CHAPTER SIX
Books have been known to disappear in the Living Library. I’m asking, Ancient One, that you hide this when the queen comes looking.
—Journal of Khato, Master of Spells.
Iwhipped my head around, searching for some invisible force. My eyes snagged on a thin strip of white in the line of books down the hall. I plucked the book off the shelf and gently cracked it open. A soft sigh escaped the pages in a whiff of woody leather as they slipped through my fingers.
Fabia’s Fables, the title read. I opened to the story ofThe People of the Stars. I pinched my brows, remembering the stories my father used to recite about the children of the gods.
What was a book of Sultiran fairy tales doing in the Living Library? I moved to flip through the small book when Isla’s jasmine breeze floated through the stacks.
I slid the book back into its place before turning toward her. She swaggered down the aisle, a look of triumph on her face as her black waves bounced in the soft light.
“Any luck?”
She smirked in reply. “Why would I need luck when I have this charm and this mind?” she said, an all-but-innocent look flashing across her face.
“He’ll meet us on the fifth level. I’ve sent word to Drystan and Vienah to join us. They've both improved in manifesting their power, but any time we can get with the master of spells will be valuable, especially as we prepare for our return to Sultira.”
“Good,” I said, nodding. “Because I’m not finding anything in these.” I gestured to the books.
“The menders commended her soul this morning,” Isla murmured. “I saw the smoke.”
A weight settled in my stomach. This whole thing seemedwrong. Isla was silent for a few moments, and she finally shuddered, shaking off the stillness of death.
“Hey,” I murmured, glancing back at the stacks where the white tome seemed to have disappeared. “Have you ever heard of the People of the Stars?”
“Doesn’t ring a bell,” she replied, cocking her head to the side as if searching her memory.
She slapped her hands on the table before us, and I jumped. Her eyes pinned me with a mischievous gaze, and her lips tilted upward.
“We’ll meet with the master of spells soon. But first, I have a surprise for you,” she said, waggling her eyebrows.
She plucked out a large, crimson book she had tucked beneath her arm. She flipped through the pages, finally landing on the chapter she was looking for, and I choked as my eyes landed on the image before me.
She slid her amused gaze to me, delighting in my shock, and whispered, “The Slithering Serpent.”
An hour later,we had pored overVolume OneoftheSensua, the Lotrennian Book of Bodies. Laughter erupted from Isla, and she clamped her mouth shut as heavy steps padded around the corner.
My heart seemed to glow brighter from behind the shadow. Isla always knew when I needed this time with her, even if guilt accompanied every smile she pried from me.
“Okay, I’m sorry. Butthese?” I whispered, paging through the last few chapters of the volume. “Impossible. There is absolutely no way.”
“These have all been tested and proven. These are nottheories, you scholar.” She laughed.
“So, you’ve tried them all?” I asked pointedly.
“Many of them, yes,” she murmured, sliding her amber eyes toward me.
“I’m sorry, but there’s no way. This one?Thisone?” I argued, stopping on a page and pointing to a couple in a ridiculous position.
“Get up, and I’ll show you,” she dared, raising her eyebrows in challenge. “Come on. I’ll show you, and then you can give Bayne the surprise of his life when he gets back after the Awakening.”
The Lotrennian celebration marked by the summer solstice would happen in a couple days. I barked out a laugh and stood.
“Okay, you be the man,” she said, pointing to the stacks behind us.
“Why do I have to be the man?” I shot back. “If I’m doing this for Bayne, I need to play my part. You be the man.”
