Page 138 of Librarian

Even my granting him Sanctuary wouldn’t save him. It would just put the Library at risk.

Thrusting those worries aside, I turn the next page, holding our bond tight in my mind as I begin anew, lips moving on a near-silent incantation. I only have three pages left after this.

Every single runeform is edged with Pierce’s magic, borrowed through our bond, which adds authenticity. The binding rune itself was created with power I skimmed from him when he was sleeping.

I’m also ageing the ink after it dries, which requires complex transmutation spells. It’s necessary to fool anyone inspecting the book into believing the grimoire was put together over many years, rather than cobbled together over days.

My knowledge and our connection work together to make this the most convincing forgery I’ve ever seen.

Doing this without the Arcanaeum is still risky. There are a handful of spells that I won’t be able to fool. Fortunately, I’ve watched enforcement check grimoires before. I know their methods.

The fake will pass an initial check, and probably some of the more invasive ones too.

When the Library is back to normal, we can make it a true replica.

“Eat up while it’s warm,” Lambert prods, as the sound of the tap running intrudes on my work.

I’m in the middle of casting, so I have to finish the page before I turn to examine what he’s made.

“What is it?” I ask, stretching my arms above my head with a yawn.

“Pear and hazelnut.”

I’ve just lifted the muffin to my lips when a creak on the stairs jerks my head up.

What time is it?

My eyes dart to the clock, and I silently curse. I’ve gotten too involved in my work, and now someone else is up early.

Lambert alone isn’t much of a risk. He’s so trusting and unbothered by my work that I never have to worry about him asking questions.

Leo trudges down the stairs, Dakari not far behind. They’re both sleep rumpled, but the sight of Lambert’s baking brightens them up.

Great. If there’s anyone who can see through my illusions, it’s the Ó Rinn heir. Add in Dakari’s perceptiveness, and I’ll be lucky to make it through this without one of them realising something is up.

It’s too late to pack away now. All I can do is act like nothing is wrong and pray they’re not awake enough to look too closely.

Taking a casual bite of the delicious muffin, I offer them both a small smile.

Dakari kisses me on his way to the coffeemaker, grumbling as he battles the complicated contraption that’s normally Pierce’s domain. To this day, I haven’t worked out if he actually likes his coffee black or if it’s just the simplest option on the elaborate machine.

Leo, however, moves so he’s standing over the island.

“No luck with the phylactery?” he asks.

I shrug noncommittally. “Some, but it’s slow going.”

When I’m not sneakily stealing and replicating grimoires under their noses, I have actually made good progress on them—ironically, thanks in part to the knowledge I’ve gained from Pierce’s grimoire.

He might not have been taught the complicated constellations in the incantation, but the runeforms he’s written down pointed me in the right direction.

Perhaps I should’ve asked for his help in the beginning, after all…

No. I couldn’t ask it of him. The ones who taught him to use that school also took Benny from him, and that loss is still raw.

Leo hums under his breath. “I can help.”

My eyes go wide before I can school my expression. “Have some breakfast,” I suggest, a little too quickly.