The moment the music ended, Nyx slipped from Colin’s arms and made her way to the edge of the dance floor. Her stomach rolled. She couldn’t fake her mood a second longer.
Nyx weaved through the tables. The coatroom beckoned her. She’d check out her purse, then leave. She didn’t care where she’d left her shawl. She had others.
“Normally, people excuse themselves from situations that make them uncomfortable.” Colin laid a hand on her shoulder. “Running makes you look desperate.”
Nyx froze. The realization of what she’d done registered. She shrugged off Colin’s hand and her embarrassment. His opinion of her didn’t matter. “Didn’t I say I was leaving?”
Lifting her hair out of the way, Colin draped her shawl over her shoulders. “No.”
“Hmm…” Nyx crossed the edges of her shawl over her chest. Anton’s scent wafted to her from the fabric. She lifted a section to her face. Instead of calming her, the reminder of the man who’d left her here intensified her edginess. “I must’ve only thought it, then.”
Without looking at Colin, she approached the shifter behind the counter. “I’m ready to leave.”
The woman bent and retrieved Nyx’s purse. Colin snatched it from the other shifter’s hand. He tucked it under his arm, then motioned to the door. “Let’s go, then.”
“I can find my way.”
“And I promised to walk you home.” Colin pressed his hand to the base of her spine and urged her forward.
Once in the hallway, Colin crowded her against the wall. He bent close and lowered his voice. “Besides, you need to be my witness.”
Aware of the other shifters around them, Nyx fisted Colin’s shirt instead of shoving at his chest. Her balled hand worked the same to keep a slight distance between their bodies. “A witness to what?”
“A delivery. I’m completing my assignment.”
The first Alexander’s book. Nyx turned her head to look into Colin’s eyes. Hunger didn’t warm them the way Anton’s did sometimes, but Colin’s eyes were beautiful. They could’ve been gemstones. The perfect cut to his jaw and his straight nose gave him a model-worthy appearance. No doubt he had women falling at his feet. She never would. He didn’t do a thing for her. Besides make her skin crawl.
“Where is it?” Surely, he hadn’t brought it here. There were shifters on the Council who’d make sure it was destroyed permanently. They feared what was written inside. That was why Boris had kept it hidden until now—until she was ready to claim her destiny. Only, she wasn’t ready. There wasn’t a seat for her to claim. She’d have to wait until a feline councilman died of old age. No matter. The book was safer here, locked away in the library where it belonged.
“In my car.”
“Your…” Nyx lowered her voice. “Your car?”
Colin nodded, then handed her purse back to her. They slipped through the main doorway and jogged to where a handful of cars were parked behind the dining hall.
Nyx tightened her grip on Colin’s hand. The foolishness of his actions left her enraged. Anyone could’ve broken the widows on his car and stolen the book.
The rumbling growl of an engine starting carried through the night. She focused on the black sports car with its dark windows. The passenger window rolled down. Colin led her toward it.
She caught a glimpse of blonde hair and red lipstick, but no indication of what shifter animal the female driving the car possessed. Had this woman taken the drug Anton had mentioned to mask her scent?
“My human partner, Sam. We’re not romantically involved,” Colin offered as if he’d anticipated her question.
His response stoked her curiosity, but not enough to urge her to ask more. Nyx couldn’t care less what this human was to Colin. “She’s guarding—”
“Yes.” Colin cut her off, then reached through the open window and retrieved a burlap-wrapped package. “She is.”
The human female didn’t speak, but she did give Nyx a disappointed look, as if she found Nyx lacking in some way. As if Nyx cared. She raised her chin.
The window closed. The car pulled out. Nyx stared at the retreating taillights. “She didn’t say a word.”
“Sam thinks we’re going to have sex.” Colin led Nyx toward the path leading to the library. “It irritates her off. I’m going to get the silent treatment for days.”
“Why? Aren’t you allowed to have lovers?”
“Sam thinks I’m a man whore. She doesn’t understand why I keep screwing every woman who’ll spread her thighs for me when I know I’m going to be taking a mate soon.”
“Because you should be saving yourself for your future mate?” The concept was sweet but impractical. Shifters needed sex. Abstinence left them edgy. And grumpy. Maybe that was Anton’s problem. He needed a good, hard tumble.
“I guess.” Colin punched a code into the keypad on the library door, then pushed it open. “She’ll get over it. She always does.”
Nyx cut a sideways glance at Colin but didn’t respond. She didn’t know much about human females, but she understood how silence acted as a weapon. Anton had been wielding it since she’d moved into his house. Or trying to. So far, she’d been able to counter his reluctance to interact with her.
“Come on. I want to get back to the dance. Boris is waiting for me to give an update.”
“Okay.” She followed Colin across the library and slipped through a door behind the desk.
Before she knew it, a darkened, winding stairwell leading to the basement of the library loomed before Nyx. Near the deepest turn in the stairs, flickering light danced along the walls. The candles did little to brighten the path. Or counter the ominous mood this place gave off. The airy library above was nicer.
“Are you sure we should be here?” Nyx didn’t think the massive Royal feline shifter who’d wanted to offer her a job would be pleased knowing they’d snuck down here after hours.
“Councilman Yuran is expecting me.” Colin adjusted the wrapped package he carried, then grasped her elbow and nudged her forward. “And we shouldn’t keep him waiting. He’s been dying to get his hands on this book ever since I told him what I found.”
“Councilman Yuran?” Her uncle Boris had never mentioned a councilman by that name. She blocked Colin’s path. “Nobody besides Shifter Affairs and the Mercer family is supposed to know this book has been located.”
“Your uncle Boris arranged this. He wants Tsar to copy the book before it’s presented at the next Council meeting.” Colin looked pointedly at her. “Just in case something happens to it.”
Nyx glanced at the large, flat, burlap-covered object. Rough twine secured the fabric, but it didn’t seal in the moldy scent clinging to the package. The book Colin carried was old, older than what the humans would consider the beginning of the civilized age. He carried a piece of history.
“Do you think that’s really a possibility? The book has survived this long without anyone destroying it.” Nyx ran a finger over the rough material covering the first Alexander’s book. “Boris thinks fear of the goddesses’ retribution was what kept this book intact.”
“Times have changed. There’s a growing number of shifters who no longer believe in the goddesses or the stories of our origins. They think shifters are the superior result of evolution, not the consequence of the meddling of the gods and goddesses in humans’ lives.”
“Yes, but to destroy history?” Nyx couldn’t fathom such a thing. Books and all the other treasures collected over the years marked their beginnings. How were people supposed to meet the challenges of the future if they didn’t understand where they came from? Or why they did the things they did?
Colin didn’t speak for a long moment. When he did, the growl to his voice twisted his tone. “Exploiting females is profitable, Nyx. It’s also a power rush for those shifters who never learned healthy ways to deal with their animalistic drive to dominate and control. And those males will fear losing their victims.”
“And giving women equal rights gives them a voice.”
“Exactly. That’s why Boris wants a copy made of this book. He wants to ensure the first Alexander’s radical beliefs become law.” Colin focused on her. “For you.”
Nyx wasn’t so sure Boris’s motives centered on her. More likely Boris wanted to be remembered as the man who was responsible for giving women equal rights.
“And I want to ensure the book is treated with the respect it deserves.” The rough voice of the feline shifter who’d wanted to hire her echoed in the stairwell.
“Tsar Yuran.” Colin bowed, a sign of respect reserved for the eldest of their kind.
Nyx inhaled sharply. She’d obviously misjudged the head librarian’s age. And his position. Her cheeks warmed. She quickly curtsied.
“Colin Lynch, future leader of the Lynch family.” Tsar inclined his head at him, then smiled at her. “And the lovely Ms. Mercer. Thank you both for bringing the package over tonight. I’ve been waiting thousands of years to get my hands on the first Alexander’s book.”
“It’s my duty and honor, Councilman Yuran. This book ultimately belongs in your safekeeping anyway. I’ve only acted as a temporary host,” Colin responded.
Nyx swallowed against the embarrassment tightening her throat. She dipped her head. “I apologize, Elder Tsar. We were never properly introduced. Had I known you were an elder, I would’ve shown the proper respect before.”
“You should scold Anton for his faux paus, then.” Tsar took her hand and led her toward another metal door at the end of the hall. Two more Royal feline shifters stood there, holding spears decorated with jewels.
“No.” She smiled and hoped it came across as natural and not forced. Her embarrassment acted as a noose around her throat. “I’m sure it was an honest mistake. Though, I must admit I’m a tad confused. Anton mentioned he would be stepping into the role of eldest on the Council, but you seem…”
“Older? Well, you’d be right. I’m the grandson of a goddess, but I can’t hold both the title of eldest on the Council and eldest guardian of our treasures.” Tsar motioned around them at the damp stone walls. “This is where I belong. I understand this world. The one Anton and the others rule over is foreign to me. Too many things have changed out there. I have no place voting on the laws governing it, so I refrain from attending meetings. Or leaving the library.”
“Ah…so you work from sunrise until you retreat to your home at night too?” Of course, without a mate, she could see herself doing the same thing. She couldn’t imagine Anton wanting to sleep over at her house every night. He’d need his alone time too. If she succeeded in winning the right to be in his bed.
“You misunderstand. I don’t leave the library. Ever.” Tsar nodded toward the other Royal shifters guarding the door. “Neither do my brothers. This is our home.”
“You don’t leave even to shift and run?” Nyx studied the silent shifters near the door. One of the guards glanced her way. Her breath caught. One blue eye and one green eye focused on her. His mismatched eyes held a warning she didn’t understand. It sent a shiver down her spine. In the next breath, he faced ahead, ending the spell.
“No.” Tsar snorted. “There’s plenty of room to run down here in the dungeon.”
“The dungeon?”
Colin touched her arm, drawing her attention to him. “That’s what this basement and the network of tunnels and chambers is called. It’s not technically a dungeon.”
“More like a vault for our most precious possessions.” Tsar added.
“Can anyone come down here and see them?” She’d love to spend some time here after she cleared Anton’s name.
Tsar laughed. “No. Absolutely not. Only councilmen, their designees, or their guests can access the dungeon.”
“Do designees include secretaries?” If so, she’d beg Anton for permission to come here.
“Yes.” Tsar dipped his head once. “Bianca came here often.”
“Did she know how to read the old language?” Nyx had never considered wanting to learn their old language before stepping foot in the library upstairs. So many things had happened since then. So many truths had been revealed. So many unexpected desires had been awakened. She wanted them all.
“Yes. I taught her. She was an exceptional student too. Had she not already been working for Anton, I would’ve offered her a job in the library.” Pride shone in Tsar’s eyes.
Apparently, Tsar had been trying to steal away Anton’s secretaries for a while. She moved closer to the Royal shifter. “Would you teach me too? I’d love to be able to translate the text I’m transcribing for Anton.”
Tsar smiled widely. “Of course. Maybe I’ll convince you to join me after all.”
“Maybe.” She matched Tsar’s grin. He had no hope of swaying her from Anton or her dreams, but Tsar’s enthusiasm was contagious. “Can I start immediately?”
Chuckling, Tsar shook his head. He motioned them forward. The two shifters guarding the door stepped aside, allowing them access to the room beyond. Tsar ushered first Colin, then her inside. The doors clanged shut behind them. “I can give you private lessons if need be, but you seem talented. With the cheat sheet I made for Bianca, you should pick up the old language as easily as she had.”
Nyx heard Tsar’s words but couldn’t bring herself to respond. Her first glimpse at the room guarded by the Royal shifters left her speechless. An array of armor, weapons, and paintings decorated the walls. On marble pedestals, busts of beautiful women and powerful men stared at her with unmoving jeweled eyes. Leather purses and slings, along with cloaks and shimmering gowns were displayed on stands. Dozens of scrolls were stored on racks, while books lined the shelves on the farthest wall.
She focused on the bookshelf situated between two doors at the far end of the room. There were other doors, but Nyx didn’t care to open any of them. Yet. There was too much to explore here.
“Beautiful.” Her gaze locked on the books, she took several steps into the room. Light-headedness gripped her. She swayed.
Tsar steadied her with a hand on her arm. “The essences in the dungeon are potent. They take a bit to get used to.”
Nyx drew in a shallow breath. A hard punch of scents invaded her lungs. She locked her knees. “I didn’t notice them.”
“Too blinded by your curiosity,” Tsar commented. “Must be why you get along so well with Anton. You don’t notice how miserable he is as long as you have something to distract you.”
Nyx narrowed her eyes. Elder or not, she didn’t like Tsar’s insinuation. “I’m not flighty.”
“No.” All traces of amusement faded from Tsar’s face. A calculating look replaced the jovial one. “You’re focused. You ignore the world around you, waiting for the right opportunity to secure your prize. Once you get it, you strike, just like the cat you house.”
She forced a small chuckle. “I’m not exactly sure where you’re going with this.”
“Why Anton?” Tsar’s question echoed, repeating the demand Anton had made of her.
Colin stepped between them, taking her hand and leading her to a large table near another door. “Because he had a job opening. Nyx needed one. Now, if you don’t mind, let’s finish this. I’ve had a miserable few days locked in my car with a silent woman.”
He set the wrapped book on the tabletop with the utmost care, then went to work on the knots binding the package. Tsar pushed Colin out of the way and cut the cords with a flick of his sharpened, elongated nail. As carefully as Colin had set it down, Tsar unwrapped the package. A golden hide, covered in patches of fur, bound the book.
“It’s in remarkable condition.” Tsar skimmed his fingers over the cover.
Nyx wrinkled her nose. “It doesn’t smell like it.”
“This animal died thousands of years ago. What do you expect?” Tsar shrugged. “Once I put it into storage, the deterioration will slow considerably.”
Tsar opened the cover and stared at the script, an odd combination of glyphs and swooping swirls. Minutes passed while he turned the pages and silently read. Nyx glanced at Colin, who stood on the opposite side of the Royal shifter.
Colin shrugged. “I don’t read the ancient language either.”
Nyx touched Tsar’s sleeve. He whipped his head toward her and raised his lips on a low snarl. No sense of humanity showed in Tsar’s eyes. A predator watched her.
Heart pounding, she eased her hand away. She swallowed hard and fought to maintain her composure. Predators liked fear. “Do you have the cheat sheet you made for Bianca? I’d love to look at it.”
Tsar blinked slowly. Finally, he nodded. “Yes, let me get it.”
Tsar walked to a metal desk tucked between two tall statues and picked up a smaller book and some loose sheets of paper. He handed them over to Nyx. “Here, and some pages to practice on too.”
“Great. I’m sure Nyx will love learning the old language.” Colin settled his hand at her lower back, tearing a growl from Nyx’s jaguar, and led her to the door. “Thanks again for meeting with us tonight.”
The door slammed behind them. A lock clicked. Nyx hurried to keep up with Colin. “Why are we rushing?”
“Because I like my head attached to my body.”
“What?” Nyx stumbled.
Colin stopped and glanced at her. “Haven’t you heard the rumors? Anton Alexander is not a man to mess with.”
Nyx clutched the book and loose sheets of paper to her chest. “Anton’s protective. That’s not a bad trait.”
Colin made a disgusted sound. “Anton’s unstable. Just like Tsar is. You saw how he reacted to you disrupting his reading. Normal people don’t do that. He’s not mentally all there. Most of the long-term members of the Council aren’t. They’ve got no one to balance them. Keep them grounded. All they have are their ridiculous laws and the games they play once the Council is in session.”
“They don’t have a choice. They’re not allowed to mate.”
“They are. Technically, anyway. They just don’t.” Colin closed the door to the basement and led Nyx through the darkened library. “Doesn’t mean they have to freakin’ isolate themselves from the rest of the world or other people. They all do, though. Anton’s the worst. He isolates himself in that mansion on the other side of the campus far from where everyone else lives.”
“Many councilmen have lovers.” She chose to ignore the rest of Colin’s statement. Anton did isolate himself. No wonder he was lonely.
Colin cut her a glance. “And how many would care if their lovers disappeared or died? Many shifters consider females interchangeable, don’t forget.”
“Including you?”
“Yes. I haven’t met one that tempted me enough to care.” Colin stopped walking. He glanced at her. “Except Sam, but she’s like a daughter to me. She doesn’t count. My future mate does, and once I find her, I sure won’t let her leave my side. Or go off with another man.”
Nyx didn’t care what Colin thought of her. Anton’s opinion, on the other hand, meant everything.
After a few days.
Why? The question had been repeating in her mind since the morning he’d caught her snooping in his bedroom. Her heart kept teasing her with an answer, but it didn’t make sense. She couldn’t be anything more than a steady lover to Anton. There was nothing mystical pulling them together. She was a nobody, a single shifter who’d arrived here with orders to destroy Anton. Not love him. Yet here she was, wondering how to secure a spot in his life.
At least until she died.