Chapter 1

Paige glanced over her shoulder, catching sight of the tip of the angry red gash. Pus oozed from it, and a greenish cast tinged the ragged edges. The foul scent of infection crinkled her nose as she caught a whiff.

"Ouch!" she shouted, her posture stiffening as Dewey's scaly finger scraped the edge.

"Sorry, Paige, but I wanted Ronnie to see the black stuff here."

"And you tried the general remedy?" Ronnie inquired, finger tapping her chin as she stared at the wound on Paige's back.

Dewey buzzed around his tower nest to the kitchen counter, skirting around Paige, and collected a bandage. "Yep, it made her worse. Did nothing to cure it at all."

"And you haven't found anything else?"

"No, though to be fair, after the escapade in Scotland, I slept for fourteen hours straight. I've only just gotten back into my work here."

Ronnie wandered to the counter and plopped on the stool next to Paige. "Oh, speaking of your shenanigans in Scotland, I just approved the bill for the rental car you ruined."

"Hey," Dewey said, the horns on his head wiggling as he wrinkled his teal nose, "that wasn't our fault. Bill the werewolves!"

"I'll be sure to have the library's lawyers take it up with them," Ronnie said with a chuckle.

"I'm really sorry about the car," Paige added, wincing again as Dewey pressed the bandage onto her wound. "The next time we have a rental and werewolves are chasing us, I'll try to be more careful."

She stuck her tongue out at him before she grinned.

Ronnie patted her hand. "Don't sweat it, Paige. You did a fantastic job with the investigation. We're proud to have you as Shadow Harbor's newest librarian."

Dewey flew around her, hovering between them, his teal-trimmed wings beating in the air. "What about me?"

Ronnie chuckled at the teacup dragon. "You did a great job, too, for your first time out."

An open-mouthed grin crossed his blue lips, and he glanced at his partner, Paige. "All thanks to Paige."

"I was glad to have Dewey along. I can't believe the last guy never took him out."

Ronnie flicked her dark hair back from her face with a shake of her head. "Atticus was…different."

"That's not the word I'd use to describe him," Dewey said as he shoved the wrapper from the bandage into his trash compactor. He flew back to the counter and landed on it, standing on his hind legs. "Anyway, I sincerely hoped the reason no cure was listed in any of the references I've come across so far was because Paige's beast wound would heal on its own. But, as you can see, that doesn't seem to be the case."

"Maybe we should try something simple like an antibiotic ointment," Paige said with a shrug before tugging her hoodie over her head and hiding the large bandage.

Dewey arched an eyebrow at her. "Be serious, Paige."

Paige shrugged again. "I'm new at this, remember?"

Dewey turned to Ronnie. "I was hoping you could ask around at the other libraries. You know, put out the bat signal. Being the director may get you somewhere."

Ronnie rapped her knuckles against the counter with a tight-lipped smile and a nod. "I'll see what I can do. In the meantime, don't stop your search. If this can be fatal, we need to get Paige cured immediately." She turned to face Paige. "And you keep that talisman around your neck. We don't want this thing to find you and finish the job."

Paige offered her a nod as she fished the crescent moon with its purple moonstone out from under her hoodie and squeezed it between her thumb and forefinger. "Don't worry. We worked hard to get this. I'm not taking it for granted."

Ronnie gave them a final nod before striding toward the door and descending from Dewey's nest using the stairs that circled around the tower.

"I still can't believe we stole that from the Moscow Library," Dewey said with a chuckle.

"I still can't believe you turned me into a puddle of mush to do it."

Dewey's chuckling continued as he recalled the accident with the Seepy Sap that resulted in Paige turning into a melted puddle version of herself for over an hour. "Yeah, good times."

"Let's try to avoid any mishaps like that in the future, shall we?"

Dewey darted to the refrigerator and swung it open to rummage inside.

"I didn't do it on purpose," he said as he swung the door shut, an Energy Dragon drink clutched in his paw.

"Hey, if you drink that, you're going to be up all night," Paige said as she twisted on the stool to follow his flight across his pad to his worn chaise lounge.

"Yeah, I know. Someone's gotta research and find a cure for your beast mark before you die."

Paige slid her feet to the floor and crossed to the armchair across from the chaise. "Will you please stop referencing my imminent death?"

Dewey set the can on the side table with a shrug. "Sorry."

Paige sighed and slouched in her seat, her cheeks puffing as she blew out a breath. "You know, I really could go for some Cheesy Does It breadsticks."

Dewey's eyebrows lifted, and his ears wiggled. "Me too. You wanna order some takeout?"

She wrinkled her nose. "Sure, but first I need to go feed Dickens."

"Oh, right," Dewey said, flicking his gaze at his teal feet as he flexed and pointed his toes. "Sure, go ahead. I'll just do some research."

Paige bit her lower lip and narrowed her eyes at him. "What do you say we get out of here, hole up at my place, and do a movie night?"

Dewey scrunched his thick, scaly eyebrows together and shot a confused look at Paige. "Movie night?"

"Yeah! Come on! We'll stop by and pick up the pizza and sticks, couple of sodas, popcorn. We'll make a whole night of it. You can finally watch Blade."

The tiny dragon's eyes lit up as he considered the prospect. He sucked in a breath, the smile fading on his lips. "Thanks, but I'd better do some research."

He tugged a book onto his lap and flicked it open, paging through it to the index.

"Really?" Paige asked as she raised her eyebrows, steadying her head against her fingertips as she rested her elbow on the chair's arm.

"Uh, yeah," he said, cutting his gaze to her. "Someone has to make sure you don't die."

Paige breathed out a sigh as she pushed herself to stand. "Look, no one wants me not to die as much as I do, but going over the same information again and again isn't going to help."

She stalked across the room and pulled the book from his lap, snapping it closed.

"Maybe it will," he countered. "Maybe I missed something. Or misread something."

"Then you'll find it tomorrow. If you missed something, it's because you could use a break. Besides, this is a research trip."

Dewey wrinkled his nose, his horns wiggling. "How is movie night a research trip?"

Paige readied the pet carrier across the room, unzipping the top and tugging it open.

"Or do you mean because my mind will relax and I'll finally figure out what I've been missing on your beast wound case?"

Paige puckered her lips and tilted her head. "Oh, right, yeah, that could work, too. I was thinking more like since Blade is a day-walking vampire, there may be some clue embedded in the movie about this."

Dewey arched an eyebrow as he climbed to his feet. "Are you serious?"

Paige let her gaze wander around Dewey's living space as she considered his question. She flicked her gaze down to the burgundy and gold rug, tracing a golden loop with her foot. "Yes. I mean, maybe the producers knew a librarian and did their research when they made the movies."

"Sometimes, Paige. Sometimes…" he said as he hopped into the pet carrier and started to zip it closed. "But I won't say no to Cheesy Does It, and the popcorn doesn't sound half bad either."

Paige hefted the carrier onto her shoulder and wobbled across the room with the large mesh rectangle banging off her hip. "We'll stop on the way home at the SmartMart and grab some snacks, then we'll order delivery when we get back to my place. And you can meet Dickens!"

"Bet he hates me," Dewey said from inside the carrier as Paige descended the stairs that circled around his tower.

"Mmm, probably. I'm pretty sure he hates me, too. So, you'll be in good company."

"Ohh, shoot," Dewey said as they reached the bottom of the stairs.

"What?"

"I should have brought my Energy Dragon. If we're doing a marathon, I may need it."

Paige continued toward the metal stairs leading to the library above them. "I'll buy you another one at the SmartMart."

"Really?"

"Yeah," she said as her feet pounded up the metal steps. "It's a movie marathon. You'll need it along with popcorn, Raisinets, and Sour Patch Kids."

"Twizzlers. Can we get Twizzlers?"

"Anything you want, Dewey," she said with a chuckle, pushing through the metal door at the top and starting up the next set of stairs.

She flicked a lock of her long, red hair over her shoulder as she passed the portraits of the Shadow Harbor librarians who had come before her, her footsteps slowing when she reached the portrait of her mother.

"Is that your mom?" Dewey asked.

"Yep," Paige said, grinding to a stop and lifting the carrier so he could get a better view.

His horned nose pressed against the mesh as he studied the portrait. "You look alike."

Paige cocked her head as she stared at the portrait. "Yeah, I guess there is a resemblance."

"I haven't forgotten my promise to look into your family tree. You know, as soon as I save your life first."

"And right after we watch Blade," Paige said. "Now hush up before someone catches you talking. The library's still open."

Dewey fell silent as Paige pushed through the door into the library. At the late afternoon hour, a few people milled around in the large space, perusing the book collection or taking notes at one of the carrel desks.

Paige strolled past the floor-to-ceiling wooden shelves with a smile, proud to have landed the librarian position. She glanced up at the second-floor railing, spotting the two patrons browsing the mystery section before she ducked into a back hall marked EMPLOYEES ONLY.

She strolled down the less decorative space, passing the HR office. Ronnie stood inside, speaking with one of the Human Resources employees.

Paige offered her a wave as she passed by on her way to the back door. As she reached it, Ronnie popped her head from within the office. "Heading out?"

"Yep," Paige said, pushing on the crash bar.

Ronnie lifted her chin. "Taking Dewey? Did you catch a lead on something?"

"No, we're holing up for a movie night."

Ronnie's eyebrows shot up. "Oh, that's nice. Well, enjoy. What movie?"

"Blade," Paige said with a grin as Ronnie furrowed her dark eyebrows.

Paige pushed out into the cool autumn afternoon and ambled down the alley to the front of the library. Tall trees, their leaves a mix of orange, red, and yellow, waved in the breeze blowing off the ocean.

The sun hung low in the sky, already starting its slide toward the horizon and glittering off the harbor waters.

"Wow," Dewey whispered, "look at that water."

"Pretty, huh?" Paige asked as she shuffled through a pile of leaves that swirled in an eddy.

"Yeah."

"Do you want to hang out on the docks for a while first?"

"Nah," Dewey said. "I'll watch the sunset from your window. Oh, wait, you have a window, right?"

Paige chuckled at the statement. "Yes, I have windows, and yes, you can see the sunset from them."

"That'll suffice," he said as she wandered through the streets of Shadow Harbor.

They passed the gothically styled buildings as they wound north through the city to the corner SmartMart. The automatic door slid open as Paige approached it. She tugged a cart free and dumped Dewey's carrier into the baby seat before she continued into the store's massive snack section.

She slowed as she shoved the cart, with its wonky wheel that didn't touch the ground, into the first aisle. Colorful bags boasting interesting and unique flavors filled both sides from the floor to above Paige's head.

"Any chips?" she asked the dragon as she grabbed a bucket of microwavable popcorn and tossed it into the cart's basket.

"Flaming hot Cheetos, if you wouldn't mind."

Paige arched an eyebrow as she searched for the snack and dumped it into the cart.

"This ride leaves something to be desired," Dewey grumbled as Paige tried to swivel the cart around the corner and into the candy aisle.

It skittered across the tile floor as she fought to tug it into a new position and push it forward.

"That's my luck," she said with clenched teeth while wrangling the cart and finally made the turn.

She chucked Twizzlers, Sour Patch Kids, Raisinets, and Goobers into the cart before continuing toward the cold beverages. After loading up on energy drinks and sodas, she made her way to the checkout.

The cashier glanced at the items on the belt, scanning the candy. "Looks like someone's having a movie night."

"Yep, we are!" Paige said with a grin as she pushed the empty cart through the checkout and started placing the bags inside.

The woman, whose nametag read Nia, shoved the Cheetos into a plastic bag, flicking her gaze at the carrier. "Is that your dog?"

"Yep," Paige said, blocking her view by stepping in front of the cart.

"Aww, what kind?"

"Chihuahua," Paige fibbed.

"So cute," the girl murmured as she tapped on the total button.

Paige stuck her card into the card reader and waited for the transaction to complete. The reader beeped, and Paige yanked her card from it and shoved it into her purse as the register spit out the mile-long receipt.

"Can I pet him?" Nia asked as she folded the paper and handed it to Paige.

"No, he bites people." Paige grabbed the receipt and grinned at the girl as she shoved the cart away.

"I don't bite people, Paige," Dewey snapped from inside the carrier as she unloaded the bags.

"Yes, you do. You bit that werewolf, remember?"

"Oh, yeah, I did. Okay, fair assessment," he said as they stepped into the cool fall air. "Woo, it's blustery out here."

"Are you cold?" Paige asked as she waddled along with the bags in both hands and Dewey's carrier banging off her hip.

"Nah, I'm okay. But fall's definitely here."

"Yep, check out all the leaves."

"Beautiful," Dewey murmured. "I haven't ever seen the fall leaves here."

Paige wrinkled her nose as she realized Dewey had spent over a decade trapped below in the library's archives because the former librarian had never taken him out, keeping him hidden away instead.

"You better stop talking to me before you end up on the internet again as a crazy lady."

"Nah, it's fine," Paige said with a grin. "I put one of those Bluetooth things in my ear, so people will just think I'm on the phone."

"Ohhhh, smart, Paige, smart."

Paige's smile broadened as she waited on the street corner to cross.

"So, where's your place at?"

"Not far from the library," Paige answered, turning a corner after crossing the street. "I'm in the old Drumchapel building on Stormspell."

"The one with the gargoyles on top?"

Paige turned onto her street. "That's the one!" Her brow furrowed. "How did you know that?"

"I saw a picture of it when I was researching the town. Sometimes at night after hours, if we weren't busy, I'd go on Snoodle Maps and walk around town and pretend I was out."

Paige glanced down at the carrier as she climbed the stone steps in front of the white building, glancing up at the gargoyles perched above her before she pushed in through the creaky iron and glass door.

"Well, now you are out and about and in the Drumchapel building!"

"Yeah!" Dewey said, his voice echoing in the high-ceilinged entryway. Paige stepped onto the worn tile floor, the same one from the building's construction in the 1920s.

She hurried up the worn stairs to her fourth-floor apartment and puffed for breath as she reached the landing.

She wandered along the railing overlooking the stairs to her apartment. The brass number three at the end of her apartment number still hung upside down. Paige dumped her bags on the floor as she dug in her tote for her keys.

"Oh, shoot," she murmured.

"What is it?" Dewey asked, still swinging from her shoulder in his carrier.

"The stupid dragon tail got stuck on the tote again." Paige dropped to one knee as she struggled to free the dragon charm on her charm bracelet from the tote bag's lining.

"Hey, watch what you're calling stupid."

"I'm calling this stupid because it is stupid. The stupid tail is always catching on any stupid thing it can find and getting stuck." She gritted her teeth as she grabbed hold of the silver dragon's tail and wiggled it free.

She breathed a sigh of relief, pulling the tote open with her right hand to dig for the keys.

"Oh, hey, Paige," a male voice said.

Paige snapped her gaze in the direction of the voice. Her upstairs neighbor, Devon, stood on the landing. He ran his fingers through his wavy, dark hair, his white teeth gleaming from his tanned skin.

"Devon!" Paige said with a bit too much enthusiasm as she rocketed to stand, bobbling Dewey's carrier at her side.

The tall man closed the distance between them. His dark eyes bore into hers as he flexed his chiseled jaw. "Haven't seen you in a few days. Everything okay?"

The grin never faded from Paige's face as he spoke. "Yep! All good. So good."

He glanced down at the bags sprawled around her feet, his full lips puckering before they turned into a grin. "Having a party?"

"Movie night," Paige answered.

He poked a finger at the carrier. "With the cat?"

"Yes, my cat, Dickens, who is in this carrier right here!" She patted the side of the carrier, the stupid grin stuck on her face.

Heat rose, and she wondered what shade of red her cheeks sported at this moment.

He glanced at her again, the half smile still on his lips, and narrowed his eyes before he flicked his eyebrows up. "Well, enjoy the show."

He grinned at her again before he stalked away and mounted the stairs to climb to the floor above.

Paige smiled at him as he disappeared.

"Thanks!" she called after him before she shoved her key into her lock, jiggled it, and swung the door open.

She stepped into the darkened apartment, tugging the bags sprawled in the hall into her entryway before she shoved the door shut and slid her chain lock across it.

She let the carrier slip from her shoulder and set it on the floor before zipping it open. Dewey buzzed out, staring at her as he shook his head.

"What?" she questioned.

"I wouldn't talk to that guy anymore. He's dangerous."