Harley Merlin 12 Bella Forrest (100 best novels of all time txt) 📖

to chalk door to somewhere you’ve never been. I suppose being the Librarian comes with some perks in that respect.”

“Who’s the guy?” Luke cut in.

“His name is Nash Calvert. He’s the key to Atlantis,” I replied, relaying the rest of the intel about him being a Sanguine with a djinn curse on his blood. One I had to remove, somehow.

Luke fixed his gaze on the woodshed, visibly flipping into mission mode. “How are you going to get him to give up the goods?”

“Lie through my teeth.” I smiled anxiously. “I’d go in guns blazing, telling him I need it for Erebus, but Erebus warned me not to mention him. So, I can’t even name-drop for a bit of leverage—well, not outright, anyway. I guess the E-man fancies keeping up an air of mystique. Wouldn’t do for the key to know who wants him, and why. But I figured I could get this guy to sympathize with me, tell him I’m a servant of Erebus who needs help getting out of a deal. Erebus might not like it, given his orders, but it’s my best option.”

“Unless Nash knows Erebus, and Erebus knows that mentioning his name, in any capacity, would make Nash refuse to help,” Melody said thoughtfully. “Maybe they have bad blood, if you’ll pardon the pun.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Huh… I hadn’t thought of that. Once again, you make a lot of sense, Winchester. Anyone would think you’ve got some knowledgeable insight that the rest of us lack.”

“Well, she is the Librarian, dumbass,” Luke piped up.

“And I was being sarcastic. I guess that’s too much wit for you?” I shot back.

Melody fidgeted with the toggles of her hood. “Are you sure that lying is the right—”

She didn’t get to finish. An ear-splitting howl ricocheted through the woods as a furry beast erupted from the tree line, its white coat having been camouflaged by the snow. It leapt through the air and landed on the path, showing its enormous size. It had the face of a husky but the heft of a dire wolf—massive and savage, and likely ready to tear out our throats. As if sensing my terror, it lowered its head and bared its fangs, a growl thrumming in its throat.

“That’s not your everyday wolf,” I managed to say, my voice shaking.

“You’re damn right.” A figure stepped out of the trees, pointing a rifle at us. One moment, Nash had been in the woodshed, now he was here. Clearly, he’d used this enormous wolfdog as a distraction to sneak up on us.

Well, well, well, Mr. Calvert… you’re one slippery devil.

Twenty-Six

Finch

“Who are you?” Nash growled, matching the rumble of the massive husky. My, my, aren’t you two a match made in heaven? Evidently, they came as a pair, down to the icy blue eyes and shock of silver hair that sprouted from under Nash’s woolen hat. It reminded me of my bygone platinum days, but it turned out strawberry blonds had more fun.

“You’d loosen these lips more if you didn’t have a gun pointed at us.” I lifted my palms in a gesture of goodwill.

Nash stepped forward, bringing the rifle barrel level with my eye. “Funny guy, huh?”

“Just trying to stop you from blowing our heads off, or having White Fang here turn the snow red.” I shrugged. “No need to get trigger happy. We come in peace.”

“I’ll make the demands here, buddy. Who are you? I won’t ask again.” Nash peered down the rifle’s sight, finger flexing on the trigger. One of these days, I’d go on a mission and be welcomed in with coffee and cookies.

I glanced back at Luke. “Hey, pal, whenever you feel like stepping in, that’d be swell.”

Understanding dawned on his stern face. His hand shot up, his wrist twisting suddenly. The rifle flew from Nash’s grip and vanished into the trees.

“What the—!” Nash stared down at his empty hands while the husky’s growl deepened. Nash’s icy eyes flashed with anger. He delved into his coat and whipped out three knives. He raised his arm to hurl them, and Luke twisted his hands again, wrenching the knives from Nash’s grasp and burying them in tree trunks with a trio of satisfying thunks.

“Better late than never.” I cast a grin at Luke, who rolled his eyes.

“And only fools rush in.”

I turned my attention back to Nash. “Will you play nice now? I said it once, I’ll say it again—we come in peace. There’s no need for this to get nasty.”

“You’re on my property without permission. I’d say that’s cause to get a little nasty.” Nash threw up his hands. Fire erupted from his palms and exploded in a volley of fireballs. I dove, hitting the powdery snow face first. Meanwhile, Luke pushed Melody out of harm’s way, playing the hero and getting grazed across the shoulder by a fireball for his trouble.

“Don’t be an idiot, Calvert!” I yelled, flipping onto my back. “We just want to talk!”

Nash aimed a fireball at my head.

Groaning, I raised both hands, unleashing a powerful strand of Telekinesis from my right and a torrent of Fire from my left. The latter drew a barrier around the husky, taking it out of play. The dog whimpered, pawing the dirt as it huddled to avoid the fierce flames. It lifted its blue eyes to its owner, as if he’d know what to do. Unfortunately, at that very moment, my Telekinesis wrapped around Nash and flung him away from his dog and any other tricks he may have wanted to pull. The flames sputtered out, unable to feed on snow.

“Stop it, all of you!” Melody hoisted herself to her feet. Nash recovered and ran forward, looking twice as furious. “There’s no need for violence. Nobody has to get hurt here. Nash, all we want to do is talk. Please, listen to what we have to say.”

“Why should I?” he snarled. The husky huddled against his leg, teeth bared.

“Because I know you’re alarmed and frightened by what my