Page 35 of The Librarian’s Familiar
Charlie gave him a tight smile. “Yes.”
August glanced at the pile of clothes on the floor.
Oh God, he knew something. Or at least suspected.
“And nothing happened?” August asked without looking at him.
“Aside from the obvious?”
“Because of the obvious. You said you’re telekinetic.” He tapped his chest. “But that doesn’t feel right, and before, I believed you. Why don’t I believe you now?”
Charlie drew in a deep breath. This is what happened when they didn’t go their separate ways. There was time to linger and think and ask questions that he didn’t want to answer. Mostly because people didn’t like the answer. The way they looked at him changed. This time, he was messing with a polar bear shifter who had the ability to eviscerate him with one swipe of his paw. “Will you try not to freak out?”
August snarled. “Now I’m definitely freaking out.”
He needed to rip this bandage off fast. “Yes, we’re mates, but it’s only temporary.”
“It’s not temporary. It’s a permanent bond!”
“No, it’s not.” Even if a witch and shifter kissed, there was a chance it would fade away. Having sex kind of cemented it. “Not with me anyway.”
August narrowed his eyes. “What does that mean?”
“It means that my magic—”
“You’re not telekinetic.”
“I’m not, but I can do enough that people think I am.”
August nodded. “Like untying shoelaces and loosening buttons.”
“Yes,” Charlie said carefully. So far, August wasn’t freaking out, which was a good sign. Unless he was an expert at bottling it all up until he exploded.
“What is your magic?”
“I am an anarchist.”
“Anarchist,” August repeated slowly. “Anarchy? How does that relate to magic?”
“Magic is the transmutation of the energy around us or within us, like a water witch pulling moisture out of the air or a body.”
August’s eyes widened. “A body?”
“Um. I’m trying to explain my magic, and that was a bad example. You know what scientists say there is a matter an anti-matter?”
“You have an anti-magic?” August frowned, leaning on the door frame, arms crossed over his chest which made his arm muscles bulge.
“Not anti-magic; that is a better description for fox shifters as they tend to neutralize magic in their vicinity. More like the ability to undo things. Create chaos from order.”
“Right…” But August was still frowning.
“It means that within the next twenty-four hours, my magic will have unraveled the bond.”
“And you know this because you’ve had a fated mate before?”
Charlie drew in a breath and slowly exhaled. “Yes, twice. Although both times, I don’t think they were aware as they were too busy gathering their clothes and leaving.”
“Hmm. And if I stay?”
