“Another one.” Auron said, dropping the file onto the conference table as he took a seat. “A twelfth century grimoire that had rumors of being fae attached to it. The original protection spells on it so strong that no one had as yet managed to break them to actually see what it held. Makes me wonder how they knew it was a grimoire and where the rumors of being fae came from…”

“Ye can tell, man.. books of magic… well.. ye can just tell.” Nate said helpfully from his seat where he sat fiddling with a pen, flipping it through his fingers. “No need t’ e’en open it… with some o’ them... ye don’ e’en have t’ touch it…”

Chaos sighed and looked at the newest folder lying in the middle of the table on top of the others. “As for the rumors of it being fae, that could be due to the strength or type of spell laid on it, or due to some glyph inscribed on the cover.. or even where the book was found.” She found herself wiggling one high heeled foot as she looked at the folder. “The owner?”

“Dead. Nicholas Crosgrove, age sixty three. Collector. Same as the others. He was a minor witch, of the learned variety.” Auron said, his own eyes on the folder as well.

“Any books other than the grimoire taken?” A quiet voice asked and Auron glanced across the table at his youngest son. The petite red head was writing something in a ledger and glanced up at him, peering over the reading glasses at him with a raised eyebrow. “Dad?”

Auron cleared his throat. “Yes…” he said and nodded to the folder. “There’s complete list of everything that was missing. Luckily, Mr. Crosgrove was meticulous in his record keeping.” He said as Lex set aside the ledger and pen and began leafing through until he found the list. “Quite a few this time…” he said softly.

Auron nodded. “Yes… and on a new note, there were a couple non-readable items taken as well... seems our book worm is branching out…”

“No doubt all are either strongly enchanted or related to the fae in some way..” Lex said, pushing the glasses up a bit farther on his nose as he flipped through. “I checked the lists of stolen items from the others and they are all very rare or unique magical text or works concerning the fae…”

“So what d’ y’ think we’re dealin’ with? There’s been a definite sense of fae magic at all the sites, but ifn th’ bugger’s been stealin’ stuff linked t’ them, he could be using some enchanted item tha’s leavin’ tha’ residue… Our thinkin’ tha’ he’s fae might be wrong…” Nate said, dropping his pen on the table. “Come on, Lexi… do th’ books he’s taken have anythin’ useful t’ tell us?”

Lex snorted as he pulled off his glances, setting them on the folder and gave Nate a look. “For that I’d have to be able to read the books… rather hard to do considering, don’t you agree?” He gave a soft, delicate sounding snort and turned to Chaos. “As extensive as our archives are, most of these books are so rare that I had trouble even finding references to them existing! And there are some here that are absolutely unique with no information on them whatsoever, except that which the owners themselves had on file…”

“Lexine… you sound like you’re in love..” Sylvie said softly from her place beside him, making him blush.

Auron chuckled softly before shaking his head. “I’ve back tracked all the missing books… they came from a wide range of sources and from a wide range of locales. None of the victims had anything in common other then their collections of rare books. Plus they’re scattered over  five states, one all the way across the country!” He gave a tired sigh. “The only connection I was able to make on any of them, was a small one at best…” he said. “Several different books from various victims were purchased over the internet from different shops in one town in Illinois. Breakwater. Population roughly twenty five thousand. According to the town’s website, it’s been the home, however temporary or fleeting, of a large number of literary greats throughout history and has several historical homes that have been turned into museums and libraries. Plus a large number of bookstores… I’ve never seen so many bookstore listings in one town before…”

“Now you’ve done it.” Chaos said with a smirk, eyeing Lex. “You’ve not only sparked someone’s intense interest, but no doubt inspired years worth of daydreams to come…” Lex blushed, fiddling with his glasses. “I suppose if this is our only lead, we need to check it out. It’ll give us an opportunity to upgrade our archives a bit as well, I suppose… all those books.. surely there are *some* we don’t have…”

Lex looked up at his mother and grinned. “I can go?!”

Auron snorted. “I don’t think that’s a good idea…”

“I think it’s a great idea.” Chaos said, giving her husband a look. “Illinois is.. what.. almost a thousand miles? A bit more perhaps? That’s a nice chunk of distance to put between Lex and Ravenscourt for a while. Besides.. he can use the vacation.”

Auron looked from his wife to his son and sighed, throwing up his hands. “Alright.. I know when I’m beat. But if Lex is going, then so am I.”

Chaos chuckled softly. “Oh… count me in then. No way do I trust the two of you on the road alone together…”

Lex had tuned out back when Chaos had started to argue his case. With his mom on his side, it was a done deal. He was leaning on the table, his chin in his hand and his glasses idly twisting from the fingers of his other hand as he thought about an entire town dedicated to books….

**     Chapter 3   **

“Contemporary Louvain binding for John of Westphalia, of blind stamped calf over wooden boards. Covers are paneled with double and quadruple fillets, the center panel diapered by triple fillets with a small star at all points of intersection, the resulting compartments containing three different stamps.” There was a brief pause, then whoever was speaking continued in the same bored tone. “..an oblong rectangle containing a rebusi—a bird followed by the letters ï“veï” and a bow and arrow between four stars, a square wyvern, and a bust of John of Westphalia in the two most central compartments. As you can see, it has the original headbands, however the binding is worn and somewhat defective, it’s rebacked, and lacking clasps.” Another short pause, and Lex managed to wander far enough down the aisle to catch site of the speaker as he pointed to something in one of the cases. He was a short but plump man, looking almost comical. Like some one had stuck arms, legs and a head on a balloon and stuffed it inside a suit. He even seemed to bob slightly as he spoke.. “ The blue pigment in the border on a1 a little flaked, the upper blank corner of the first leaf has been repaired. As well, there is a small wormhole in the lower blank margin of the first thirty-three leaves ,a1-d3, not affecting the text,  but there is a somewhat larger wormhole in the last sixty-four leaves , 17/5 to D12, that does affect some text.” 

Lex snorted softly, turning his attention to the case in front of him, leaving the man to his spiel. He couldn’t understand how anyone could sound bored talking about these treasures…

Out of curiosity, he tried to peer around the man to see the book his was describing. He was still droning on about its condition. “There are a few small stains and minor marginal tears or paper flaws. Contemporary ink markings in the New Testament for liturgical reading. Latin annotations in some margins and on the final blank, by a late sixteenth-century Netherlanders scholar, citing Hebrew and Greek.”

A second voice sounded softly from over Lex’s shoulder. “Biblia Latina. Venice: Franciscus Renner, de Heilbronn, 1480. It’s from the library of Abel E. Berland with his label. A superb and very large example, preserving some deckle edges. It’s housed in a half red morocco clamshell case. Absolutely exquisite piece.” Lex turned to see find a tall, slim gentleman standing just behind and to the left of him, apparently examining the contents of the adjacent case as he also eavesdropped. “I find it horribly fascinating to listen to him  describe such treasures and somehow make them sound… dull. It’s like driving past an accident scene.. You don’t want to look, but you feel compelled to…”

Lex gave a nervous giggle. “Yus… I don’t understand how anyone could sound so bored surrounded by all this…”

The man chuckled softly, turning to face him. He was dressed impeccably in charcoal grey slacks and a long black overcoat, with a high collared deep blue silk shirt. At first Lex thought the pale ash blonde hair was cut short and slicked back, but when the man turned slightly to look towards the dull speaker, he saw it was actually quite long, reaching almost to his waist, but pulled back in a tight braid.

The man turned back, smirking softly. “I find myself coming here at times just to listen to him, my heart breaking at the butchery he does.  I’d suggest  filing a complaint, but unfortunately, he can’t be fired… he owns the place… although I’ve considered buying it just for the pleasure…”  he chuckled and bowed his head slightly as he held out one hand. “I’m sorry.. Allow me to introduce myself… Faal Dominic.”

Lex eyed the outstretched hand a moment before accepting it. “Lexine Mordant.” He said, blushing furiously as the gentleman suddenly turned his hand and lifted to his lips to kiss it lightly.

 “Charmed. I don’t recall seeing you before… but I get the definite feeling you’re no stranger to fine literature…and  I’m sure I’d remember such a striking beauty as yourself. ”

Lex  blushed even more furiously, suddenly wishing he hadn’t dressed as a girl today. If he’d been dressed as himself, he wouldn’t have to deal with the flirting every man seemed to feel necessary… and he probably would never have been allowed through the doors to half the places he’d wanted to visit… Aiyla was right in that sometimes you had to dress the part… and when dressed the part... you had to act the part…

Through his blush he managed to retrieve his hand. “No, I’ve only just arrived in town… I’m traveling with my family and some friends… and no, I’m no stranger to books…I practically grew up in a library… books are my life..”

One fine blonde eyebrow rose. “Really? Sounds like a wonderful childhood. I grew up in a somewhat less then ideal setting, although my mother did have a fabulous collection… a great deal of which she wrote herself.”

Lex snorted. “I’d hardly call my childhood ‘wonderful’. The library was it’s only saving grace…”he said softly as he turned away, looking back at the shelves. What was he doing talking to this guy anyhow? Completely unlike him… “Excuse me.. I should go. No doubt my father is waiting for me…” he said, glancing back towards the front of the shop. Actually, Auron and Kay were busy working on a case with the others. Lex was only along to keep him out of trouble and away from Rowen. Lex snorted softly remembering his mothers’ comment about it being a vacation for him.. All the museums and rare bookstores and shows, plus three libraries… He sighed realizing that unless the case took a number of years, he’s never even get through one of the libraries, let alone the museums…even though none of them were very large and almost all of them resided in refurbished houses.

“Miss Mordant?”

Lex turned around to find the gentleman looking at him quizzically, and blushed, realizing he must have been speaking to him. “Sorry… mind wandered… I really should go… too many books, too little time…” he said with a slightly embarrassed smile.  His blush grew as Faal chuckled softly and took his hand again, once again kissing his knuckles. What was it about this guy? Anyone else he’d say this was some act to charm him.. but with this guy .. it felt real…

“If you’ve only just arrived , then you haven’t had time to visit any of the sites… I would be honored to give you the tour… we have a wonderful literary history here…”

Lex was sorely tempted to accept and was horrified at himself for it. After everything he’d been through , here he was tempted to put himself in the hands of a stranger…again. Some people never learned… sure he was handsome, and charming.. and smelled wonderful… Lex thought, catching a whiff of Faal’s cologne… but he could be another Rowen for all he knew… and he certainly didn’t need to go through THAT again. “I’m sorry… “ he said, reluctantly pulling his hand free. “I shouldn’t even be talking to you…”

Faal bowed his head with a sigh. “Ah, yes… how thoughtless of me.. a beautiful young woman alone in a strange town…. But you must forgive me. After all, how could I be expected to see such a vision and not wish to meet her?” he slipped a hand into an inside pocket of his jacket and withdrew a card. “Here… please accept this and if you change your mind…don’t hesitate to call.”

He handed her the card and bowed elaborately, smiling mischievously as he stepped backward before turning and slipping off deeper into the store. Lex watched him go, his stomach full of butterflies as he watched the pale blonde braid swing across the black material of his coat as he left.

“Excuse me, Miss.. may I help you?”

Lex blinked and looked over to find the owner of the store looking at him oddly. He blushed a bit more, wondering how long he’d been staring after Faal. “Umm… yus.. that man .. the tall blonde who just left… who was he?”

The man blinked and leaned back slightly. “Ahh! Slim, long braid down his back? Young looking? That would be Mr. Dominic. He’s a very good customer of mine...” he trailed off, looking at him expectantly.

Lex nodded slowly, then smiled shyly. “Thank you. “ he said softly before turning to leave. He was outside on the street before he remembered he was still clutching the card in his fingers and looked at it. “ Faal Dominic.  Rare Books & Antiquities; Private Acquisitions .” he read softly, running a finger over the elegant silver type setting on the deep blue and black card. He tilted the card slightly, trying to make out what the black image over the blue was and decided it was a bird… no.. a phoenix. A black phoenix over a field of midnight blue…

He glanced back at the store again, a finger on his lip as he stared thoughtfully at the curtained windows which carefully shielded the books within from the harmful effects of sunlight, then slipped the card into the messenger bag he carried in lieu of a purse.

“Hey there beautiful.” A voice called out and Lex turned to see Aiyla seated behind the wheel of a flashy red convertibly. Saffron sat morosely in the passengers seat. He wondered if he was sulking because she wouldn’t let him drive.. or because he was supposed to be keeping an eye on Lex and he’d given him the slip…

Lex walked over to the passengers side of the car, dainty yet confident in the heels and long skirt. Aiyla had tried to talk him into a shorter one.. a much shorter one, but one of the thing’s he’d learned from his  mother was how to shop with pushy people and get away with just buying the stuff you actually wanted. He owed her immensely for that. He owed her immensely for everything. He waited by the door, until Aiyla finally shoved Saffron.

“What?! He can get in the back!”

Aiyla rolled her eyes and punched him I the arm as Lex rolled his eyes. “No…’she’ can’t… be a gentleman if not a good big brother and give her your seat.”

Saffron turned to glare at Lex before giving a sigh and opening his door for Lex, then hopping into the back, obviously not happy. Lex hid his smirk as he slid onto the seat and pulled the door closed behind him.

Aiyla ran her eyes over Lex again with a smirk as he popped her sunglasses back  in place and turned her attention back to driving. “Damn, Lex… it’s just not fair how you can wear such… bland clothes and still come out looking sexy as hell…”

“They’re not bland….” He said blushing and turned his gaze to the side, watching the store recede in his mirror as Aiyla pulled away. “They’re sophisticated and elegant…”

“Doesn’t matter if they’re ‘business casual’.. it’s still DRAG.” Saffron added glumly from his seat. “I mean, Christ, Lex…!”

“Shut up, Saffron.” They both said at the same time, neither bothering to look in his direction.

“Besides… if Jasmine is right about the Seal, then you might as well get used to it… soon I’ll BE a girl anyways, right? Then you’ll have something new to bitch about..” Lex said softly still watching the mirror even though the shop was long gone behind them.

Aiyla chuckled as Saffron snorted and slumped lower in his seat. She glanced over at Lex, sitting at ease with his hands folded demurely in his lap. The bright red hair done up in a French braid with a couple simple, yet decorative bobby pins; the simple make up job to hide the inverted tear drop tattoos beneath his eyes; the elegant drop pearl earrings with the matching necklace and bracelet that Auron, of all people, had given him. Simple , classic… and on Lex… intriguingly sexy… She snorted softly, turning her full attention back to the street ahead of her. The boy could wear a prison jump suit and make it look good… but give him a dress or a skirt and watch out…She wondered how many hearts he’d managed to break in  the few hours since he’d given his brother the slip back at the room…

**      Chapter 4     **

Faal watched the intriguing young woman climb into the car with the other two and drive off, his curiosity peeked. It was a rare occasion that someone sparked his interest so intensely and he wondered just what it was about her that drew him so…

“The items are packed and ready, sir. Is there anything else?”

Faal turned to find his personal assistant hovering at his shoulder. “No, that will be all here I believe…Actually, wait.” he said, casting a glance back out the window. “Run the name Mordant for me. Check all the bed and breakfasts and hotels in the area.” He turned from the window and strode towards the door. “See that everything gets to its proper destination and then meet me at the Chateau with your findings. I trust you should have something for me by seven?”

The young woman was hastily making a note of it as she followed him. “Of course. Do you have a first name to search as well?”

“No…any reservations will be under her father’s name I believe… actually… run it anyhow. Lexine. It’s a rather unique name… if there’s anything, you shouldn’t have any trouble locating it. They’re from out of town, so a background search will have to be wide range… but do as you see fit, Miranda.. all I wish to know is where they’re staying…”

She followed him out to his car, still making notes. “Of course, sir.. anything else I can turn up is icing. Got it. I’ll see you at Chateau at seven, sir.”

Faal raised an eyebrow at her as he turned the key in the ignition and the car roared to life. “Icing’… really Miranda.. where do you get these things?” he asked with a smirk. “Get busy.. you’ve got just over three hours…” he said as he pulled away from the curb and drove off.

**

“I’ll be meeting with a dealer tonight for supper.” Kay said as Lex and the others entered the parlor. She glanced at the sour look on Saffron’s face as he slumped into the nearest chair and gave Lex a curious look.  “Problems?”

Saffron snorted but didn’t answer. Aiyla perched on the arm of his chair, earning a glare from him. “Ignore him.. he’s just pissed off because a- Lex gave him the slip again, and b- I wouldn’t let him drive…”

“And don’t forget c .. you made him sit in the back..” Lex added helpfully as he studiously avoided his brothers gaze.

Auron snorted at Saffron then turned a disapproving look on Lex. “I wish you’d stop that, Lex… you have too many enemies out there to be safe on your own. Or have you forgotten the death curse incident and numerous kidnappings so soon…?”

Lex blushed, sinking a bit deeper into his chair.

“Auron, please. “ Kay said softly, moving to sit on the arm of Lex’s chair, much the same as Aiyla. “Lex has no control over the creeps that decide to target him. He shouldn’t have to live like a prisoner because of them. He’s taken pretty much every lesson he can on self defense, weapons training… all of it. I’ll admit, back home where we know he has a certain shadow lurking, a body guard is a good idea… but here? Auron… we’re almost half way across the country and he’s in disguise. Can’t you ease up on him just a little?”

Auron glared at her for a moment then sighed and looked to Lex. “I’m just worried about you, Lexine. I nearly lost you over that damned curse… “

“But you didn’t.” Kay said, one arm around Lex’s shoulder. “Look at him, Auron. He’s fine. The curse is broken, he’s regaining his strength more each day.. he needs this vacation, Auron… you know we don’t have that long before Jasmine will take him to the Seal and… well… let him have some time to himself without a shadow following his every move, if he chooses. We’ve all got cell phones on us at all times.. he can call if he needs us. And I’m sure Saffron has other things he could be doing. Speaking of which… has anybody turned anything up yet?”

Aiyla gave a huge sigh, making Saffron roll his eyes and lean farther away from her. “Alas no… I tracked several of the book to various shops, but the dealers refuse to share their buyers lists with me… it would be a simple feat to access their data banks….except this is no-wheresville… not a single one of these places has all their records on computer! Can you believe that? “

Auron frowned. “How is that possible.. I thought most of them did a huge amount of business over the internet…?”

Saffron snorted. “Sure, but anyone can set up a website…it’s quick and easy and can be done in minutes if your not picky on design… they may even use the computers to keep track of sales and what not… but they’re  not so eager to go through weeks of work to upload all their old files… and unless the customer is purchasing from online, chances are, they wont be listed on the computer as any more then a sales number…and even then…”

Auron sighed and held out an arm to his wife who smirked and left Lex’s side to go sit next to her husband. “So in other words.. another dead end…”

Aiyla smiled. “No.. not a dead end… the records ARE there after all… I just can’t access them from afar… it’ll just take a bit longer… this little town is like book heaven… there are three rare books stores that have internet businesses, two more that don’t, plus there’s still the three libraries that, although a long shot, might provide us with some clue if we can gain access to their record on patrons who’ve accessed the rare books section or requested access…” she sighed again and let herself fall over onto Saffron’s lap with a smirk. “Plus there are still the private dealers….”

Kay tried to hide her smile as Saffron shoved the petite blonde off of him and moved to another chair, leaving Aiyla to stretch out in the one he’d abandoned with a smug look on her face. “I’m meeting with one of them tonight at seven thirty. An old friend I managed to track down. When he found out I was married he invited the rest of you too.”

Saffron snorted. “Count me out. I’d rather stay here with the little old ladies and their book club meeting then play happy family with him looking like that…”  he said pointing at Lex with a sneer.

Auron wiped a pillow across the room, smacking Saffron squarely in the face. “I’ve had enough of that. You know what’s going to happen.. Lex has spent a great deal of time dealing with this knowledge and has accepted it. He’s chosen to try to get used to the idea  and so have we. So stop it. If it bothers you so much to see him this way, then maybe you should start thinking of him as your sister NOW and be done with it. We’ve already had his birth certificate altered and we’ve decided to introduce him as Lexine… our daughter…and a week or so from now it’ll be true. Deal with it.”

Saffron held the pillow in his lap and  refused to meet his fathers gaze. “Sure… easy for you to say…” he muttered sullenly.

“What did you say?”

“Enough.. please..” Kay interjected., rolling her eyes at Aiyla. “Auron, give him time. You’ve had more time with Lex then Saffron has. You know him better. Saffron is still getting used to having a brother and now that’s changing and he’s having trouble with it. Saffron,” she turned her gaze to her step-son. “please.. reconsider dinner…?”

She sighed as he snorted in answer. “Fine. So three members of the family shall be missing from dinner. If your sister calls, can you find out how things are going on the dig? She was so excited about the invitation to take part… personally, I don’t see it, but then I’ve always preferred  being on the outside of tombs myself… no doubt she just wanted to get out of babysitting her little brother.. good thing Sylvie’s a pushover for kids..”

Another snort from Saffron, but this time he added. “Sure.”

“Well…I’d better get going” Aiyla said.” I promised Nate I’d give him a call and let him know how things are going, plus Eire should be back soon and it looks like we’ve got a night of,,, extra-curricular activities ahead of us… care to join us Saffron?”

Saffron shot her a look. “Eww.”

She smacked him with another pillow. “Puhlease, you pervert… he’s my fiancé’s best friend. I meant we have some stores to break into and files to ransack…”

Saffron smirked and added her pillow to the one already in his lap. “I’ll think about it…” he said, watching her as she stood and walked towards the door. Just as she was about to leave he wiped a pillow at her, smacking her across the ass. She spun with a glare pointing a finger imperiously at him. “You wait mister… just wait..”

Kay shook her head. “Saffron… why do you insist on making your life so difficult? You know she’s going to get you back…”

Saffron turned a grin on her and gave a little shrug as he stood, dropping the second pillow onto the chair. “She can try…” he said. “Later.. enjoy dinner. “ he said and slipped out of the room heading for the stairs.

“I guess I’ll go see what I can wear to dinner then…” Lex said softly and stood, smoothing his skirt out as he did. “Seven thirty, you said?”

Kay smiled. “Yes.. be ready by seven so we’ll have time to find the place.. and what you’re wearing is fine, Lexi.”

Lex and Auron both answered at the same time. “No it’s not.”  “Don’t be ridiculous.. I want to show off two of the three ravishing ladies in my life.”

Kay looked at the both of them and rolled her eyes. “Wonderful.. so that means I have to dress up too?” she shot Lex a look. “Traitor.”

Lex giggled, still blushing slightly at his fathers comment as he headed for the stairs and his room.

**     Chapter 8  **

**     Chapter 13  **