Shadow Lord: A Magical Library Urban Fantasy Novel (Shelving Magic Book 3), page 1
SERIES BY NELLIE H. STEELE
Cate Kensie Mysteries
Shadow Slayers Stories
Lily & Cassie by the Sea Mysteries
Pearl Party Mysteries
Middle Age is Murder Cozy Mysteries
Duchess of Blackmoore Mysteries
Maggie Edwards Adventures
Clif & Ri on the Sea Adventures
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2023 by Nellie H. Steele
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Cover designed by MiblArt.
Created with Vellum
SHADOW LORD
A MAGICAL LIBRARY CONTEMPORARY FANTASY NOVEL
SHELVING MAGIC
BOOK THREE
NELLIE H. STEELE
CONTENTS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Also by Nellie H. Steele
CHAPTER 1
“Am I dying?” Paige asked as she leaned her elbow against the counter, cradling her head in her palm.
Dewey adjusted the microscope, staring into the eyepieces. “If you aren’t, you will be when I kill you for rushing me.”
“Sorry,” Paige said with a shrug, “I’d just like to know as soon as possible if I’m going to live beyond next week or not. Seems kind of urgent.”
Dewey shot her an unimpressed glance. Paige held her hands up in the air, signaling defeat before she hopped off the stool and wandered into the kitchen. She tugged open the refrigerator and scanned the contents, grabbing a foil-wrapped package out.
“You want any of these breadsticks? I’m going to heat a few for myself.”
Dewey narrowed his eyes as he turned a dial on the scope. “Yes, please. And grab me an Energy Dragon.”
“Flavor?”
“Any,” Dewey answered.
Paige grabbed one of the cans and slid it across the counter before tugging open the tin foil package.
“Use the air fryer. It’ll make them crisp but not overcooked.”
“Right,” Paige said as she stared at the machine on the counter. She tugged open the basket and dumped the breadsticks inside, sliding the bin back into place. “You know, I feel a lot better than I have. No tiredness, no pain in my scratch. And it looks almost healed.”
“Mmm, that’s good. But we need to be sure there are no lingering parasites in your bloodstream.”
Paige tapped a few spots on the touchscreen display, her nose wrinkling. “I have literally no idea what any of this means.”
“It means that if the parasites are still in your bloodstream, you could become reinfected. We’ll need to make sure they are completely eradicated.”
“Not that. I understand about the vampire worms. Weirdly, I understand that part. It’s the air fryer. I have no idea how to work it.”
Dewey’s shoulders slumped, and he buzzed up from the stool, flying across the room toward her. He tapped around on the screen for a few seconds before the machine revved up.
“Honestly, Paige, what century do you live in?”
“I don’t have fancy gadgets, okay? Until a few weeks ago, I could barely afford my apartment.”
“Oh, speaking of,” Dewey said as he fluttered back to his workstation, “you need to get a new place. You’re welcome to stay here until you do.”
“I’m planning on staying here until we’re sure I’m not dying, first off. And secondly, I do not need a new place.”
“Yes, you do. Your neighbor is the worst.”
“Devon?”
“Yes, Devon,” Dewey snapped, his voice filled with disdain.
Paige sighed as she leaned her back against the counter and crossed her arms. “There is nothing wrong with Devon.”
“I’m telling you, he’s trouble.”
“Why? What makes you say that?”
“Just a gut feeling.” Dewey lifted his eyes from the microscope. “You’re clear.”
Paige lifted her eyebrows higher and leaned forward, a grin forming on her lips. “Seriously?”
“Seriously,” Dewey said, removing the slide from the stage. “If your blood stays clear for another week or so, I’d say you’re all good.”
Paige bounced on her toes, clapping her hands. “I’m going to live!”
“You’re going to live.”
“And it’s all thanks to you.”
Dewey buzzed across the room after packing his microscope into its case and clicking it shut. “Yep. That’s me. A lifesaver.”
He pulled the basket from the air fryer and tossed the steaming breadsticks onto a plate.
Paige shot him a grateful glance. “I’m serious.”
“I know,” Dewey answered, carrying the plate across to the living room and setting it on the coffee table. “And I’m going to let the world know, too. I can’t wait to write this up and submit it to the Journal of Magical Healing.” Dewey stared into space, waving a hand through the air. “‘Curing Life-Threatening Parasitic Vampire Worms from an Incurable Beast Mark, by Dewey Decimael.’ Oh boy, my parents are going to be so proud.”
Paige smiled at him before she blew on her breadstick, then bit into it. “Woo, hot, hot!”
“Of course it’s hot, it just came out of the oven. Anyway, now we can move on to more important things.” Dewey waved his breadstick in Paige’s direction. “Toss over your bracelet.”
Paige set her breadstick down on the plate, licking her fingers before she unclasped the bracelet and slid it from around her wrist. It stuck on her hoodie, and her shoulders slumped.
“Here we go.”
“Stuck?” Dewey asked, with a mouthful of breadstick.
Paige let out a disgusted sigh as she shoved her glasses higher on her nose and squinted down at the silver bracelet. The tail of the dragon charm pressed between the fabric of her sleeve. She wiggled it loose before letting it dangle in the air, eyeing the charms.
“Do you really think this will help you track information on me?”
“Can’t hurt. It was obviously important to your mother.”
Paige tossed it across to Dewey, who caught it mid-air. “I still say that bracelet has something to do with all the weird non-attacks.”
Dewey narrowed his eyes at the charms, studying each one. “You mean with the werewolf and the yeti?”
“Yes,” Paige said after biting off a chunk of her breadstick. “Come on. First, a werewolf runs away from me when he could have killed me easily. Then the yeti does the same thing? What else could it be?”
“Maybe you have bad breath.”
“Very funny.”
“Well, you eat a lot of garlic.”
“Then it should be vampires running away from me, not werewolves and yetis.”
“Do you mind if I snap a few pictures of this? I’d like to send a picture of at least the dragon charm off to my mom and see if she’s ever seen anything like it.”
“Not at all. Any information you can find I’d greatly appreciate.”
Dewey snapped a few photos before tapping around on his phone. “Do you know the significance of any of these?”
Paige shrugged, swallowing the piece of breadstick before she spoke. “Nope. As a kid, I used to imagine there was a world where dragons existed, but I figured my mom just got it from a fun shop or something.” She washed the breadstick down with a swallow of soda.
Dewey rotated through the charms again. “A dragon, an odd-looking Celtic knot, a sword, a cross, a cat, a scroll, a wand, and a flower in a circle.”
“I figured she liked cats like me. Maybe a love of cats is a hereditary thing.”
“It’s an introvert thing,” Dewey said.
“It is not,” Paige answered.
“Yes, it is. You’re one cat into your crazy cat lady starter pack.”
Paige rolled her eyes at him as he continued to study the charms. “It’s all magical stuff, but why these in particular?”
“Maybe there is no significance. Maybe she just collected charms of magical things she liked.”
“Then why pass it along to you?”
Paige shrugged as she dusted off her hands.
“Anyway, I’ll see what I can dig up.”
“Thanks,” Paige answered as a loud bang resounded through the archive.
They both snapped their gaze to the door of Dewey’s nest. “Must be Ronnie,” Dewey said.
“Wonder what’s going on.”
“No alarm. Can’t be that serious.”
“Paige? Dewey?” Ronnie’s voice called.
“Up here, Ronnie!” Dewey shouted.
“Maybe it’s a super simple green-level asset retrieval,” Paige suggested as Ronnie’s heels tapped up the stairs, approaching the nest that towered above the library’s hidden archives.
She pushed through the door moments later, a folder clutched in her hand.
“Hey, Ronnie,” Dewey greeted her, tossing the bracelet back to Paige, who secured it around her wrist. “What do we got? Green-level asset?”
A tight-lipped but amused smile spread across Ronnie’s lips, and she shook her head, her dangly earrings rattling.
“No?” Dewey inquired.
Paige leaned forward in her chair, trying to read into Ronnie’s expression. “What is it?”
A giggle burst from Ronnie. She covered her mouth before waving her hand in the air. “Sorry. I’m sorry.”
“Ronnie, what is it?” Paige asked, confusion wrinkling her features.
“I just heard from the director,” she answered.
“Wait. He’s not shutting us down, is he?” Dewey questioned, fluttering into the air.
The amused expression on Ronnie’s face intensified. “Nope.”
“Well, what is it? Stop being coy, Ronnie,” Dewey insisted.
Paige clasped her hands, squeezing them together. Her heart thudded as she wondered what could elicit such a reaction from the normally unemotional woman.
Ronnie pressed her lips together and cocked her head. “We’re being honored as Best Library Team at this year’s annual ball on Friday!” An excited half-laugh, half-scream escaped her lips.
Dewey’s eyes went wide, and his jaw dropped open. “What?”
Paige’s brow knit tightly. “Yeah, what?”
“We’re the BLT this year?”
“Yep,” Ronnie said, stamping her feet on the floor in a little jig.
“BLT?” Paige questioned. “Like a sandwich?”
Dewey rolled his eyes. “No, Paige, Best Library Team. Biggest honor in the entire system.”
Ronnie pressed her hand against her chest, tears welling in her eyes. “It is. It really is. I’m thrilled.”
“I assume you’ll accept on our behalf.”
“I already reserved the plane. We leave tomorrow afternoon. I hope you don’t mind my presuming you’d be able to travel then.” She glanced at Paige.
Paige smiled and nodded before a surprised expression crossed her features and she jumped. “Oh, you mean me?”
“Yes, of course. We should all go. It’s a wonderful weekend, with an opening address on Friday and an expo on Saturday, followed by an award dinner Saturday night. You’ll have fun. And you’ll get to meet some of the other librarians. It’ll be good for you.”
Paige raised her eyebrows, glancing at Dewey.
“Don’t look at me,” he said, waving his teal paws in the air, “I’ve just got to dust off the old tuxedo, and I’m ready.”
“Tuxedo?”
“Oh, yes, you’ll need a dress. Something fancy. If you don’t have anything on-hand, you’re welcome to come shopping with me tomorrow morning. I’ve got to find something, too. I haven’t been to one of these things in years.”
“Why not?” Paige asked.
“Oh, uh, there was an incident a few years back, and I just never returned,” Ronnie said, with a shrug. “Anyway, let me know if you want to go shopping together.”
“Oh, uh, sure. I don’t have anything fancy,” Paige said with a nervous chuckle, running her suddenly sweaty palms down her pants. “Thanks, Ronnie.”
“You’re welcome. Well, I’ll let you two get back to your day. I’m going to go gloat about this in my office.”
“Have fun,” Dewey called as the woman waved the folder at them and disappeared through the door.
“Wooo!” Dewey exclaimed as she left, spiraling upward in a circle with a wide grin. “Best Library Team. What an honor.”
Paige plopped into the chair, resting her chin in her palm. “So, this is a big deal, huh?”
“Big deal? Big deal!” Dewey exclaimed as he sank onto the chaise. “It’s the biggest deal. The hugest deal. Best Library Team is something most librarians can only dream about, and we’ve achieved it. I’m so thrilled. I can’t wait to fly up onto that stage with Ronnie and accept that crystal award.”
Dewey rubbed his paws together. “Ho-ho. My brother will be so jealous. An award, and soon a published article. I’m on a roll.”
Paige considered it for a moment before she slapped the arm of the chair. “We should celebrate.”
“Pizza party?” Dewey asked.
“Yeah and how about champagne instead of soda? Let’s do it up right.”
The grin faded from Dewey’s face. “Paige, dragons can’t drink.”
Paige’s smile waned, and she winced, shooting him an apologetic look. “Oh, I’m sorry. I can get sparkling cider or soda. We can just stick with soda. No problem.”
Dewey burst into laughter, slapping his tiny legs as he kicked his feet. “I’m just kidding. Yes, get the champagne.”
“Okay,” Paige said, climbing to her feet. “I’ll run to Cheesy Does It, order the pizza, then pop over to the SmartMart and grab the champagne–”
“SmartMart? Paige,” Dewey said, with a shake of his head, “get something decent, would you? Something French, perhaps. Vintage.”
“Okay, okay, I’ll go to the state store,” Paige said with a roll of her eyes as she slung her purse over her shoulder. “Just don’t be too judgy. Until two weeks ago, I could only afford to drink cheap stuff out of a plastic cup.”
“French, Paige,” Dewey called after her as she darted out the door, “French!”
Paige chuckled as she hurried down the spiral staircase, across the archive’s smooth cement floor, and up the metal stairs into the library.
She passed by the circulation desk on her way out the front door, her sneakers squeaking across the century-old penny tile as she waved to the woman behind the desk. Olivia narrowed her dark brown eyes at Paige, flicking her attention back to her computer screen and pretending not to see her.
Paige rolled her eyes as she stepped into the cool fall air. Dark clouds marred the sky, racing up the coast. Paige snuggled deeper into her thick hoodie and hurried down the steps, still miffed about the snub from the circulation desk attendant.
“What does she know?” Paige murmured to herself as she stepped onto the sidewalk. “I’m the best librarian ever, or whatever award it is.”
She wandered past the alley to the library’s employee entrance, shooting a suspicious glance down it. She shivered, though not from the nip in the air. Biting into her lower lip, she tugged the crescent moon talisman from around her neck, rubbing her thumb over the purple moonstone.
She’d been marked by the beast once already. A day-walking vampire, to be specific, had slashed an angry mark into her back. She wore the talisman as protection to hide her from him doing it again, or worse, killing her. Was the beast still searching for her?
She suddenly felt alone, unprotected, and afraid. A shiver snaked down her spine, and she swallowed hard as she imagined red eyes boring into her. She shot a glance back at the library, considering returning to it and forgoing her mission for the celebratory beverage.
Before she could retreat, a voice called her name.
She spun in search of the familiar, yet unrecognizable voice. A tall, dark-haired man grinned at her, his white teeth gleaming and dimples on full display, despite the stubble on his cheeks.
“Devon,” Paige said, with a flustered grin. “Hi.”
