Crescent (Book 1)

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Gabriel is already sitting at my usual desk when I stroll into the library. A thin black book is propped open in his palm, and for a moment, I watch as he glosses over the words before flipping the page. I don't bother being quiet as I climb the stairs and grab my books from a nearby book cart. The title of his book becomes clearer as I cross to the spot opposite him and read it aloud:

"Erog and Other Powerful Creatures. What's E-rog?"

"Eh-rog," he corrects, though he's smiling. "A creature much larger than you and I that prowls the forests near the mortal realms."

Near us. The air between us pulls taut as it always does when we're alone, secrets hanging between us. I'm not sure why, but whenever I look at him- despite the curious, disarming air about him- I don't sense a threat. I plunk into the seat across from him. "What does it do?"

He leans back, voice nonchalant. "Feast on bone marrow."

I try not to let him see the fear that stirs in my veins. "And the creature you're reading about now?" I motion to the bookmarked page, nearly a third of the way into the book.

His slate eyes darken in amusement, a joke I'm clearly not in on. "The Wispling. A creature made of shadow. It's actually said to be guarding this castle."

Curiosity dares me to prod further: "Guarding... what and how?"

"The vault. According to your fiance, it freezes thieves into gems beautiful enough to bestow on any crown." My back stiffens. Like the treasures I visited just hours ago? He gives me another amused smile before peeling his book open and absently reading the pages again. "Anything else I should look out for on our tour tomorrow?"

I smile, easily hiding my discomfort. "Only if you're planning on stealing something."

I get a full-blown smile from him this time, and he relaxes back into his chair, arms on either armrest. Without glancing up, he nods toward the neglected volumes in front of me. "Not engaging enough for you?"

I eye the books and then the glass bookcase across the room. The bookcase that I'm spelled from getting into. "I can read almost any book imaginable," I motion toward them. "Except for those five."

His eyes flick up for a moment, and he shakes his head as he thumbs to the next page. "Knowledge is powerful. Books even more so." His smile is teasing again. "Not those though. Those are quite boring."

"You've read them??" I sit up instantly.

"Many times. Every court has copies of them."

And yet I still can't get my hands on them. "What are they about?"

"If I told you that..." he tsks, and I frown at the amusement still clearly written across his face. "Interesting that your fiance would want to keep those from you. Aren't you supposed to have read books on the history of the gala anyways, Lady Brenna?" I curse him for looking so perfectly content to read the night away, dangling information over me by a string.

My eyes narrow, and my chair suddenly feels a bit too stiff, but it only amuses him more. We both already know I'm not who I say I am, but then again... neither is he. I stand, clearing my throat as I wrap my cardigan closer, blocking out the cold. "I have a lot of things to read, actually. So if you'll excuse me-"

"By all means." His face falls flat, but there's still a flicker of amusement- normally so carefully hidden to anyone else. He's testing me-

My anger rises, swift and hot, and I grit my teeth as I turn away. "I have to get back to it." He pretends to be so enthralled in reading that he doesn't notice as I browse over a few shelves. I feign interest in a particular set of leather-bound novels at eye-level but my attention remains on him. Even half a room away, I feel his presence like it's pressing on the air I have to breathe. But I refuse to let myself feel it. I refuse to let him know.

Picking through the titles, I dread spending another night reading. After the stunt I pulled at dinner the other night, I doubt there will be many restful nights to come. I'm still sleepily browsing through the aisles sometime later when I hear Gabriel push his chair back. I peer over the balcony one level down and find that he's already looking at me just as he's about to leave.

"Sorry I couldn't be of more help, my lady," he bows as he leaves, and in the same moment he smiles and turns to leave, a thick-spined book thuds at my feet. Brick-red lettering and a cerulean blue spine stare back at me. I recognize it immediately, but by the time I look up again, he's already gone.