Maybe Fate: A Novel (New Adult Paranormal Romance) by Cynthia Brint

books. It almost reached my knee. Peeking up
through my lashes at Mr. Birch, I gave a defeated sigh. “Alright,
yes, I'm researching something. It's just a little silly, is all.”
    Folding
his hands behind his back, he tightened his mouth into a tiny dot.
“Well, now I'm curious. What's so silly?”
    Ugh,
dammit. Scratching
the back of my neck, I offered the heavy book up so he could read
the cover.
    Leaning
in, he pushed his glasses up his nose. “Hmn. 'Ancient Devil
Lore.'” His grin was far too amused for my liking. “Miss
Everette, are you honestly researching demons?”
    “ Not
exactly,” I answered, thinking about how offended Nethiun had
been last night. “More like something... similar.”
Reaching down, I gathered up my collection. It almost blocked my
vision, so I turned sideways so he could see my face. “Anyway,
sorry to be so weird. I need to go through these, so. Yeah.”
    Mr.
Birch was staring at me, reminding me of an owl who was debating
striking its prey. It was a look that made my pulse thrum
erratically. “Something like a demon?” he asked softly.
    My
throat felt as if I'd swallowed pure flour from the bag. “I—yeah.”
    “ That's
a dangerous thing to go digging up,” he whispered, glancing
around like someone was listening.
    Uneasily,
I followed his example. “Is it?”
    Chuckling,
he leaned back and let the mood return to normal. It happened so
fast, I wasn't quite ready to relax. “Only if you believe in
such things, perhaps.”
    “ Do—do
you believe in those kind of things, Mr. Birch?”
    His
face smoothed, his expression placid and unreadable. “There's
a bit of truth in all myths and legends. But,” he said,
tapping my stack of books and nearly throwing me off balance, “you
aren't likely to find anything useful in those.”
    Gaping,
I had to fight from dropping the heavy load in my despair. “You're
sure?”
    “ Quite
sure. You'd need to find a collector of rare old books to discover
even a glimmer of useful information.”
    Sighing,
I lowered the tomes back to the floor. “Wish I'd known that
before I'd picked all these out.”
    “ It
wasn't a total waste,” he said softly, watching me shove the
books back onto the shelves.
    Blinking,
I reached up, trying to shove the thick red book back into its slot.
“How so?”
    My
professor took it from me, easily sliding it back like a puzzle
piece. “Miss Everette, you're forgetting who you ran into
today.”
    Lifting
my eyebrows, I stared at him with rising excitement. “Are you
trying to tell me... that you collect the kinds of books I'm looking
for?”
    His
large hand clasped me on the shoulder firmly, making me jump. “I
do believe you're in luck, Miss Everette.”

Chapter 5.
    Gale
Everette

    Mr.
Birch's house was only a thirty minute drive away from the campus.
Even so, the road felt like it went on forever.
    With
my hands balled up in my jacket pockets, I alternated staring
sideways at him as he drove, and out the window as we crawled away
from the city and further into the stretch of secluding trees.
    I
almost asked how much longer we had, but before that was needed, the
house came into view beyond a covering growth of bushes.
    “ Wow,”
I said stupidly, staring at the large building in admiration. “Your
place is gigantic!”
    His
laugh made me flinch, until it was clear there was no malice. “I
guess it is.”
    Rolling
into the driveway, he stopped the engine and climbed from the bright
red vehicle. Following suit, I left the warm pocket of air and stood
in the crispness.
    Standing
at the base of the large house, I looked straight up and tried to
whistle; all that came out was a weak puff of air. “Um. Maybe
this is rude, but please tell me you don't live here alone.”
    “ It's
not so bad,” he said, striding for the front door. Shaking my
head, I brushed back my hair, following him.
    Inside
the mansion—for what else could it be?—the place smelled
like... nothing. So much so, I wondered if he ever spent