Eron puffs himself up against the mirror. “I have discussed the unsolicited opinions my people are giving to passersby, and they shall refrain unless specifically requested to do so.”
I tick that off my list and eyeball the corridor for the eighth time in the last tempo. “Excellent. And the ladders have been silenced?”
“Quietened,” the key librarian says, pushing his glasses up his nose. “More of anooothan awhee.“
“It’s an improvement,” I say with a nod.
“All unsanctioned betting has ceased, and the cursed books are no longer racing across the floor,” Malachi adds.
“I thought it was a biting issue?”
Theo glances up and winks at me. No issues there—I rather enjoyed it.
“It was an emerging problem we nipped in the bud,” Hart drawls.
“The ‘do not touch shelf’ has now been labeled ‘touch me all you want,’” Gwyneth calls out as she lugs another four books to her chambers.
“That solved the problem?” I wonder.
“Yup, turns out people really are drawn to doing that which is forbidden.”
Genie floats in from the ceiling. “The broom is overseeing the unsanctioned brunches moving forward. I couldn’t get them to stop.”
That’s an improvement, at least.
My gaze darts to the shadow emerging at the end of the corridor before solidifying into my dark night with the realm on his shoulders and no one to help him bear it. Except there is.I’m right here, Nash. We can do anything together, but you have to let me in.
He doesn’t meet my eyes as he turns to the left and disappears inside a room I swear didn’t exist until this tempo.
I put the list down on the table and smile. “I think we’ve accomplished a lot. Let’s let the changes settle to ensure the resolutions work and that we aren’t just displacing the problem.”
Several pairs of green eyes blink at me. What? I can use big words. I just don’t see the point when smaller ones will do. For example: The maiden possessed an abundance of lustrous, wind-tossed tresses that danced with reckless abandon, ensnaring the attention of every eligible suitor within a ten-mile radius. When it could be said with: She had nice hair, and everyone stared.
Theo rumbles with laughter at my musings.
I stand and straighten my gown. “If that’s all, I’ll be just checking on my knight.” I stride over to where Nash disappeared and find a wall. What in the Blazes? I spin in a circle with narrowed eyes. Nope, no door. My hands smooth over the bumps and cracks, but no secret passage is revealed.
“What are you doing?” Gwyneth asks as she hurries toward me with a frown.
I scowl and plant my hands on my hips. “Studying the wall, why?”
She shakes her head and barrels past me. “Evening meal is about to be delivered. I suggest clearing out the creatures other than those who sleep here for a bit of peace.”
“Peace?” I echo, glancing up as something screeches overhead. A teacup hurtles past my ear. “Define peace.”
“No throwing the crockery,” Gwyneth bellows without looking, suggesting this is not her first crockery-related disappointment of the diurnal.
Genie hovers mid-air, hand still outstretched, looking deeply offended. “It was an experiment.”
“With what?” Charming asks dryly. “Your grip on reality?”
Sir Sweeps-A-Lot charges through the corridor like a possessed feather duster, bristles puffed to war mode, chasing a trio of animated scones that have grown legs and what I can only describe as murderous intent.
“Someone please explain why the baked goods have declared independence.” I jump to the side as a scone launches itself at my head and misses through sheer luck and my superior reflexes. Murderous maiden Daphne is definitely an upgrade.
“They were unsupervised,” Genie says, as if that explains everything.
“That’s not an explanation,” Hart mutters.
