I shivered at the memory of the attack. It was scarier not knowing exactly what that creature had looked like.
“Nope.”
Bel returned. His eyes held the same sadness everyone’s held when they saw Samael so close to death. But he reached into his canvas bag and pulled out a book, holding it out to me.
“Is that what I think it is?”
He nodded. “The eighth Black Book,” he said tiredly. “And let me tell you, getting my hands on it wasn’t exactly a walk through the park.”
I’d tucked my hands against my chest, but I forced myself to reach out and take the book. The magic resonating from it was both dark and familiar, but the book itself was faded black leather with absolutely nothing remarkable about it.
Vas wandered out and winced at the book. “Smells worse than a black witch.”
“I’m assuming the other grimoires are still in Samael’s safe?” I asked him.
He nodded. “Best place for them. The mages aren’t going to attempt to take the tower down again anytime soon. Not only are we not there, but apparently the fae arepissed.”
I smiled. Many of the buildings around Samael’s tower were owned by both the seelie and unseelie. If the tower came down, so would those buildings, not to mention the economic disruption in the city.
I held out the book. “Can we put this one in the safe too?”
Ag leaned around Vas and took it from my hands. “No. After Gloria borrowed one of the black books without Samael’s permission, he ordered her to return it and changed the code on the safe. He didn’t have a chance to give me the code before…”
I swallowed around the lump in my throat. “Okay. For now, can you keep it safe?”
“Yes.”
My phone vibrated, and I pulled it from the pocket of Samael’s robe. I hadn’t expected it to still be working after the adventure I’d had today.
Come see me, child. There are things you need to know.
Hannah. I sighed. I’d be an idiot not to go. She’d given me hints of my future before, even going as far as to insist I wear the bone bracelet around my wrist. If there was a chance she could help, I’d take it.
Vas leaned over my shoulder, his body tensing. He loathed black witches. Something told me he’d had a bad experience with one in the past. It wasn’t like Vas to despise someone for no reason.
“You’re not going alone,” he declared.
I gave him a look that said he’d better rewind. He ignored me. “The last time you were lured somewhere by someone you trusted, you were almost sent straight to Lucifer. If Gloria taught us one thing, it’s that no one can be trusted.”
I sighed, but he had a point. “I’ll text Kyla. She might be done for the day though.”
“If she can’t make it, I’ll come.” I raised my eyebrow. Vas really was worried. He pulled out his own phone, likely to text Kyla, and I turned my attention back to Eldan.
“Have someone call me when you’re ready to have your healing completed,” he said.
“Thank you.”
He gave me his most reassuring smile and opened the door.
Kyla stood there, her hair damp and in fresh clothes.
“That was fast,” I said.
She shrugged. “Let’s go.”
I glanced at Vas. He gestured that he’d stay put.
“Good luck,” he mouthed.
