Dario snorted. “You really formed quite an opinion there. Well, I hate to break it to you, but I’ll be anything but bored. Because I actually am interested in reading.And, because I’ll be working right alongside you on this little project. Imperator’s orders.”
Lyr’s eyes widened. “You—you!” she sputtered.
“Oh, yes. Me and Aiden.” His lips curled into a satisfied smile, one directed at me.
“And you’re prepared to do the research necessary?” Lyr asked, advancing on Dario.
My eyes met Lyr’s. And I could see the questions in her eyes. Could we trust him?
My jaw tightened. We had no choice.
“Shall we?” Dario asked, gesturing to the gryphon.
Lyr’s face hardened, her hazel eyes still on me. I nodded, and moved forward, my guard close behind.
Once we were all buckled into our riding harnesses, we took off into the night. Lyr sucked in a breath, and when Dario wasn’t looking, I grabbed her hand, giving her a quick squeeze. Her fingers curled around mine with such intensity, I felt it through every limb. And then, just as quickly, we released each other. But my hand continued to vibrate and pulse with the feel of her, the way it had in the early days of training, when we barely touched each other, when it had been forbidden, and I could recall exactly every part of her body I’d come in contact with. Could recall for exactly how long.
I’d sometimes spend hours reviewing every look between us, and every brush and graze between our bodies. Every adjustment I’d had to make to her form during stretches—I’d feel them everywhere, and I’d play the moments over and over during my endless shifts of guard duty.
Lyriana tensed beside me, as the gryphon’s angle shifted, the speed picking up. She glanced at me quickly, and then stared ahead, determined to conquer her fear of flying this way. A minute later we landed in front of the library, exactly at the same time Meera and Aiden’s gryphon arrived.
I tried to clear my mind as I stared up at the building. I’d forgotten how large it truly was. How majestic. And how long it had been since I’d last been inside.
Before I was forsworn. Before the tournament.
Before Garrett had died. A lump formed in my throat, the backs of my eyes burning, until I looked at Lyriana.
Her eyes lit up as she stepped back, her neck craning as she took the library in. I felt warmer than I had in hours as my heart seemed to beat faster. I’d seen fear and stress branded into her face for days.
But at that moment, she was just a girl who loved libraries. A girl with stars in her eyes and her first genuine smile in what felt like forever. The girl I’d fallen madly in love with. My own lips curled in response, and I resisted the urge to sneak up behind her, to wrap my arms around her waist and hold her so she could lean back and stare more comfortably.
“This is your library?” she asked, her voice full of wonder.
And fuck, if I didn’t swear in that moment to do everything in my power to give her another experience like this. Another chance to see something she loved, something that made her happy, something that made her eyes light up. Something that made her smile.
But just as quickly, my stomach hollowed. Before she could have any more moments like this, I had to ensure she survived. I had to get a hold of the research I’d been silently compiling in my mind for hours.
“I’ve never seen anything like this before,” Lyr continued.
“I’ve seen pictures,” Meera said, “but they don’t do it justice. The size, the detail.” She shook her head in appreciation. “In person, it’s beyond impressive.”
I looked at it again, imagining I was seeing the library through Lyr’s eyes—as if I were seeing it for the first time. The base of the library was constructed from a series of stone archways. Each arch was several stories tall and could have easily fit several Bamarian buildings beneath it.
Above the arches was the actual library, a series of interconnected towers, each one five stories high. Carvingsdepicting scenes from the Valya adorned the arches, and right before me was a carving of Auriel holding out his hand for Asherah, but she was just out of reach. Shiviel appeared to be sneaking up behind her, ready to attack.
“The scrolls are all kept at the top in the towers,” Aiden said confidently. “The Library of Glemaria was built seven hundred years ago. Even though hundreds of years had passed, there was still concern about the Drowning, about whether or not the tides would sweep the structure away, especially with how close it was to the shore. So, it was built above the arches, which had once been a bridge, allowing for the tide to rise from time to time without affecting the scrolls kept inside. Though the waters don’t come close anymore.”
“Wow. I didn’t realize you’d been assigned the role of history professor in this mission,” Dario said.
“What? It’s a unique structure and worth mentioning,” Aiden said, ignoring Dario’s jab.
I opened my mouth, about to defend Aiden. Garrett would have—but … Garrett wasn’t here. Because of me. And I’d lost my right to jump in as their friend.
“How exactly do we reach the library part of the unique structure?” Lyr asked, wearily.
“There’s a small lift in the northernmost arch,” Aiden said. “Follow me.”
At this hour there was only one mage controlling the lift—and with the weight of all of us combined, it was a slow ride. As we finally stilled, the doors opened, and we were led through shelves upon shelves of scrolls. We were met by a librarian who already had lamps ready for us to light our way.
