Nyx rolled her shoulders, a failed attempt to ease the stiffness tightening her body, then scanned the aisles, noting the many men around them. Not all belonged on the Council. A few she recognized as ordinary shifters who’d visited her uncles over the years. They didn’t acknowledge her presence. Actually, nobody looked directly at her. She could’ve been invisible. Everyone had responded to Anton, however. Not in a warm way either. Every single shifter in this room had nodded in his direction, then gave their table a wide berth.
She slid her gaze back to Anton, the man her uncle Boris deemed a cold-blooded murderer. For months, Nyx had listened to the evidence Boris spouted to support his conclusion. Not only did Anton have the opportunity, he had a reason to kill Bianca.
Revenge.
Each founding member on the Council had contributed to the laws governing their species by penning a book detailing whatever aspect of the law they’d defined. All those first law books were safely locked away in this library. Except one. The book written by the first Alexander. Anton had spent his life searching for it. Bianca had stolen it right out from under Anton’s nose. Then sold it to Nyx’s uncle. Nobody knew that little detail, though. If Anton had, he would’ve stolen it back.
Nyx had believed her uncle’s theory about Anton killing Bianca out of revenge. Boris’s claim made perfect sense. After meeting Anton, however, Nyx couldn’t help but question her uncle’s insistence that Anton had murdered Bianca.
Anton didn’t feel like a killer. Nyx didn’t know how else to sum up her instincts. She simply didn’t fear for her life in this man’s presence.
Nyx leaned across the table, ignoring Anton’s stiff body and hard glare. After seeing his smile and the warmth in his eyes less than an hour ago, his sullenness now didn’t strike her as genuine. Especially when her jaguar kept feeding her images of how it wanted to run with Anton’s cats. If her jaguar didn’t fear Anton even with the glower he wore, Nyx couldn’t work up the energy to do so.
She lowered her voice to a mere breath of sound. “What types of books are kept here?”
The frown on Anton’s face deepened into a scowl that should’ve made her cower. Instead, Anton’s focus on her stopped the relentless pacing of her jaguar. The big cat turned its attention to him. Then lay down, resting its head on its paws.
“Books written by shifters. There’s even a small fiction section in the back.” Anton’s condescending tone came off as fake as his scowl.
Nyx fought a smile. “I mean how is it broken up? I know there are books written by various Council members and even some respected alphas that have been used to argue for and against issues the founding fathers’ books don’t cover, but how are they sorted? By author? Subject? How does anyone find the book they need in this place? There are thousands of books in here.”
“There are even more below the library.”
The man couldn’t answer a straight question to save his life. Nyx dipped her head, hoping to hide the annoyance in her expression. Anton’s evasiveness made her want to scream, but she couldn’t drop this topic. She needed a lead-in to talk about the first Alexander’s book Bianca stole from Anton.
“Really?” Nyx studied the nearby shelves. Small pieces of artwork and sculptures were tucked between sections of books. They added a nice touch to this space, but they took up valuable room. “If things were rearranged, there’d be plenty of spots for more books.”
“Restricted books, Nyx.”
“What kind of restricted books?”
“The ones that are controlled. They’re not books anyone could pull off the shelf and read.”
Nyx stared at Anton for a minute while his words stirred a hundred and one questions. “Why? What’s in them that the average shifter can’t know about?”
Anton closed his eyes and breathed slowly as if counting to ten, then focused on her. “Nothing is being kept from our species. Each book in this room has been painstakingly transcribed by hand. It’s tedious work, even for a shifter, but it’s necessary. Some of the originals are extremely fragile. They were written on parchment stolen from the heavens. They’re old. Very, very old.”
Nyx studied the open book in front of her. A mix of glyphs and swooping lines covered the yellowed and brittle page. Simply opening the book had sped Nyx’s pulse for fear it would crumble under her fingertips. “This isn’t the original, then?”
“No, that particular book is a copy of a copy given to the library as a gift. Since it’s only a journal, it hasn’t been recopied into a book that can be checked out. Unfortunate, but that’s how it is. The ancient language isn’t exactly easy to convert to mass market production. And even if it was, these books aren’t meant to be out in circulation.”
“And the originals are kept below the library.”
“Of those we have, yes.”
“Even the founding fathers’ books? The ones that define the laws all shifters must abide by?”
“Yes. In heavily guarded chambers.”
“Because one of them was stolen years ago, right?”
“Before it was copied.” Anton nodded. “And while we have a general idea what topics it covered, we have nothing to point to and say, ‘This is the law that must be followed.’”
“What topics?” Nyx asked, even though she knew the answer—women’s rights and other socially responsible bullshit stuff. Boris had never gone into detail about the so-called “bullshit stuff” as he only cared about her becoming the first female on the Council.
“Women’s rights. Our responsibility to the humans. Rules governing how we should deal with prisoners.” Anton gave her a pointed look. “All the topics that caused discontent among the founding fathers in the first place.”
“And conveniently, that book went missing, right?”
Anton smirked. “Exactly, and in the absence of solid laws, the Council and various alphas over the years have written their own.”
“Has anyone tried to find this missing book?” Nyx held her breath. Would Anton lie to her? Or would this moment give her the evidence to destroy him?
“My pride’s founding father wrote it, Nyx. I’ve been obsessed with finding the first Alexander’s book my entire life. I have hired many, many trackers and investigators over the years. About a year ago, one of my men found it.” The pencil in Anton’s hand snapped. Tendons stood out in his neck. “Then I lost it again.”
The sound of approaching footsteps straightened Nyx’s spine and stopped her from asking more questions. She didn’t need to look at the man coming their way. She’d noticed the huge Royal feline shifter the moment she’d walked in the door. Or more accurately, her jaguar had spotted him, then urged Nyx to slowly back away.
Anton didn’t flinch with the Royal shifter’s approach. He didn’t relax either. The angry look intensified. His knuckles turned white. “You’re early.”
“Time means little to me. You know that.” The other shifter faced her. “Have you finished?”
The feline shifter’s black eyes pierced her. It was that condescending look men gave when they wanted you to know they found you inferior. She fought the desire to tell him where to stick his attitude. Instead, she smiled sweetly.
“Finished what?” Nyx used the most innocent voice she could muster.
This pompous new man Nyx wouldn’t mind knocking on his ass crossed his arms over his chest. “Transcribing that text.”
“Nearly.” She turned her attention to the page and copied the last two sentences. Grinning, she leaned back in her chair. “There. Done.”
The other shifter grunted and faced Anton. “You were right as always. She’s perfect.”
“Of course I am.” The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. Dammit, her confidence would be her downfall. How many times had Boris said that to her over the years?
“I like her.” The haughty look in the feline shifter’s eyes faded, replaced by amusement. “She’ll fit in well here.”
“No. She won’t.”
Anto
n’s hard tone drew Nyx’s gaze to his face. Fire burned in his eyes. His nostrils flared. Short golden hairs pushed through the skin over his knuckles. He looked ready to kill. She tightened her grip on her pen and flicked her gaze between the two men. Something had set Anton off. For the life of her, she didn’t know what. The other shifter’s words had been harmless.
“Working in this library requires a sense of humor. This is boring work.” The Royal feline motioned to her. “The female obviously has a good temperament to have dealt with you all morning. She’ll do fine handling the rest of the surly councilmen when they come in looking for books.”
Nyx tipped her head to the side and studied the other shifter. Although she’d heard his words, they didn’t make sense. “I won’t be working for the library.”
“I’ve just hired you as a favor to Anton.” The feline shifter motioned to the large counter near the back of the room. “Paperwork is in my office for you to sign.”
Nyx flicked her gaze to Anton. “Hired me? As a favor? What is he talking about?”
Anton smacked the book he’d been reading closed and stood. His chair toppled backward, slamming into the floor. “Gather your stuff. We’re leaving.”
“Wait…what?” The other man dropped a big palm on her purse. “You asked me to take her off your hands. I’m doing that.”
“I changed my mind.” Anton wrapped his claw-tipped hand around the other man’s wrist. “Now locate the book I requested to see, and I’ll be back to look at it soon.”
“Can’t say I blame you.” The Royal shifter flicked Anton’s hand off, then skimmed a finger over the sentences she’d copied. “This is phenomenal. She managed to duplicate the style of writing as well as the text.”
Practicing all night had helped. She grinned. Maybe if she kept trying, she could bake cookies too.
“Exactly.” Anton grabbed her purse and the notebook she’d been writing in. “Let’s go.”
Without waiting, he strode for the door.
She hurried after Anton. Once outside, she snagged his arm. “You asked him to give me a job?”
Anton jerked his arm free. “Yes. I did.”
“Why?” Hollowness spread through her chest. She didn’t understand why she was upset. She wasn’t supposed to care what Anton thought of her, but knowing he’d wanted to get rid of her hurt.
“You told me you needed a job. I didn’t think you’d fit my needs, but I knew the library would hire you if I asked them. So I did.”
“But then you changed your mind.”
“Yes.”
Shoulders squared, Nyx raised her chin in the haughtiest stance she could manage. “Well, I’m glad you realized my worth before you lost me.”
“You will soon learn I have one goal in life. Today, I realized you’ll be the one to help me achieve it. I’d be a fool to let you slip through my fingers.” Anton studied her a moment, then slid his cool gaze behind her. “You’ll be staying on. Permanently.”
“Permanently?” Nyx knew repeating Anton’s words made her sound foolish. She couldn’t help it. His actions since catching her in his room yesterday morning made little sense.
“Possession is nine-tenths of the law, Nyx.” Anton said her name but didn’t look at her. His harsh glare remained focused behind her. “It gives a shifter the right to kill anyone who dares take what belongs to him. Did you know that?”
Nyx slowly turned her head instead of answering. Anton’s primitive response wasn’t meant for her. If it had been, he would’ve directed his demanding gaze on her.
Two of the lion shifters from inside the library stood in the open doorway. Councilmen. She recognized them. They’d visited Boris a couple of years ago.
One of the councilmen openly ogled her. He licked his lips, then met her eyes. A smirk twisted his mouth. She didn’t like the way he looked at her. It was a sick kind of fascination, not the appreciative interest men usually showed in her.
A chill ran through her, stirring her jaguar. The big cat stepped forward, pushing at the barrier between them. It didn’t like the lion shifter’s gawking either. Her cat wanted to make him stop.
Anton stepped in front of her, blocking her view of the other councilmen, and lifted her chin. His touch countered the iciness slithering through her veins and stilled her jaguar. “Did you know a shifter has the right to fight for his possessions?”
She licked her lips. “Yes.”
“As an unmated shifter female, you belong to your guardian until he relinquishes you to another male. Boris did so when he asked me to hire you.” Ownership flared in Anton’s exotic eyes. Angled the way they were, only she experienced the force behind his gaze. “You are now mine, Nyx.”
“Yours?” Nyx barely got the word out. Her throat felt tight. Her mouth, dry.
“Yes.” Anton brushed his thumb over her lower lip, pulling it down slightly before dropping his hand. “At least until you’ve outlived your usefulness.”
Anton held her purse out to her. The moment she took the strap, he walked away from her. “Let’s go. We have much left to do today.”
Nyx studied his retreating back. She’d secured the first part of her plan. If she didn’t have intimate access to Anton’s house and his life, she’d never uncover the evidence on Anton to take him down. His parting words left her uneasy, though. What would he do with her once she no longer fit his needs? Would she meet the same fate as Bianca?
The urging of her jaguar to follow Anton made her choice. She hurried after him. If she didn’t, she’d never secure her spot on the Shifter Council.
She had to claim it.
Female shifters, including little girls like Molly, needed someone who’d fight for them. She was that someone. And nobody would stop her from being their advocate. Not Anton. Not Harvey. And certainly not Boris. Once he outlived his usefulness, she’d sever his control over her life. Permanently.
Chapter 8
The woman would be his downfall.
Anton snuck a quick glance at Nyx. Although he walked at a brisk pace, not shortening his strides for her as he’d done before, she kept pace with him. Well, she jogged. If the scowl on her face was any indication, she wasn’t happy about it. Or maybe her annoyed expression stemmed from the scene back at the library. His irritation certainly did.
His reaction to Tsar, the head librarian, offering Nyx a job had been childish. His territorial claim on Nyx he’d made in front of the councilmen outside the library had been worse. He hadn’t been able to stop either primitive response.
Cracking his jaw, Anton quickened his pace. He needed the privacy of his tower to regain control and think. His instincts had to be reined in before someone suspected Nyx’s true value to him. If he was lucky, his fellow councilmen would attribute the possessiveness to his normal behavior. He did vehemently protect what belonged to him, and Nyx was his secretary. Considering he couldn’t keep any help for long, his behavior was plausible. He hoped.
Nyx grabbed his arm. “Slow down.”
He didn’t want to. He wanted to get as far from Nyx as he could. She unhinged him. A thousand years of discipline down the drain. At the first hint of losing Nyx, he’d transformed into a male driven by his animalistic urges. How would he ever be able to let her go?
Or watch her die as old age claimed her body? Single shifters might live a few hundred years, but eventually, they died. When Nyx did, he’d be alone.
“Anton.” She tugged hard on his sleeve. “Slow down.”
Her tight grip pulled the collar of his shirt partially down his shoulder. She wasn’t letting go. If he kept walking, he’d drag her along with him. She’d fall.
He stopped and faced her. “Can’t you keep up?”
A feminine sound of frustration accompanied her shove to his chest. “I’m in high heels. They are not made for jogging. My feet are killing me.”
The black heeled boots she wore belonged in a porn video. The knee-length skirt and jacket did not. They fit the image of a modest woman. Together, the b
oots and clothes lent Nyx a sexy, sophisticated aura. The confident air matched her perfectly. Still, he couldn’t help but wonder how a short miniskirt and halter top would look with those boots. Better yet if she paired them with lingerie.
Swallowing hard, he forced his gaze from the boots that hugged her calves as if molded to her body and met her eyes. “Then walk at your own pace. I’m confident you can find your way back to the house.”
“Why are you running away from me?”
“I’m not…” Dammit. He couldn’t lie to his true mate. The moment he joined their souls—if he joined their souls—she’d have access to his memories. If she focused on this one moment in time, she’d know he’d wanted to get away from her.
Her warm brown eyes cooled, then narrowed. “You are too running.”
“Not running. I’m walking briskly. I have things to do.” Technically, true.
“So do I.” Nyx crossed her arms over her chest. “And you’re preventing me from doing them.”
“I’m preventing you?” Anton laughed, surprising himself. He’d been irritated seconds ago. “How do you figure?”
“I have to apologize to you. I can’t do that if you keep run…” Nyx closed her eyes on a deep breath as if she was counting to ten. “I can’t do that if you’re walking briskly away from me.”
“Apologize to me? For what?”
Nyx peeked at him through cracked eyelids. He got the impression she was judging him. Or trying to understand him. “For putting you on the spot.”
“About?”
“You never officially hired me, yet I acted offended that you’d dare not want me. That wasn’t right. I put you on the spot. In front of other councilmen.” Nyx studied his face. “That’s why you said the things you did, right? About Boris surrendering his role as my guardian and you taking his place. It was an act. Boris wouldn’t just relinquish control over me. I’m the only Mercer female. I’m important to him.”
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