“I am loyal to my reputation,” Gorvin said, the ghost of a smirk pulled at the corner of his lips. And, was that a hint of pink I detected swelling in his cheeks? “May I present, Lady Reyva Bergmont?—”
“The regent’s guest. Yes, the Hive is buzzing about you. And I despise puns, but there’s simply no better way to describe the stir you’re causing.” He set down a thick-spined, emerald tome on the desk and folded his hands together. “I’m Oddo Wrymark and I insist, no matter what code of behavior Gorvin is impressing upon you, that you please call me Oddo.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Oddo.” I curtsied to the abnormally young master.
“The honor is mine. Come.” Oddo gestured for me to follow him.
When I turned back, expecting to find the leather-clad Commander, Dommik had found himself otherwise preoccupied with a bookshelf. He tipped his head to me as if to say he wouldn’t go far.
The library was filled with long, broad tables, some empty, some occupied with scholars wearing white robes similar to Oddo’s. The golden embroidery of their uniform differed as only some featured a small, threaded vine while others were adorned with a shining thicket.
“You’ll find we have tomes and articles split into two main sections, The Sanctum of Truths—containing our history, scrolls, articles, and the like—and The Sanctum of Lore, which, I’m sure, speaks for itself.”
We paused at the split between halls.
“And all of this?” I gestured to the stacks in the main conservatory.
Oddo’s umber eyes glittered as he explained, “The duplicate copies for the citizens to borrow. Our scholars work tirelessly to create and maintain copies of the original texts so all citizens of the Hive have access.”
“Wow,” I said in breathless astonishment.
I’d never seen so many books in one place and to imagine there were more down each hallway was hard to grasp. Makeshift libraries may have popped up here and there around the human settlements of Atoris, but the Crown certainly did nothing to help the public gain entertainment or knowledge. We’d had a few shelves of books at the estate but our meager collection was pitiful in comparison to the knowledge surrounding me.
“I don’t want to offend, but I never want to assume. So, I have to ask, can you read, Lady Reyva?”
“Yes. Although, I’ve never been in a room with so many texts.” I assessed Oddo, trying to determine if he was a vampire or not. Best to assume he was. “It’s a good thing you’re immortal because I can only venture to guess it would take many lifetimes to read all of this.”
“That is one perk to ourcondition. There’s always more to read. There’s always more to know.” He stroked the spine of a cobalt book in quiet admiration. “I just want to give everyone the chance to know the world as well as I do.”
“Even with all its horrors?”
He chuckled and shook his head gently. “Without atrocities we cannot illuminate and appreciate the beauty in life, Lady Reyva.”
“His hunger for knowledge knows no bounds!” Rhazien’s pride for his Master of Archives echoed over the tiles of the vast library.
“Majesty.” We greeted the regent in harmony.
His black cape billowed behind his broad frame with his hasty gait. The lantern lights glimmered off of his modest crown and wide smile, hitching my breath. He was as handsome as I’d remembered from the night before, but his presence didn’t send me into a heated passion the way it had during our prior meeting. Had the blood left my system? I’d be thankful if it had. I didn’t need another embarrassing display, especially considering our audience.
“Lady Reyva, a jewel amongst a jewel. The Sanctum of Knowledge is my crowning accomplishment as regent.”
He found pride in knowledge, not killing or conquering. I turned the information over in my mind, filing it away in the mass of what I will learn about him. It was admirable.
“It’s breathtaking.” I blinked away from his piercing stare, my cheeks heating under his attention.
“I’m pleased you like it. I expect you and Oddo will be fast friends.” He patted his Master of Archives on the back with a resounding thud.
Oddo beamed at his regent. From his pointed nose to thin lips, Oddo’s features were Rhazien’s perfect opposite. I tried to imagine the face he could have grown into had he lived as a human a bit longer.
“You’re too kind, Majesty.” Oddo smiled. “You’ve appointed me to a place of service that I would have chosen on my own and for that, I’ll always be grateful.”
“If I didn’t have a kingdom to run, I would be right here with you.” The green in Rhazien’s eyes twinkled amongst the limitless papers and mahogany shelves.
“Don’t antagonize me with the prospect of what you might accomplish if you weren’t burdened with your royal duties. Your dissertation on inherited abilities changed my entire view on vampiric lineage?—”
“If you’re quite done fawning over each other, we have arrangements to see to, Majesty,” Gorvin cut through the bonding scholars’ chatter and pleasantries.
“Yes, Gorvin. Always the taskmaster,” Rhazien chided, giving me a wink.
