Page 45 of The Ice Prince's Fated Mate
“Oh my goodness, that isadorable,” Milly said, wrapping me in a hug, careful to avoid poking me with the slave collar. “Andhe arranged for it to be delivered here, even though he isn’t. Now that’s thought.”
“Caz has never gottenmeflowers,” Anna said in a tone that implied that might change, though she was smiling at me the entire time she said it.
“Score one for Dirk,” Milly said, nodding. “See, he’s trying.”
“I know.” I bit my lip, holding back the smile.
Maybe there was a chance this could work out after all.
I hadn’t given Dirk any instructions or ideas, and this was what he had come up with as his first attempt. It was a lovely start. I had to give him that.
“Now, off to the library to see if we can learn more about us,” Anna said as I reread the little note again, taking a deep whiff of the flower. It instantly transported me to the mountainside meadow where the orbstar grew. I could smell the sunshine and the fresh breeze and the rocky air.
Putting the flower in a cup of water and making a note to ask for a vase, I hurried after the girls, following Anna’s directions to the private library of the tyrants.
“Look at this place.” Milly pushed her way in first, gaping at the rich brellwoodeverything.
Floors, stairs, walls, railings, tables,everythingwas made from the most prized wood in Hollow Earth. Oh, and the bookshelves. All of them. And there were a lot.
The room was oval with the entrance at one of the narrow ends. The bookshelves swooped out and away to our left and right, swinging ladders ready and waiting to help access the upper shelves. The bookcases towered over us, easily twice my height.
A second row of shelves mirrored the walls, creating a hallway effect that curved around the perimeter of the room. They were stuffed with more books, though not quite as high.
Right ahead, thick wooden steps led up to a balcony area, where one could sit and read at several tables, or in the thick, plush chairs that lined the exterior railings in between the shoulder-height curved bookcases that ran the perimeter.
“This is amazing,” I whispered, afraid to speak too loudly.
High overhead, the ceiling tapered into a dome. Intricately painted scenes played out, with dragons and men and other creatures all intertwined. I was sure it had a story, a focal point, but there was simply too much to take in for me to pay it full attention.
“The section on history of the kingdom is over here. I already asked Caz about it,” Anna said, heading down to the right.
I followed, running a hand over the ladder. Would anyone be mad if I hopped on it and slid across the library?
“Where do we start?” I asked, starting to feel overwhelmed at the size of the task before us. There were alotof books.
“I asked Caz that too. He suggested one of us start here, at the most recent. Another there, in the middle, and one of us gets the oldest books. They go all the way back to the Unification Wars.”
After a moment of contemplation at the enormity of the task we’d set before ourselves, we did what we always did. Divide and conquer.
“Milly, you take the most recent. I doubt there will be anything in it since we know Clippys go back a long way. I’ll take the ancient stuff. I like to read. Anna, you go the middle because you can jump around the best, go forward and back.”
“Grounded.”
I arched an eyebrow at my bestie. “Huh?”
“We’re Grounded, Ella. Not Clippys,” Anna said in a quiet but firm tone, looking me in the eyes. “If we want to change things, we have to be a part of that change.”
I stared back at her.
“Damn,” Milly said into the vacuum, clapping me on the shoulder. “She’s good at this leader stuff. Isn’t she? All right, Grounded it is.”
“I didn’t mean to be mean,” Anna added. “But it’s important to me.”
“You weren’t.” I smiled at her. “I’ll do my best, for you.”
“Thanks. Now, your plan is good. Even if I think you gave yourself the oldest stuff just so you can climb up the ladder.”
“Whatever do you mean?” I giggled, already halfway down the row to the nearest ladder.
