Page 104 of Librarian

I stride away from all of them, gripping the railing overlooking the Thames until the rusted metal bites into my skin. Lambert comes to stand at my side, but I shrug him off when he tries to pat my shoulder.

“I’m sorry for your loss,” Blanche replies, already heading back towards the cold stone building we just left. “But I’m not the one you’re angry at.”

“You let himdie.”

She looks over her shoulder at me, eyes wet. “I honoured his last request. I suggest you do the same and get out of London before you’re recognised. I’ll see you soon.”

“Was he numb?” I demand, grabbing Leo by the front of his shirt. “Did the spell hold?”

“Yes.”

“Do you swear?”

His head dips. “I swear. He felt nothing.”

My mouth twists, despair creeping across my shoulder blades as I release him.

“We should’ve done more?—”

Leo surprises me when he reaches forward and hugs me. It only lasts a second, but the shock of his warmth breaks through the chill, silencing my objections.

“Don’t go there.” He squeezes before he lets me go. “Trust me, it’ll drive you mad.”

“Dude,” Lambert begins hesitantly. “I don’t want to rush you, but that sergeant was right; we’ve got to go. If we get caught, everything that just happened was meaningless.”

I can’t argue. He’s right, and he’s gentle enough about it that I can’t even scream at him like I want to.

I want to storm back in there and claim my grandfather’s corpse before my mother decides to use it for her own ends. The grief clawing against the inside of my ribs demands vengeance, but even I’m not stupid enough to believe I could take both liches on by myself. My capture would risk Kyrith’s safety.

I can’t lose her too.

I’m just as useless now as I was while they cheered for his death. Powerlessness surges again, drowning my anger, leaving me drained.

My chin dips once.

This time, when Lambert’s hand lands on my shoulder, it’s accompanied by the gut-yanking sensation of a transport spell.

Thirty

Kyrith

Footsteps.

My incantation fades to a whisper, but I can’t lose focus.

They’re coming closer. Whoever it is must be right outside the door. In my peripheral vision, I see Dakari take up a defensive stance behind me.

When did he get back? I didn’t even notice his return.

“Kyrith…” he mutters.

I can’t stop chanting to tell him I just need more time.

Stomp. Stomp.

North is already muttering a defensive spell, being careful to keep away from the lines of magic that surround us, or it’s sheer dumb luck that he’s standing outside of them as he casts.

Stomp. Stomp. Stomp.