“So am I,” she replies, shifting her shoulders defensively.
This time her words gain her a smile. She’s accepting it. My father would be furious that she’s gotten this far. That Ilether.
My gaze flicks to the book under Nolan’s arm, still faintly pulsing against his ribs.
“You need to hand that over,” I say, gesturing at it. “Now.”
Nolan tenses. “Why?”
“Because she’s not supposed to touch it,” I snap, not bothering to mask the edge in my tone. “Not now. Not ever. And if you’re planning to parade that thing through the halls like it’s your thesis project, someone else is going to make sure she does touch the book. Someone that knows what happens if she does.”
He doesn’t move, but his grip on the book tightens.
“I’m not going to let anything hurt her,” he says, quieter this time.
“I’m not worried about what wouldhurther,” I reply. “I’m worried about what she willwake up.”
Lindsay shifts forward slightly, her expression unreadable. “You said I’d burn down this place if I let it wake up, didn’t you?”
“I said youcould,” I correct. “And that still stands.”
Tamsin mutters under her breath, “Great. Good. So we’re just one magic book away from spontaneous combustion. Love that for us.”
I extend a hand to Nolan. “Last chance.”
He looks at Lindsay. She nods once. Small. But enough to signal she trusts me with it. He steps forward and slowly places the book into my hand.
The moment I touch the book, something shivers beneath my skin.
Faint. Subtle. Like a spiderweb of magic stretching toward me—thenretreating. Not gone, but watching.
The pulse from the pages is no longer warm. It’s cold now. Cold likehome. Ancient, coiled, waiting. I don’t think the othersfeel it. Nolan just exhales like a weight left his arms. Tamsin shifts on her feet with a huff.
But Lindsay’s watchingmenow.
Her eyes narrow just slightly, catching the change in my expression. I school it back into blankness. Just a flicker, but the book’s magic felt familiar. Itshouldn’thave.
Lindsay crosses her arms again. “Just because we gave it to you doesn’t mean I don’t want to know what’s in it.”
I meet her gaze. “Want and need aren’t the same thing.”
Her jaw sets. “And you get to decide which is which?”
“No,” I say. “I don’t think I could keep the book from you if I tried. But for now, I’ll put it in a safe place.”
Something in her expression falters, not from fear, but from that damn curiosity that always makes her run toward the dark instead of away from it.
I tuck the book beneath my arm and glance toward the door. “If you’re smart, you’ll stay out of this wing from now on.”
She doesn’t flinch. “You said that last time.”
“And you didn’t listen.”
Behind her, Nolan shifts like he wants to step between us again, while Tamsin mutters something under her breath that sounds suspiciously like, “Oh great, round two of broody boy banter.”
I ignore them. My eyes stay locked on hers.
“If you open it again,” I say, “don’t do it without me.”
