Page 83 of The Librarian’s Familiar

“Would you do it even if I said no?”

Charlie pressed his lips together. As much as he wanted to pluck the strings of fate and let them fall apart, he didn’t. It wasn’t only his decision to make. “No. But I’ll call you reckless and remind you that you’re risking everything.”

“Like you didn’t do the same?”

“I was protecting everyone.” And he wasn’t sure that it had worked; he wanted to know what had happened.

“We were protecting everyone.”

“I would’ve died without you.”

August smiled. “That’s why we make a good team. Sometimes that means making hard choices.” He drew in a breath and stared up at the sky instead of looking at him. “Break it.”

“Why are you agreeing with me?” He really was dying.

“Because sometimes you do things you don’t agree with for the good of the team. Since you’re the witch, I’m going to trust that this is the right thing.”

What if it wasn’t? What if he was wrong and just a dying idiot? “I don’t know if it’s the right thing, but I don’t want to risk dragging you down with me.”

“I know, and I appreciate that. You should know I’m going to be gutted if we can’t recreate the bond. People who let it fade away don’t get a second chance—will we?”

“You want to do this again?”

“Yeah. I do.” He leaned down and kissed him. His lips lingered for a couple of seconds. “The next time I kiss you, we’d better be rebuilding the bond.”

Charlie smiled, hoping that was the case.

August stood as if unbothered that he was completely naked and waved his arms.

Charlie closed his eyes. He wanted to get up and prove that he was fine, but couldn’t find the energy to move, so he lay there unpicking the bond until only one delicate thread remained. He felt August’s relief that they had been found, his worry that there was something wrong that couldn’t be fixed, and beneath all of that, like a plant waiting for spring to sprout, was a tentative bud of love.

For several heartbeats, he couldn’t break that last string in case he destroyed that bud. He wanted to help it grow and enjoy the bloom. Would it still grow even if the bond didn’t grow back?

He murmured an apology to the bond, the bud, and the Fates, promising that he’d be back if he lived, then he let the last thread unravel until they were no longer connected.

He heard August’s sharp inhalation, and a few seconds later the noise of the engines filled the night. Three men were talking, then they were staring down at him.

“Hi.” Charlie tried for more enthusiasm than he felt. Where the bond had been was empty and raw, like he’d lost a part of himself.

“You broke the storm,” one of the men said.

“These are the fox shifters who got close to the witch,” August added.

“Thank you.” Charlie smiled and tried to sit up. All he managed was a fish-like flop that made his stomach roll. No more moving.

The other man shook his head. “I don’t know what the fuck you did to the witch, but I saw his skin rip away, followed by his muscles and then bones. It was like watching him disintegrate.”

“Weird,” Charlie said his gaze flicking to August. August’s eyes widened, but he kept his mouth shut. “Maybe the storm he created turned on him when I broke it.”

“Yeah…” the first man said. “Why don’t we get you loaded up and taken into town to see the healer?”

“Great. August?”

“I’m going back to the campsite to pack up. I’ll see you in town.” He helped Charlie up, and it was all he could do not to hurl on August’s bare chest. “You’ll be okay.”

Sure. Of course he’d be fine on his own. He was used to being on his own, so he didn’t suddenly need someone…except he’d gotten used to having someone. And he missed the connection.

He wanted the bond back.