Libra Ascending: An Epic Urban Fantasy Romance (Zodiac Guardians Book 1) by Tamar Sloan (adult books to read .TXT) 📗

Tristan approaches the desk, pulling up a smile as he waits.

“Internet computers are to the left,” the man mutters without turning around. “Don’t forget to fill in the sign-in sheet.”

“Thanks, but I wasn’t after the computers.”

The man turns around, the books he was about to put down still in his hands. Tristan blinks, trying to hide his surprise. The guy has a patch over his left eye.

“I don’t validate parking, either.”

Tristan recovers his grin. “Well, that’s disappointing. I was hoping to spend a bit of time here.”

The man’s only visible eye narrows slightly. “We close at five.”

“Noted, ah…”—Tristan glances at the man’s name badge—“Alden.” He dials up the biggest smile he can. “I’ve got an assignment for school. It’s on the history of Mirror Point.”

Alden puts down the books with a thwump. “The Mirror Point Women’s Society has a website with all the information you’ll need.” He points to the computer bank at the back of the room. “Don’t forget to sign in.”

Tristan grits his teeth behind his smile. This dude has to be the most unhelpful librarian he’s ever met. Tristan checked out that website during math and all he learned was that people didn’t like smiling much back then and that cross-stitch classes are on Wednesday nights.

“It’s just that I really need to get an A on this assignment.” Tristan leans forward. “My parents said if I don’t, they’ll send me to stay with Aunt Ida for the summer break.” He makes a show of shuddering at the thought of visiting his non-existent aunt.

Alden grunts, clearly communicating he doesn’t care what Tristan’s summer break looks like. “Local history is down there,” he indicates with his chin.

“Much appreciated, Alden,” Tristan says cheerfully. He needs to keep this guy on his side, even if he’s determined to be a cranky pirate rather than a helpful librarian.

The local history section is exactly where Alden indicates, but it still takes Tristan a minute to find it. Not only is it in the bottom corner, it’s much smaller than he expected. Most places he’s been to, the section documenting the history of the town has any book ever published on the area. And it’s placed far more prominently.

A quick scan of the spines doesn’t give Tristan much hope. There are only seven books. And three of them are on cross-stitch. Taking the others to a nearby table, he flips through them.

Nothing jumps out as worth investigating further. Established back when most places around here were. Population not worthy of mentioning. Their claim to fame is their annual embroidery fair. Mirror Point has to be the most vanilla town he’s ever come across.

Taking one of the books back to the front desk, Tristan figures he can at least have a closer look at the pictures of some of the buildings. Maybe he’ll recognize one from his vision. He finds Alden where he left him as if the man turned to stone once Tristan walked away. Alden watches Tristan put the book down on the counter so closely that Tristan wonders what kids have done in here before. Booby trapped a book with a mouse trap? TNT? Frowning dust?

Tristan keeps his posture relaxed. “Who would’ve thought that many people would travel so far for an embroidery fair, huh?” Alden doesn’t respond but Tristan doesn’t expect him to. “Are there any other books?”

“That’s everything.”

“Are you sure? I was kind of hoping to write about something…cool.”

Alden arches a brow. “And the art of the slip stitch isn’t?”

“Whip stitch was probably the only one that caught my eye, to be honest. Look, I’m more thinking of”—Tristan’s eyes light up as if he just thought of something—“something like alien sightings! Now that would be cool.”

Alden’s brow looks like it might have atrophied up there. “Nope. Sorry. You got the wrong town.”

“I read this story once about this alien pod landing in a field. There are a lot of fields around here—”

“Nope. No pods.”

“What about downstairs? Are there any extra books—”

“Nope.”

Before Tristan can open his mouth to ask about any strange murders or deaths, Alden has turned away. “We’re closing soon.”

Tristan deflates. You’d think he’d be used to dead ends by now, but for some reason this one stings even more than they did back in the beginning. It’s just that with the vision, with meeting Cassandra so quickly. Then the moments with Brielle.

It’d felt like this time was different.

Tristan turns away. “Thanks, Alden. You’ve been really helpful.”

There’s no answer behind him, but Tristan didn’t expect there to be. Alden is probably sterilizing everything Tristan touched in case smiling is contagious.

He’s just closed the door when Tess rounds the corner. She stops, surprised. “You’ve finished already?”

“Yeah. Library closes at five.”

Tess glances at her watch. “But it’s only four thirty.”

Tristan flops onto a bench seat facing the street. “Did you know size matters when it comes to your embroidery needle?”

“I can’t say that I did.” Tess slides in next to him. She passes him a container, several glistening brownies inside. “But now I know who to go to if I’m ever making a sampler.”

Tristan takes out a fudgy slice of awesomeness, trying to focus on the sweet sugar dancing over his tongue as he takes a bite. He chews for a few moments, waiting for the buzz he always gets with Tess’s brownies. When it doesn’t come, he sighs. “I saw both girls from my vision today. They’re at the school.”

“You did?” Tess presses her hands between her thighs, a sure-fire sign she’s excited, but he doesn’t look at her.

“I still need to find out whether Cassandra, the blonde girl, could be a match. Brielle, the other one.” The one with the hair the color of coffee and eyes the color of rich moss. “She’s an orphan.”

This time, Tess doesn’t move. “And?”

“She said she can detect lies.”

“And?” This time, Tess’s voice is cautious. She’s picked up that Tristan isn’t matching her enthusiasm.

“I told her the truth and she looked at me like I needed to be committed.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah,