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I rummaged around in my bag for my ID and flashed it to Gunther, the security guard, ignoring the tingle dancing down my spine. I was still reeling from what happened the night before—learning the missing witches were part of my task, going to the club, and then what happened afterward. Draven had called me his, and he’d kissed me. I’d told him to stay away, but he was out there now. Somehow, I felt him. The guy was still stalking me. It should horrify me, or alarm me, something, but it didn’t. Instead, it kind of thrilled me.

Stop it!

Gunther handed it back.

“This way.”

Gunther Morgans was tall and thin, and I assumed in his late fifties. He’d worked here at the council chambers for as long as I could remember. I’d been here before with Else when I was a kid and with Mom as well for different things over the years, and Gunther was always the one to greet us.

He led Nia and me through the main rooms, her claws tapping on the marble floors, then through a set of wide double doors. I felt the hum of magic as we passed. If Gunther wasn’t with me, there was no way I’d be able to pass. This place was warded to the gills, and for good reason.

We reached an office, where a small desk sat between two doors, one we were about to go through, the other to the public records room. Gunther’s daughter, Penny, sat there, and she smiled wide when she saw me. She was the same age as Willow.

“Hey, Pen.”

“Iris.” She stood, her familiar, Jasper, a pure white ferret, sat on her shoulder. “It’s so good to see you. You look…so great.”

I looked like a wreck. I hadn’t slept, and my hair wasn’t playing the game today. “Thanks, you’re too kind,” I said and laughed. “But we both know that’s a lie.”

She blushed. Pen was shy but incredibly sweet. “You always look nice.”

“Have I told you lately that I love you?”

She giggled.

“I think you have some work to do?” Gunther said to his daughter.

Penny’s cheeks grew pinker and she sat back down.

“Down here,” he said to me and opened the door.

A steep staircase descended into shadow, and the cold from the belowground library drifted up, making me shiver. Gunther flicked on a light, and we made our way down, then rounded a corner at the bottom and carried on along another short hall. Finally, he stopped at a huge wooden door. It was intricately carved and the deepest of mahogany.

He motioned to the middle of the door. There was a darker patch, and it was surrounded by a carved ring of ivy. “Your blood, Miss. Thornheart.”

“The door, it’s gorgeous.” I pulled my knife from my bag and pricked the tip of my finger. Nia whined, she didn’t like it when I made myself bleed, no matter how many times I did it. When the blood had swelled to the surface, I pressed it to the darker patch of wood. My blood mixing with the blood of many witches before me, generations of them.

“It’s more than just a door. It remembers. It knows many things about the witches who have come here, and it can recognize bloodlines. The door knows if you should be granted entry.”

That was impressive. The magic was so incredibly old; I felt that now. The hum of it was deeper, richer. Like it’d become one with the ancient wood. There was no separating them, even if there was a witch powerful enough to try.

The click of the heavy iron locking mechanism echoed off the stone walls and marble floor before the door slowly swung open on well-oiled hinges. Gunther walked in, leading me to a wide oak desk.

“Please sit.”

I did as he said, Nia doing the same beside me, and we waited while he gathered several large books from around the room and stacked them in front of me.

“Is all of this about coven Thornheart?”

“Yes. And you may look through them here, but please wear the gloves at all times.” He placed a white pair in front of me. “All the shelves in this room are restricted. You are prohibited from looking at another coven’s records.” He motioned to said shelves. “They are also heavily warded.”

In other words, don’t even try it, or you’ll be sorry. “Thanks, Gunther. Much appreciated. Does it matter how long I’m down here?”

He shook his head. “Take all the time you need.” He placed a small bell beside me. “Ring this if you need me. It’s enchanted, so I’ll hear it no matter where I am in the building.”

“Awesome, thanks again.”

Gunther left, closing the heavy door behind him, and I took in the stack of books in front of me.