had been gone for a week when he’d arrived. He had no idea what had happened to him or what the Coven was going to do with him, if anything.

“Long black. Two of the chocolate chip cookies,” the polar bear all but growled.

“Sure thing.” While Sinclair still smiled, it was all customer service, with no warmth on the side.

The bear paid and moved to stand next to him to wait. For a moment, Charlie was tempted to make small talk, but when the bear didn’t even look at him, he didn’t waste his breath.

“Here you go, Charlie. See you tomorrow!” Sinclair said with a grin and a wink.

Charlie bit back a sigh and forced a smile, aware that the bear was now staring at him. “Thanks.”

He took his cup and slipped out of the shop into the cold…even though everyone was saying how warm it was. He was not looking forward to winter, even though he’d been fully equipped and briefed before leaving.

He glanced back before the door shut, allowing himself that second glance, only to find the polar bear staring at him. The door closed, and the bell fell off, hitting the floor inside the shop.

Oh shit, not now. He stared through the glass pane, not sure if he should go back in and pick it up or walk away. The polar bear, now holding his cup of coffee, walked toward him…no, the door. He picked up the bell and lifted an eyebrow, staring at Charlie.

Charlie gave him an awkward smile and stepped back before his magic decided to undo coat buttons and belt buckles. Maybe he should hang out with fox shifters more often, but at some point, they’d realize he wasn’t what he said he was. It was easy enough to lie and say he was telekinetic because he could affect physical objects, just not in the way a true telekinetic witch, or at least a trained one, was able to.

He exhaled, not sure why the polar bear had gotten his magic so excited, although magic did respond to emotions, and that’s all lust was. A rush of emotion. He needed to get control of himself and give his magic something to do instead of destroying the only coffee shop in town. He couldn’t function without coffee.

CHAPTER FIVE

August scooped the bell off the floor and glanced at the witch on the other side of the door, who was clearly surprised at the bell’s sudden escape plans. The witch wasn’t from around here, but then that didn’t mean shit, as plenty of people only stayed for a few years. They came to teach or work in the hospital, which had expanded to two wards instead of one, or work on the airstrip.

This town was the last stop for a very human mine as well as the paranormal prison, where people were always coming and going. It was also the service town for several of the much smaller remote towns where only a few families lived. It wasn’t only paranormal people out this way; there were the humans who had always lived there and understood the dangers the weather and wildlife could present.

August wasn’t sure why any human would choose to live out here willingly, not these days anyway. In the past, before electricity and cars, every city in town was much the same. But after living in a city for most of his life, the differences were stark, and not only the weather.

He took the bell up to the counter and handed it over to Sinclair. “It fell off.”

That wasn’t what he wanted to say.

Sinclair pressed his lips together and slipped the bell into the pocket of his apron. “I can smell your curiosity.”

August was glad that was all he could smell, because the witch had caught his interest. And clearly, he’d also caught Sinclair’s from the obvious way they were flirting. Maybe they were already dating. “You know him well.”

“Very,” Sinclair purred.

Great, that was all he needed to know. He was not going to step on toes and get himself into trouble with the foxes. But while the witch and the fox had flirted, it had been Sinclair leading the dance.

August smirked. “And how well does he know you?”

“Oh, you’re so funny.” He placed his hand over his heart. “Back in town to lick your wounds?”

“Just like your older brother, are you?” Bennet Snow had been an asshole at school. Unfortunately, they’d been in the same year. It was probably a good thing August had left and done high school in Anchorage; otherwise, their playground scuffles might have become more.

“And what’s that supposed to mean?”

“That he never shied away from kicking someone when they were down.”

Sinclair sighed. “I’m not like that. Look, the witch is trouble. He’s the new librarian,” he said with lifted eyebrows implying what that really meant. “But he was fun trouble. Once. He’s not interested.”

“He seemed interested.”

“He’s polite. He’s humoring me so I don’t spit in his coffee.”