Twenty minutes later, they found themselves in Marcus's library—a room that managed to be both intimidating and inviting in the way only centuries of accumulated knowledge could achieve.
Floor-to-ceiling shelves lined three walls, filled with leather-bound volumes that ranged from ancient supernatural texts to what appeared to be a surprisingly extensive collection of modern relationship psychology books.
The fourth wall was dominated by a massive fireplace, around which Marcus had arranged comfortable leather chairs and a sofa that looked like it had been designed for long discussions about weighty matters.
Nova had been settled in her portable crib near the fire, where she could observe the proceedings while staying warm and entertained by the dancing flames.
She seemed particularly fascinated by the way the light played across the book spines, occasionally making happy gurgling sounds that suggested she approved of the literary atmosphere.
