Andrew gave her a roguish look, leaning in to place a gentle, lingering kiss on her cheek. He stepped back, a satisfied smirk playing across his face as he studied her flustered expression.
Just then, Edmund’s head appeared over the edge. Isla tried to keep her expression nonchalant, though the simple kiss had made her stomach whoosh.
The detective walked over to them, eyebrow raised. “You might want to strengthen those handcuffs too,” he said, voice dripping with amusement.
Andrew froze for a split second, then gave Isla a sheepish grin.
Edmund smirked, a knowing look on his face.
Juliette joined them, and to Isla’s surprise, George followed.
“Where did you appear from, George?” Andrew asked.
George adjusted his cap, fingers dusted with clay. “I’d just finished a pottery session and went next door to the storage room to organize a few things when I saw Edmund’s head pop out of a trapdoor. Gave me the fright of my life.
“I knew the door was there, but I’d been told the tunnel was no longer in use. To be honest, I didn’t give it much thought. Iknow of several other tunnels around campus, but this one was new to me.”
“Frankly,” Isla said, shivering slightly, “with the way the library floor was opened to reveal the cavern below, locks and doors are hardly a barrier. The Ossa Arcana could gain entry anywhere if they have a Terra Aetherian.” She swallowed hard, imagining the invisible reach of someone with such power.
George’s expression darkened as he looked down at the two men on the floor. “Juliette filled me in on these two, and your discovery of the book. There are laws against entering private spaces, but I doubt this group cares for such formalities.”
“For now,” Edmund said, “let’s put the book back, keep an eye on the two entrances we know of, and question these men. Andrew, could you lower the chest the way it came up?”
Andrew nodded. Juliette carefully laid the book back inside the chest, and once the lid was closed, Andrew eased the heavy box down into the hole.
“Isla, do you think you can seal the hole, or is it too much?”
All eyes turned to her. A sudden flutter of panic rose in her chest. Replacing the stone and earth exactly as it had been felt daunting.
“I can help,” George said, his palm glowing green.
“You got your powers back!” Isla exclaimed, relief washing over her as the familiar grin returned to his face. “I felt awful while they were absent.”
“Sorry, I was planning on telling you this evening,” he replied with a shrug. “They returned during my pottery session just now.”
“Oh, I’m so glad. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you for ... you know.” Isla glanced around the room at her friends. “I owe you all so much.” Her eyes stung and tears threatened tospill; now that her emotions were recently unlocked, she couldn’t seem to stop them bubbling to the surface.
“Is this a group hug moment?” Juliette asked, a teasing note in her voice. “I feel like it is.”
“No, it’s not,” Edmund said, his voice a little gruff, though Juliette clearly didn’t care as she smiled at him.
“Shall we lift it together, Isla?” George asked, looking over at the block where it lay off to the side. She nodded her agreement. As the group surrounded it, Isla saw a mark engraved on the top.
“It’s the Sigil mark,” Juliette said. ... “The Fated part of the mark is missing, as none of them seem to want or are capable of pure love. The Wielder and Summoner part is there ... but it’s altered.”
Her friend leaned over and traced the carved lines lightly with her fingertip. “They’ve added a skull within the circle.”
Isla shivered. The crude addition changed everything—the symbol no longer seemed to speak of unity or the rhythm of the Aether.
“They’ve made their philosophy plain,” Edmund said grimly. “Just one life to burn through—no matter who they destroy in the process.”
Edmund’s gaze lingered on the unconscious men, his voice calm but edged with resolve. “Let’s get this block in place and these two into custody. Tomorrow, we’ll see what secrets they’re willing to reveal.”
Isla took her place on one side of the block of stone while George positioned himself on the other. It was much like lifting a large cardboard box, only with no hands ... She glanced at Andrew, who gave her an encouraging wink.
She let her palms glow, and George counted them down. “On the count of three, lift. One, two, three.”
At first, the mass resisted her, stubborn as an uncooperative mule. As it rose higher, her side wobbled slightly, but she steadied it. George was patient, matching her pace. Together, they carefully lowered it into the gaping hole.
