The Librarians Novels Novels & Stories

Not unless they wanted to deal with the wrath of the librarians… and trust me, no one messed with the librarians if they valued their life, or at least their social standing. After Jessica’s claws—and I meant that literally—I needed someplace with less glaring, fewer whispers, and preferably no glitter bombs in my locker. And Mia was great but I really just wanted sometime to myself, considering we live together. The rows of shelves felt like old trees, tall and watching. I slid my fingers along the spines of the nonfiction section, dragging my gaze lazily across titles I wouldn’t read. I wasn’t looking for a book. I was looking for stillness.

Sociology 101 – when someone expects less of you, you tend to get away with more – made up by yours truly. Mrs Peterman was the Academy's grouchiest head librarian in all of New-Man history. What luck to have been caught by her! Donning my luckiest pair of underwear today didn't help much. Lady Luck must have been jealous by how good I looked in red briefs. What a prissy existence! Before I had time to scowl, Mrs Peterman's high pitched keening had me cringing. "Titus Crowley! How many times must I remind you that students are not allowed to access the

A smile crept onto my face as I adjusted my grip on the novel, its cover barely hiding the kind of story that made my heart race. A dark, depraved mafia romance. It had a male lead who didn’t ask permission so much as demand surrender. A man who played with consent the way a composer toyed with notes—artfully, deliberately, with the kind of confidence that made my skin prickle and my thighs press together. One that was over too soon. The kind of book I devoured in a fever and now I was in need of another. Most folks wouldn’t think of the local library as a treasure trove of scandalous reads, but I knew better. The librarians were in on the secret, intentionally filling the shelves with books

I stopped by the library—the same one I’d visited as a girl, the place where I first found stories about women who dared to rise beyond the walls they were born in. Mrs. Bertram, the head librarian, recognized me immediately. “You’ve grown into yourself,” she said as she welcomed me inside. I smiled. “I’m trying.” “I heard about the Foundation. And the baby. Congratulations.” “Thank you.” “I always said you had a story inside you.” “I think it just took time to find its voice.” I donated a dozen books from the Barlowe house—stories I wanted other young girls to find: Jane Eyre, Little Women, The Secret Life of Bees, Becoming, The House on Mango Street, and more.

I search for the better part of the night and come up with nothing. I look through shelves and stacks, I read through titles and half the one thousand green books that are in here are touched by me in one way or the other. No other text mentions Aquinas Ashyrn of famed starlight, and nothing else mentions his wife. A voice interrupts my frustrated stuttering brain. “She’s in there.” I raise bleary sleep filled eyes and look up from the pile of books that surround me. A scowl lines my face when I see the librarian, sneering.

Kohen asked me instead of answering my question. “Man the library? Record the books? Memorize the titles?” Kohen snorted under his breath.“Typical answer of a simple-minded person like you.” “I'm sorry, Mr. Genius.”I scoffed at him and crossed my arms. “Librarians are one of the most dangerous jobs out there.” “But why?” “They know every person who borrows books from the library. They can easily memorize your name, your address, and the time you frequent there.”Jake answered instead of Kohen, and I suddenly felt stupid.

I also sought answers since I was becoming more concerned about Veyron and Darius's involvement in my demise. The gold-embossed titles of leather-bound books faded with time as my fingertips traced along their spines. Selena's silent but urgent call for prudence blended with Lucas's cryptic warnings about treachery in my head. So far, none of it made sense. I was determined to put it all together, however. --- Tucked down in the library's furthest corner was the section I was looking for. It was identified as the Lunaris Chronicles by faded labeling. These shelves were loaded with tales of the Moon Goddess, long-forgotten festivals, and ancient rituals.

There was light humming coming from her as she ran around, taking a few books. Soon, she was out with three dusty books in hand. "These will do and they are the best." She said, with a wink. Immediately, a smile bloomed on Nicole's face and she was about to take the books from Alice. However, the librarian turned away and then said, "I'll clean this up for you. We don't usually have people visiting the library. Most books here are dormant." She explained. A few minutes later, Nicole walked with the books in hand. Her gaze had turned serious and she opted to go into her bedroom instead.

Mom supported me, not because she understood, but because she loved me and wanted me to be happy. I stood up and walked around the library, feeling a little restless. They had all of the classics, and some of them looked as though they were expensive copies. Other authors that I regularly read, such as James Patterson and Dean Koontz were on the shelves. They even had some of my female favorites, such as Lisa Jackson, Lisa Gardner and Heather Graham Pozzessere. Then I wondered down to another section where I found some more provocative books. They had a lot of erotica books. One huge volume stood out: The Kama Sutra.