Page 123 of Librarian

My gut sinks.

Leo must read the worry in my expression because he shakes his head. “It’s not like that. I just…” His shoulders rise and fall on an exasperated sigh. “There’s a support group for my family. A lot of us…we’re still struggling even though the curse is gone. It’s helpful to be surrounded by people who’ve endured the same thing.”

“Surely the curse being gone is good?” Eddy says, her brows drawing together.

“Yes. Of course.” Leo scrubs a hand down his face. “But lots of us are regretting choices we made because of the curse. A few of my cousins are in loveless arranged marriages, which are breaking down because now they want a chance at the real thing. There are a couple of parents who didn’t have shite to do with raising their kids out of fear, and now they’re struggling to build relationships. Some of the younger cousins are finding it hard to make friends because they never had any…” He coughs. “You get the idea.”

My heart melts. “I’m glad you have each other.”

“Yeah.” He frowns, then rushes to add, “We’re all grateful, don’t get me wrong; it’s just…complicated.”

It was foolish of me to believe it would be over with the finished runeforms. The ensorcellments were a massive part of several dozen lives, indirectly impacting hundreds more.

“Are you being careful?” I ask. “You need to ward wherever you’re meeting.”

“We’re not taking any chances.” He backs toward the door with a small, reassuring smile. “I’d ask if you wanted to come, but…Carlton still has spies everywhere.”

“Maybe in the future, but for now, I have much to do here.” I turn back to the Botanical Hall with a sigh. “Although less than I did, thanks to this. Thank you. All of you. This means so much.”

I was dreading walking through the Library in the light of day, seeing all the things that Mathias changed or destroyed.This was my favourite room. It’s bad enough that it still lacks the rustling shelves and the rolling carts that usually keep it so busy even when there are no patrons.

I miss the Arcanaeum’s vivacity.

Leo knocks quietly on the door, mumbling something under his breath. It takes a heartbeat longer than usual for the wood to swing open. When it does, he steps through with one last hopeful look at me.

“It was all Leo’s idea,” Lambert says, the second he’s gone. “He set up the support group while we were in Scotland and hired a therapist to lead it. Kinda fitting, I guess, since he’s going to ask Artemius to hand over the parriarchy soon.”

“Artemius is alive?” I can’t contain my surprise.

“Apparently so. Tough old goat.” Dakari sighs into my hair. “He’s recovering, but he’s already sworn vengeance on Mathias.”

“He’ll have to get in line.” Pierce slips into Botanical Hall, carrying two shopping bags. “Now, has anyone checked on the kitchen? I can’t be the only one who’s starving.”

“Keep feeding us, and eventually we might actually like you,” North says.

Pierce snorts. “Don’t. One-sided friendship is embarrassing for all involved.”

“So, Leo did good?” Lambert steals me from Dakari with an arm around my shoulders, guiding me in the direction of the Clock Tower, following North and Pierce, who are still bickering.

I open my mouth, intending to diplomatically answer thatallof their efforts are appreciated. Unfortunately, the moment we pass from Botanical Hall into the Rotunda, my words vanish and my heart sinks through the floor.

“My desk.”

The two words are all I manage to blurt before Dakari has his grimoire in hand, muttering a spell. North starts casting at the same time, and between the two of them, the grey plasticmonstrosity is crushed into an ugly pancake before it catches fire.

“Fire in the Arcanaeum!” I scold, rushing forward, only for the flames to disappear in the next heartbeat.

North rubs the back of his neck. “Yeah, well, I figured you’d make an exception.”

I sigh. Typical North; too proud to say sorry, but also one of the first to destroy the thing that upset me.

“We can conjure the old one, exactly as it was,” Lambert promises. “Or a new one, if you want.”

“Later.” Right now, I need to know if the Clock Tower is still as we left it. The anticipation haunts me as we walk through rows of characterless metal shelving. I’m so tense that I barely remember to undo my confusticating spells along the way.

The parapet is unchanged, except for a sleek sun lounger that I destroy with a passing thought. If only the lich had decided to take some time off and sit out here, enjoying the mists. Then he would’ve lost his mind, and we could have avoided this.

The door on the other side is missing. Even the decorative lintel is gone.