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

Tess’s hand flutters to her throat. “The second time was here.”

Alden straightens. “They know where you live?”

“We’ve increased security,” says Zarius. “They won’t be taking us by surprise again. In the meantime, we’ll look for a new residence.”

Alden nods, scratching his chin. “It will need to be close to the school.”

This time, it’s Tristan who moves closer. His whole body tingles with the need to ask the next question. “There are others there, aren’t there?”

“At least one. I’ve been following her for a while now.”

Her…

Every part of Tristan stills, hanging on what’s about to be said. “Who? What’s her name?”

Alden looks thoughtfully back. “Brielle. I believe she has powers.”

The one word slams through Tristan. Brielle. A Zodiac Heir.

His heart thunders out one word, over and over.

Soulmate.

Alden glances at Zarius. “She’s the only one who wasn’t adopted when several babies arrived at the orphanage seventeen years ago. I’ve organized a couple who are…sympathetic to our cause to take her in. She needs protection.”

Tristan starts to pace. That’s his job. He’s about to become Brielle’s shadow.

Zarius pushes upright. “Tristan, we need her to see the stones. To touch them.”

And if the second Gemini stone lights up, then what his heart suspects will be proven true.

Tess places her hand on his arm. “She’d need to come here. We can’t afford for the stones to be unprotected.”

“You’re right,” agrees Zarius. He turns back to Tristan. “Invite her over. We can talk to her, show her the box.”

Uh oh.

Tristan rubs the back of his head, trying not to suck his head down into his shoulders. “That’s probably not going to be as easy as it sounds.”

All eyes turn to him and he shrugs sheepishly. “I kinda told her…ah, everything. She wasn’t exactly receptive.”

Zarius’s head sinks into his hands. “Patience, son.”

Tristan shrugs sheepishly. “Apparently a lack of it runs in the family.” Which would explain why it’s the one thing Zarius hasn’t been able to teach him.

Alden stands, too, his face taking on the fierce lines he had in the library. “You have to befriend her, find a way to connect. How else are you going to ensure her safety?”

“Or find out whether she’s one of us?” adds Zarius.

Tess is the only one brave enough to crack a smile through the tension that just replaced the air in the room. She looks steadily at Tristan. “You’ll find a way.”

Tristan nods. “Damn straight I will.”

This is what he’s spent his whole life preparing for.

Finding another Zodiac Heir.

Finding his soulmate.

16

Brielle

The usual tribulations aren’t fazing Brielle at all today.

Not that any of the morning’s events have been normal.

Suki apparently confessed her infidelity to Zayn, who dumped her in return. She came to school with no makeup and wet cheeks, and as soon as she and Cassandra spotted Brielle in the hallway, they scowled at her. If looks could kill, Brielle would’ve burst into flames. As if it was somehow her fault that Suki cheated.

“What’s their problem?” Adalind asks as she catches up to Brielle in the hall on the way to Cooking class, noting the wicked glares.

“Who knows,” Brielle says with a sigh. Because honestly, she doesn’t care.

She can’t stop thinking about last night with Eye Patch Guy. Is she really the target of some mystery danger, or is she merely the object of some delusion the crazy librarian has? She’s not sure which possibility is more frightening.

Eye Patch Guy knows where she lives. If he really is just insane, he could sneak into the orphanage and abduct her. And he’s a very large man, she wouldn’t stand a chance against him if he snapped.

But if he’s not crazy… That opens up too many possibilities and unknowns, all of which have Brielle jumpier than a frog on a caffeine high.

“Brielle? Did you hear me?” Adalind nudges Brielle’s arm as they enter the classroom.

“Huh?” Brielle shakes off her ponderings and turns to Adalind.

“I asked if you’re ready for the big dinner tonight with your hopefully new parents,” Adalind clarifies, climbing onto her stool at their station and letting her backpack slip off her shoulder and land on the floor.

“Oh, uh, yeah.” Brielle sits on her stool so nervously that she almost slides off the other side. She takes a deep breath and adjusts herself.

Adalind frowns and raises an eyebrow. “What is up with you today? Everything okay?”

No. Nothing is okay. But she’s not about to tell her only friend that. “Sorry. I was up all night working on my History paper so it would be out of the way and I could be clear-headed for the dinner tonight.”

“Doesn’t sound like it worked,” Adalind says with a chuckle. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this tired, or this jittery. I hope you didn’t take one of those energy shots, they’re horrible for you.”

Brielle fakes a laugh, hoping to end the conversation there. How in the world is she going to get through the dinner tonight if she can’t even keep it together for two minutes with her best friend?

“So you actually decided to show up today,” Adalind says, making Brielle look up to see Tristan approach their station. His blue eyes twinkle as they lock onto her like they’re made of diamonds, and her lungs stop working. “Or are you just going to randomly walk out again like you own the place?”

“Why, did you miss me?” He flashes Adalind a teasing smile that is nothing shy of delicious, then winks at Brielle, reminding her to inhale and get her lungs functioning again.

Adalind scoffs. “Yes, desperately.” She rolls her eyes.

“How are you, Brielle?” he asks, as if forgetting Adalind is there at all.

“Fine,” she says.

She’s not sure how to feel about Tristan. The same time yesterday, he’d given her a cryptic warning to stay safe, and after last night, she can’t help but wonder if he has anything to do with Eye Patch Guy. Her brain says to keep her distance, but her body can’t help but