Chapter 21: Chapter 21

Liora's POV

“What about her?” He asked, and I looked around warily, suddenly aware of our environment.

“I need to talk to you. Somewhere private,” I whispered, and he nodded firmly.

“Follow me,” he said, before leading me somewhere I couldn't figure out yet, mostly because my eyes were trained on his toned arm. The hint of a tattoo peeked out slightly from the short sleeved tunic he was wearing, and I couldn’t look away. I didn’t know he had a tattoo, or maybe I just never noticed. What was it?

My fingers itched to pull the rest of his clothes aside to see the full thing.

“Well, you’re definitely not thinking about his eyes this time around,” Vyrmoth suddenly said and I almost gasped out loud.

“Stop reading my mind! I know you can do it” I said.

“I told you, I'll stop when you finally learn to shut me out” he said and I groaned, before shaking my head, trying not to think about anything weird.

I finally focused on where he was taking me, and I got confused.

“Why are we going towards the library?” I asked. The library was quiet, yes, but we wouldn't be able to talk, and even if we could, someone could hear us.

“Just trust me,” he said, without looking at me. I held my tongue, deciding to trust his judgement, as I walked faster, trying to catch up with his long strides.

Finally, we made it to the library, and yes, I was still trusting him, but I was really getting confused.

We entered the building, and the first thing I noticed was how empty it was. Oh! Most people were in classes right now.

I tugged on Kysen’s shirt, “Okay Dravon, I know it’s relatively empty right now, but it doesn’t make it any less open,”

He looked at me and smirked, with a confidence that told me he knew exactly what he was doing.

We approached a woman I did not recognize, sitting behind a table, filling something. Unlike the librarian I knew, this person was way younger. She looked to be about my age, maybe even slightly younger. Nineteen, twenty… maybe?

“Did they replace the librarian or something? Where's Mrs. Agnes?” I asked Dylan, my voice barely a whisper.

He looked at me with shock written all over his face.

“When was the last time you came to the library?” He asked, and I shrugged.

I was going to ask him what that had to do with anything, but we were already too close to the lady.

She looked up from what she was writing as soon as she noticed our presence.

Her eyes lit up at the sight of Kysen, in a way that told me she knew him well.

“Kysen!” She called out, her tone laced with excitement.

Her entire demeanor changed. The way she adjusted her clothes and tucked her hair behind her ear told me everything I needed to know. She fancied him.

“Hey Joan,” he responded with a smile that pissed me off for some reason.

“It’s been a while since I saw you around here,” she said, before glancing at me, her smile dropping as she eyed me, before looking back at Kysen.

I almost scoffed. Rude.

“What is she doing here?” she asked and I raised a brow, before I let out a scoff, not giving Kysen a chance to even answer.

“It’s a library, anyone can come here. I did not see any sign outside that said I was not allowed in here” I said. Maybe I was overreacting but she was already annoying to me.

She made a weird face at me before looking back at Kysen.

“But Kysen,” she pouted, “Why is she here with you? Is she blackmailing you?”

“I’m right here.” I pointed the obvious out, but she ignored me. My eyes narrowed at her. If I get my hands on you Joan…

Kysen chuckled, awkwardly might I add, like he was uncomfortable.

“I’m fine, Joan. I have business here. I need a specific book.” He said, and I raised a confused brow.

We were here to talk, not read!

“Hmm, okay,” she hummed, “What’s the name of the b-?”

Kysen cut her off, “I’m reading it in”

He said it so intensely that even I froze. Huh?

But Joan wasn’t surprised. She just tilted her head to the side.

“Are you sure?,” she paused, glancing at me, before she continued, “With her?”

He nodded firmly. She studied him for a second, before glancing at me again.

“Okay, fine” she finally said, clearly giving up. On what? I don’t know!

Kysen smiled at her again, “Thank you, Joan”

And she basically melted on the spot.

“Come on, Altharos. Follow me,” he said, and I did, but not before I made sure to reciprocate the dirty look Joan gave me.

We walked past reading corners, tables, chairs and finally got to the bookshelves.

Kysen aimed straight towards the back, likely where the last shelf stood. I followed him wordlessly.

Finally, we stopped right in front of the last shelf and I turned to him.

“So… what now?” I asked and he gave me a small smile.

“We're here,” he said and I crossed my arms over my chest.

This was his grand plan? Talk at the back of the library, since it was basically empty?

You have got to be kidding me.

I watched as he looked through the books on the shelf, like he really was searching for a specific one.

“Kysen, this is definitely not what I meant by ‘private’. This is serious, we really need to talk. And this place is not-” My words hung in my throat, as I heard a soft click. I watched as he smiled in victory, his hand holding on to a book on the shelf pulled back slightly.

Then, he looked at me before he put it back in place.

“What are you-” My words got stuck in my throat once again, as I watched him push on the shelf, and a small section, cut out in the shape of a small door pushed open.

My mouth hung open in shock.

No freaking way.