Liam turned so he could see what I was talking about. “A library? Seriously?”
“There is nothing wrong with being smart.” I started to slide out of the booth. “Brains and the ability to Change at will. Honestly, Liam, what more could you want in a woman?” I realized what I was implying as it slipped out of my mouth. I continued on to the bathroom just as I had begun to do, not looking back so I wouldn’t see the panicked horror I knew was etched on his face.
***
There weren’t any hours posted on the library’s entrance. It was too early in the morning for it to be open, but I tried the doors anyway. Amazingly, they were unlocked.
It was a small library, probably the same size as the one I frequented in Timber. But where our library was housed in an old church and was filled with dark wood, stained glass windows, and an air of reverence, this was one of those completely modern affairs with lots of gleaming metal, taupe colored furniture, and glaring lights. I did a quick sweep of my surroundings - which were completely deserted with the exception of Liam and me - and headed off towards the stacks with purpose.
Although I had never visited the Ely Special Collections Library in person before, I was familiar with part of its collection. When I first found out what Alex was, I requested a ton of books on werewolves through Inter-Library Loan in my uber-nerdy research attempt. The most informative books came from this library.
I thought I would be able to walk straight to what I was looking for, but I was wrong. Unlike the Lake County Public Library, there weren’t just a handful of books on aliens, vampires, and werewolves hanging out at the beginning of the non-fiction section. No, their selection went on for aisles and aisles. I wandered the rows, my fingers trailing over the spines, most of which were simply stapled together or had one of those cheap ringed bindings. I came seeking one of the books I borrowed forever ago, but what I discovered was even more interesting. To heck with a few hours, I could spend days here.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t going to have even a single hour, let alone the endless ones I craved.
I sensed the buzz of power in the air at the same time Liam did. He was silently following me, but as soon as a tickle creeped across our skin letting us know another powerful Shifter or Seer was nearby, he jumped to attention, attempting to push me behind his tense body.
It might have worked better if I hadn’t been trying to shove him behind me at the same time.
Here’s the thing, at this point I should have known that you couldn’t predict the amount of power a Shifter or Seer yielded by their physical appearance. Toby is nowhere near the biggest or scariest looking Hagan, yet he's the Pack Leader. Talley is chubby and quiet and smiles more often than not. To the casual observer she looks as harmless as a butterfly, but she's the strongest Seer I’ve ever encountered, including Sarvarna. So, I shouldn’t have had any expectations as to who was stepping into the end of the aisle, but apparently I did, because I was completely shocked to see a wizened old lady, her white hair bundled on top of her head while she supported her weight with a walker. I took comfort in knowing I wasn’t the only one in shock. Liam froze as the little old lady came into view, and the woman herself looked as if she saw a ghost. And then a wide smile that looked vaguely familiar spread across her face.
“Bryce Allen Burkett.” Her voice carried a faint British accent. “You finally got around to visiting your old aunt. Now, come, and give me a hug.”
Chapter 24
“You have an aunt?”
“Of course he has an aunt,” the old lady said. “Did you think he was born into a pack of wolves?” She started down the aisle, and although it obviously took a great deal of effort on her part, there was no doubt of the challenge in her movement.
“No, I don’t.” Liam took advantage of my shock and deftly maneuvered me behind him with a well placed elbow and hip. “I don’t know who you are--”
“Rachel Frye-Bettany, sister of Judith Frye-Mitchell, the mother of Alexandria Mitchell-Burkett, the mother of Bryce, Christopher, and Nicole Burkett.” She smiled and I saw dimples hiding in the landscape of wrinkles. “I’ve looked forward to seeing you again for a very long time.”
Liam was so tense I thought he might crumble into a million little Liam pieces. I could feel his back muscles straining beneath my hand, which is how I realized my hand was resting on his lower back in a completely unacceptable fashion. I jerked it back quickly, but then had to face the task of figuring out where to put it. I stuffed it into my pocket, propped it on my hip, and let it hang down to my side.
Having appendages had never been so perplexing.
“Bryce Burkett is dead,” Liam said, oblivious to my Hokey-Pokey dance.
“Yes, my records indicate he died alongside his parents and brother in a house fire over five years ago.” Liam tensed even more at her arch tone. It didn’t show on his face, and my hands were both stuffed dutifully into the kangaroo pouch of my stolen hoodie, but still I knew. I could feel his tension and unease like a ghost with his scent residing quietly beside my own emotions.
“Three years later the Alpha Pack made it known they were seeking two rogue Shifters. Teenagers. Grey eyes. Brown hair with a hint of ginger. Later, they identified them as Liam and Alex Cole.” The old lady’s hands clenched on the walker, her fragile skin stretched tight over misshapen knuckles, and leaned over until she was in Liam’s personal space. “Bryce Burkett was a four year old who picked me wildflowers and peppered my face with kisses. Liam Cole is a dangerous man, a threat to the very structure of our society.”
A flash of recognition in Liam’s eyes.
“Will you give us a head start?”
“No.”
Crap. I really didn’t want to have to hurt an old lady, especially one with purple tennis balls stuck on the feet of her walker.
“You’re not leaving,” she said, and I began thinking of a way to disable her without breaking her hip. “You will stay at the Safe House for at least one week. After a week, you can run off and save the world if you must, but first you will give me a week.” When neither Liam nor I responded - me because I was still trying to figure out if punching an elderly person would cause them to have a stroke - she gave us an Alex smile. “I’m an old lady. All I have left are memories and family. Please. One week to get to know you again is all I ask. Marie and Michelle are probably prepping the Safe House as I speak.”