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The covers had slid down again, exposing her bare breasts, but that wasn’t what caught my eye. The pendant she normally kept hidden beneath her shirt glinted against her tanned skin in the lamplight.

I reached for it, frowning when the small crystal warmed my fingers. Lifting it higher, realization hit me.

The small black pendant was a Zhyfri crystal. A magical stone found only in Elyrdin.

I lifted my other hand, staring at the black band on my pinky made from the same crystal. The guys all wore rings like it that adjusted in size as we aged, so we never had to remove them. No other being in Elyrdin owned one.

How did she have this? Why did it feel warm?

I needed to tell the others.

Maybe this stone was the key to everything.

34

SEEKING ANSWERS

RAE

After leaving work, I headed straight for the bookstore. I hadn’t sought out the woman who’d given me the summoning book because I didn’t want the cops called on me for insane ramblings, but now I regretted it.

I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw the sign for Dreamweaver Books. The bookstore’s existence hadn’t been all in my head after all.

When I reached the dimly lit store, I noticed Shane striding down the corridor in my direction. Before I could duck inside and pretend not to see him, he called my name and waved.

I turned, plastering on my customer service smile. “Hey, Mr. Chasteen. Something wrong?” I’d seen him when I clocked out and thought I’d avoided his notice. I ignored his narrowed eyes; he didn’t appreciate the use of his surname.

Too bad.

“Raelynn, I wanted to speak to you about an idea Diane had before you left. I’m glad I caught you.”

I curled my fingers around my purse strap, waiting for him to get to the point while sneaking glances into the bookstore.

“Can this wait until my next shift?” I looked at the time on my phone. “I wanna finish my shopping before the bus comes.”

“I can give you a ride home.”

“I appreciate that, sir,” I said, adding emphasis to the honorific to reinforce our professional relationship. “But I’d prefer to be on the clock when we discuss work.”

“Raelynn, you don’t have to be like this,” he said, reaching for my arm.

I stepped away.

He frowned. “Why are you acting like this?”

“Like what?”

“Like you don’t like me. I thought we got along.”

I blew out a breath. “Mr. Chasteen, I have no problem with you as my boss, but that is the extent of our relationship.”

“Raelynn.” He sighed and shook his head, putting his hands on his hips, exasperated like I was an unruly child. He looked down at his sleek loafers. After a breath, he looked up, narrowed eyes meeting mine. “I think it’d benefit you to reconsider that position.”

I squinted. “Excuse me?”

“You might want to reconsider rejecting me.”

“I don’t think I like your tone.” I stepped back, flinching when he seized my arm. “Sir. You need to let me go. Right. Now.”