Free Defiance at Werewolf Keep (Werewolf Keep Trilogy) by Nhys Glover Page B

on anything other than her upcoming ordeal. And Dickens was one of her favourite authors.
    ‘You will find all of Dickens’ books here. As you will those by the Brontes and George Eliot. One could spend all one’s time reading here if there was not so much work to do.’
    Lily had to agree. But it pleased her to have meaningful work to do. For too much of her life , she had done nothing but sleep and read. The only time she had ever felt useful was in those odd times of reasonable health when she had taken on the shop’s books.
    But now, each day could be spent in useful endeavour. And who knew what might be uncovered.
    Back in the library, she settled in with another pile of recent letters. Her job was to read each letter, noting down any information that might be useful to their research, reply to the letter if necessary, and then file it according to author, country of origin and date. She found the process fascinating, especially when she sat down with the huge logbook which recorded all the data collected from these letters and other sources throughout history. Some entries were laughable, like wolfsbane worn around the neck or a cross of month-old blood painted on a door to ward off werewolves. But there were more serious entries that described the contagion as being carried by the blood, which was aggravated by the magnetism of the moon. There were also some interesting entries by ancient astrologers who believed that certain aspects in a person’s horoscope could indicate if they were fated to be turned.
    That idea fascinated her. Not so much the astrology part, but the idea that one could be fated to become a werewolf. A month ago, she would have said such a possibility was absurd. But then, a month ago, the idea that werewolves actually existed had been absurd.
    ‘Anything of interest?’ Jasper asked, coming to stand at her shoulder.
    ‘No, not really. I was just considering the idea of fate. Do you think we were fated to become what we are? Or was it just a freak accident, being in the wrong place at the wrong time?’
    Ja sper sat down across from her and tipped his head to the side thoughtfully. ‘It is certainly more fated than free will, as none of us would have willingly placed ourselves in a position to be turned. Nor do there seem to be any common character traits that might lead to it. For every one of us who could be considered risk-takers for walking dark streets on our own, there are people like you who were in the comparative safety of your garden, or on your deathbed in your own home like Ellen. Either it is pure random chance that we found ourselves faced with this contagion, or it was fated.’
    For a moment , Jasper turned to look out of the window at the sunlit moor. Then he nodded. ‘I am more inclined to see fate at work in finding Dee. What were the chances that I would meet her if she had not been Phil’s best friend and had rushed up here to seek sanctuary when a madman murdered her husband and stalked her so violently? That can be called nothing but fate.’
    ‘I always belie ved my fate was to die young. Rather, that was what I was told. What were the chances that I would be in my garden at the time that werewolf jumped the wall and attacked me, granting me a new lease on life?’
    ‘It does seem like fate, or that you have a Guardian Angel. I must admit, in my own case , I would have seen it as the devil’s handiwork.’
    Saddened by Jasper’s mood, Lily turned back to her work. It would be terrible to think that the devil had a hand in their fate. She much preferred the idea that a benign force had led her down this path and given her a chance at a real life. But people like Jasper had already had a real life bef ore they were turned. Since, their lives had been seriously restricted.
    But life was life. And Jasp er had so much more than many people, especially now that he had Dee. Surely, a cup half full was better than one that was empty?
    Later in the day , she found