AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Turning on her heels, she moved briskly toward the desk and slipped behind it. She waved with false cheer as Quentin strolled to the door.
After he’d gone, Min leaned against the counter, feeling dizzy. How did you deal with being told that you were going to lose your livelihood and your home, all in the space of ten minutes?
Her gaze swept helplessly around the cozy little shop, taking in the floor-to-ceiling shelves crammed full of books, the crooked beamed ceiling, the windows set deep into the ancient Malilbar stone walls with their leaded glass panes.
There was no denying it: the Westerly Bookshop was a strange and unique place.
It stood completely alone, a three-story ramshackle building on the road that connected the human towns to Motham City. Not much grew around here except gorse bushes and heather. But somehow when they’d first arrived here, Min’s parents had managed to cultivate a garden around the shop, a little oasis in this barren land. As for the building itself, it was rumored to date back to The Great War. The story went that it was set up as a hospital by an entrepreneurial mage to remove monster curses from humans before returning them home to the towns of Tween and Twill.
Yes, altogether a very odd place to set up shop—any shop, let alone a bookshop that sold mostly books written by and for monsters.
But then, her father had always been a maverick.
A rule breaker, one who was fascinated by monster history and literature and determined to help monsters gain an education.
Except now it seemed his legacy would be gone. A great big lump formed in Min’s throat, and tears pricked her eyelids.
The sudden thud of books on the counter made her swallow back her tears.
She looked up to see the beautiful white-haired woman standing beside a pile of books.
Min took a deep breath and forced a smile. “You found what you needed?”
“I did indeed, thank you.”
Min busied herself tallying the price, wrapping the books in brown paper, and tying the parcel with string. Just for something to say, she asked, “Are you a lawyer?”
“No. But my line of work requires a good knowledge of the law.”
“What do you do?” Min asked. At least focusing on another person would help her to get her emotions under control.
“I’m a business consultant. A procurer of sorts.”
“That sounds painful.” Min let out a brittle laugh and winced. The quirky Westwind sense of humor often came out at inopportune moments.
The woman replied, “On the contrary, it’s very rewarding.” Then she leaned across the counter toward Min. “I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation with the gentleman earlier. He’s a Tween Council of Towns official, yes?”
Min’s eyes flew to her companion’s bright green ones. Was she human? She looked it, and yet… there was something about her radiant skin, the prisms of light that sparked from her eyes. The pure white of her hair, and that amazing coat.
“I got the sense,” the woman said quietly, “that the terms of sale were not to your liking.” Min’s mouth fell open. How could she possibly know?
“I—oh, no, I never said that.”
“You didn’t need to my dear, your energy went all wobbly.” The woman smiled kindly. “If I may make so bold, I am in the perfect position to assist you.”
Min stiffened. “Thank you, but I was taught never to borrow money.”
The woman laughed gently. “I don’t lend money, my dear, but I do put people in touch with benefactors.”
Min focused on the parcel of books, knotting the string with care.
Snapping open her sparkly purse, the woman withdrew a business card and handed it across the counter.
Min took it and read
Adina Thrimble
Midas Touch Partnerships
