Kian continued to talk, but I wasn’t paying attention anymore. I needed to find a place to hide … because they were coming this way.
I raced to the other end of the row, at the very back of the library, and my heart dropped when I realized the only way out of here was that black onyx door. The onenotfor students.
“I’ve put a lot of faith in you,” Kian said, his voice louder as they drew near.
If they got any closer, one of them would smell or hear me. I reached out and splayed my palm on the cool black stone, hoping it was unlocked, and pushed.
Best luck ever.
The door opened without a sound, and I slid inside, closing it gently.
A light turned on automatically. I ducked down on my hands and knees, wishing for invisibility.
Please don’t walk through the door.
Then, the strangest thing happened. Even though the door was closed, I could hear them while they continued their conversation—as if they were standing in the same room.
Okay. Maybe I shouldn’t have opened the magic black door.
“…and the selkies killed four of our guards—”
“How did the selkies get past the barrier?” Kian, aka Shady High Mage, asked. “Something is amiss here, and I’m going to look into it. I suggest you do the same, Declan. We need to know who is sabotaging us and put a stop to it.”
“Of course I’m looking into it, but only high mage magic could allow them to cross the barrier—and I don’t havethatmagic.”
The accusation was clear. Silence descended on their conversation.
There was no answer, and after counting to ten, I stood, intending to crack the door and peek out when a cold hand clamped over my mouth.
My shriek died in my throat.
“Shhh,” a woman whispered from behind me. “If they catch you in here, you’re dead.”
My heart hammered in my chest, and I nodded to let her know I understood.
Slowly, she pulled her fingers back one by one.
My blood pumped through my veins, my heart slamming against my ribs so hard my head spun. I pivoted and came face to face with the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen.
“Holy mage.” My eyes widened as I took her in. Silvery blue hair fell to her waist in a cascade of soft curls. I knew from the way she carried herself and her golden cloak that she was a mage. A high-level one.
The room I’d ducked into wasn’t a room at all but a grand hallway leading to what looked like an even bigger library—of sorts. Bookshelves lined the walls with domed twenty-foot ceilings and stained-glass inlay. It wasbeautiful.
And I wasn’t supposed to be here. “I … well … you see—”
She waved her hand at me as if she didn’t want me to speak and reached for my hand. Pulling it up to her face, she traced the lines in my palm.
“You opened the door?” she asked.
Her expression showed no fury or menacing power, more just a quizzical nature, so I relaxed a little.
“Yes … ma’am. It was unlocked.”
She winced. “Do I look old enough to be called ma’am?”
I grinned and shook my head. “Sorry. Miss?”
She nodded, dropping my hand. “That’s better. Now, who are you?”
