Page 21 of Grimoire Omens

He glanced over heads, as if seeking something, or someone, in particular. His gaze swept over me and then returned briefly. For a second, my heart stuttered, thinking he’d pull a movie stunt, like push his way through the thin crowd to make his way directly to me.

Nope.

The handsome blond office dude turned to a vendor. I sighed. I really wasn’t destined to get a meet-cute moment.

“Your fresh chocolate,” announced Lester, who offered it to me on a paper plate. I’ll admit, I eyed the lumps in the chocolate a lot more dubiously than I had the rat meat. Could I really eat bugs? My first bite indicated I could.

Sweet chocolate, still warm, with a crunch that added a hint of salt, made my tastebuds sing. So long as I didn’t imagine the bug parts being ground between my teeth, I had to admit the shit was crazy good.

I took my dessert and wandered over to a stray bench set against a wall that offered a quiet spot to savor my dessert—and people-watch. Some of the chocolate stained my fingers, and I, of course, licked them, which was when a deep voice said, “I’ve been told Lester’s chocolate is quite delicious.”

Startled, I lifted my gaze and gaped at the blond hunk in a suit with eyes of the most startling green. Did he wear colored contacts because they didn’t seem real? Then again, in this place, I’d bet he had a little inhuman blood running through him.

“Um, yeah, it is pretty good, as are Jim’s skewers of meat. Don’t let the rat part scare you.”

His brow arched. “I’ll keep that in mind. I don’t think I’ve seen you here before.”

A remark that indicated he came on the regular. “It’s my first time.”

“And how are you enjoying the market?”

“It’s different, in a good way,” I hastened to add. “Are you here to buy some ingredients?” A lame thing to ask. Why else would anyone come here?

“Not quite. I’m looking for someone who is in possession of a very special book. A little goblin told me they might be here today.”

I almost asked if he meant a real goblin but didn’t want to sound dumb. “What kind of book?”

“Magical of course. And old. Very old.”

“Do you know what the person who has it looks like? Maybe I can help you find them.”

“She’s prettier than expected and younger than the previous owner of the tome. Her smile is also quite charming.”

Ever get the sense something might be amiss? My preservation instinct began nudging me just as Beatrice barked, “Charlotte, move away from him at once.”

“Now, now. No need to be so aggressive.” The stranger stood with his hands held out. “I was just having a conversation with the young witch with the lovely smile.”

Ice began flowing in my veins as I realized he must have been talking about me. But why? How did he know my identity? And what book did he mean? I thought of the grimoire stuffed in my duffel back in the train.

“You shouldn’t be here.” Beatrice remained harsh in tone, but I noticed her clenched fists and sensed her worry.

“Tell that to the witch who opened the door to my world in invitation.”

Uh-oh. I glanced at the blond suited man. He didn’t have the grayish pallor Ulseere possessed, and yet only an idiot wouldn’t realize his identity.

“You’re Gryvak. The dude Ulseere is looking for,” I blurted out.

His lips curved in a beautiful smile that sent ice racing through my veins. “I see you’ve heard of me, thus you know what I’m seeking. You will hand over the book with the spell that drew me here.”

“Like fuck. I am not letting you open a portal to your dimension.”

“Me?” he stated with a chuckle. “I cannot cast the spell. It is a strange quirk of our kind that, with all our arcane knowledge and power, we cannot link our two worlds, and yet, witches from this plane, despite their weaker magic, can do so. Hence why I require both the book and you.”

“I am not going to help you,” I huffed, standing from the bench.

“You say that now, but you’ll change your mind. I can be very persuasive.” The smile should have been evil. Should have chilled me to the bone but damned if he didn’t appear sexy and charming.

Beatrice snapped, “Begone, dark prince. You will not be taking Charlotte or the Grimoire.”