“I’ll go retrieve it for you.”
I hurried to close the window. The muffled click barely whispered through the air. The moment he opened his study door, I shuffled out of sight.
He didn’t hear me. He didn’t see me. Everything will be okay.
I rested the side of my head against the icy wall, exhaling. Then my foot slipped.
My breath ripped from my lungs. I clawed at the ice, plummeting, my nails snapping. My Infernus surged. Ice shot from my hands and fused me to the wall, jolting me to a painful stop.
Heavenly fucking Shit.
I panted, diving into my Infernus’s crackling music and fusing my feet as well.
“Don’t look down, Lucy. Don’t look down.” There were probably just trees, the ground, ordinary scenes I saw every day.
I looked down.
Heavenly Fuck.
“Cato!” I screamed, valuing my life more than the consequences of my spying. “Help me!”
Seconds passed. I yelled again. A minute passed. Two. Four. After minutes of shouting and screaming, my voice was hoarse.
He wasn’t in his rooms anymore. Or he had soundproof windows, which actually sounded pretty damned plausible for a scholarly librarian.
My arms shook. My ankles and wrists hurt. My breaths came in sporadic jumps of air. I didn’t know what to do and couldn’t think beyond my panic at falling over the cliff face.
Breathe. I just need to breathe. I can get out of this.
How, Lucy? You stupid female! Just had to sneak into Cato’s rooms, didn’t you? Even if he did find you, how would he help you? You’re frozen to the damned castle!
My forehead fell against the ice. The frigid coating melted against my skin, and my panting breaths fogged the castle wall. Water slid down my nose, and I pulled back.
How could I be so stupid? I was far from fucking helpless.
I took a deep breath and called to my Glory. It erupted across my entire body, and I plummeted.
Shrieking, I clawed at the wall, my Infernus catching me again.
“This plan would be the death of me.”
Once I calmed myself as much as I could and convinced myself I couldn’t stay here indefinitely—even though Cato’s room was even farther away—I focused my thoughts and pushed the warm energy into one hand. My Glory burst free the way I intended, melting one point of connection. Reaching up, I froze it, anchoring myself back to the wall. Then I did the same with my opposite foot, slowly creeping back up. My mind strained against my fear as I painstakingly melted and froze my limbs.
“Only a couple more feet to the ledge,” I murmured to myself, pushing my Glory into my next hand.
“Is this a new hobby of yours I need to be concerned about, Hellion?” Ronen asked from behind me.
I yelped, and my Glory flashed. All my anchors burst, and once again I fell.
Ronen caught me.
“I much prefer your feet on the ground,” he stated disapprovingly.
“Me too,” I said, slumping against his chest, overcome by fierce relief.
His arms tightened, pressing me closer.
“Mind explaining yourself?”
