Raylin Site
Sage smiled, though her heart had started a strange, frantic rhythm. "Most of the books in here technically shouldn't exist, according to the modern world."
It happened on a Tuesday, just as the sun was dipping behind the jagged peaks of the nearby mountains. A man walked in, his presence immediately making the narrow aisles feel smaller. He was Rome Baker, a local with eyes that seemed to hold the same deep, restless energy as the surrounding woods. raylin
"I’m looking for something specific," Rome said, his voice a low rumble. "A book that isn't supposed to exist." Sage smiled, though her heart had started a
Sage looked at her hand, where a faint, silver mark was beginning to bloom on her skin—a mark that matched the one on Rome’s neck. He was Rome Baker, a local with eyes
Rome shook his head, his gaze locked on hers. "It’s a key. And it looks like you’re the only one who can turn it."
"It’s not just a map, is it?" she whispered, the air around them suddenly tasting like ozone.
The air in the quiet town of Ravenwood was always a little thicker than it should have been, smelling of damp moss and old paper. Sage Reed didn't mind it; the scent felt like a heavy blanket, exactly what she needed after the chaotic, neon-lit years she’d spent in the city. When she moved into her aunt’s bookstore, "The Bound Spirit," she expected dusty shelves and the occasional chatty customer. She didn't expect the floorboards to hum under her feet.
