Thalia pursed her lips. Perhaps that was where her mother had gone—to ensure the shipment of ore was properly distributed. But that didn’t make sense. Her mother had her advisers do that for her.
She cleared her throat. “I’m going to see if I can find Marcus.”
“Do you want me to go with you?”
Thalia hesitated. And maybe it was because he seemed like the only one in the palace acting normal that she nodded.
At least there was Marcus. Reina might not have wanted to speak to her, but Marcus would be willing to.
Marcus couldn’t speak to them.
In fact, when they’d gotten to the library, a robed librarian explained that he was not to be disturbed.
Thalia’s brows narrowed as the librarian shuffled away, casting a fearful glance at Cassius before disappearing.
“Marcus wouldn’t not see me,” she said lowly, glancing around the large space. Rain pattered against the high windows. Books stretched far above them for many stories and even down below, the staircase spiraling into darkness.
“Do you think Reina didn’t give him your message?” Cassius asked, taking note of everything.
Thalia didn’t like the thought of Reina not doing something. Especially given their relationship before she left. Reina had always been loyal to her—a friend, even. Could Reina’s sentiments about her have really changed in only a matter of weeks?
Thalia shook her head. “I don’t know.”
“Any idea on where we might find him?”
Thalia chewed the inside of her cheek, eyes following the spiraling staircase up toward the very top of the library.
“Yes.”
Two soldiers stood watch outside the master librarian’s quarters.
Thalia frowned as she and Cassius peeked around the corner of the hall from the stairwell.
“He’s never had guards before,” Cassius murmured in her ear.
“I know.” Thalia pulled back into the stairwell.
“Do you want me to take care of them?” Cassius rumbled.
She whirled to him. “I don’t want you to kill them!”
A faint trace of a smile curved his lips. “I wasn’t going to kill them, Princess. Merely knock them out.”
Thalia made a face, looking at the soldiers. They were no doubt under direct orders from the queen to stay put.
“Fine,” Thalia got out.
Cassius smirked, then he sauntered toward the guards.
In all of two seconds they’d crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
Thalia blinked at Cassius. He wasn’t even winded.
“Shall we?” he asked, brow raised. He gestured to the door.
Thalia swallowed, trying to ignore the sudden heat flooding into her stomach as she stepped over the soldiers. Now certainly wasn’t the time.
She knocked on Marcus’s door. Nothing.
