Page 46 of The Librarian’s Familiar

“But you can stop yourself from unraveling other things?”

“To a degree. And only because I give my magic other things to mess up.” He sat up and stretched. “Do you want a cup of tea or coffee or something?”

“I can make it.” August hit pause on the show.

“I know where everything is.” He was already off the sofa and moving. “I think I need to do something. Maybe a walk or something.”

August checked the time. “We could walk to the lake. It’s not that far, and it’s quite pretty even though it’s not frozen solid.”

Charlie nodded as he waited for the coffee machine to do its thing. “Are you ready to be seen in public with me?”

“Are you ready to be seen with me? Don’t you know who I am?” He tried to sound cocky.

Charlie smiled and tapped his lip as if thinking. “You know, I have heard rumors that you’re some big shot hockey player.”

August grinned. “Want to see my hometown? Has anybody taken you to the lake?” Had Sinclair done anything with Charlie, or had it been limited to fucking? He didn’t know which option was worse.

“I’ll put the coffee in travel mugs, fill up some water bottles, and throw in some snacks.”

“It’s a three-hour round-trip; we don’t need to pack heaps.” He packed more when he was staying overnight or planning on hunting, but that was different because they both increased the risk of something going wrong.

“Yeah, but we’re also in the middle of fucking nowhere, and I feel better with supplies. What if we get lost?”

“There’s a trail even a preschooler can follow. Have you seriously never been to the lake?”

Charlie shook his head. “There’s an uncontrollable amount of chaos in the wild. Which I should enjoy. It would make sense, right? The anarchist should love being surrounded by chaos, but when there’s too much there’s nothing for my magic to feed on and it searches for order. It’s exhausting.”

“So you surround yourself with order to remain in control.”

“Yes, because then I can control what my magic is doing. For some people, magic is as easy as reining in their emotions and using it whenever they want, but for me, it’s always there, always itching to do something.”

“Is that why you’ve got so many puzzles?” They were stacked up like a side table next to the sofa.

“I enjoy doing them, but I never get to complete them. Pieces always go missing.” He smiled and shrugged. “Will you be warm enough going like that? I have a spare hat and gloves?”

August glanced at his shirt and jeans; his coat was hanging by the door. “I’m a polar bear.”

“That doesn’t mean you don’t get cold…does it?”

“I get cool, usually if I sit around naked for too long after a shift.” Or if he’d been swimming and was still wet when he shifted back to human. “I’ll be fine. I’m more worried about your magic.”

“I’ll be okay for a couple of hours. Besides, it’s got the bond to chew on…and your clothes.” He put the lids on the travel cups and filled up two bottles of water. “Can you grab the bag from by the front door?”

August did as he was asked and put the drink bottles inside, along with the packet of cookies, which was clearly what Charlie thought was an appropriate snack. He had no survival instinct and should definitely not be allowed to go out by himself.

“You might want to get changed, because as much as I love those pajama pants, I don’t think they’re appropriate outside the house.” The way they clung to his ass and junk should be illegal, except August very much appreciated the view.

Charlie rolled his eyes. “Of course I’m going to get properly dressed. I am not a polar bear, and I am not acclimatized to the cold.”

“I have some bad news for you: it’s only going to get colder from here on in.”

“I know,” Charlie called over his shoulder as he walked toward the bedroom.

August was tempted to follow, but if they were both in the bedroom, Charlie wouldn’t be getting changed, and by the time they were done, it would be too late to go for a walk.

He turned off the TV and, as a distraction, put on his boots, so he was ready to leave. He was not thinking about Charlie getting out of his pajama pants and being naked. Not at all. He double-knotted his laces in case Charlie’s magic took an interest in them.

When he stood, Charlie was watching him. “Good thinking, but it doesn’t help.”