Page 139 of Librarian

He hesitates, head tilting to one side.

“Boss lady’s right,” Lambert adds around a mouthful of muffin. “You need to try these. I’m actually impressed with myself.”

“You’re always impressed with yourself,” Dakari mutters, but takes one anyway.

“Tell me they’re not good.” Lambert’s smile only grows as the other man swallows and rolls his eyes.

“They’re delicious.” The acknowledgement is grudging.

“Thank you, Lambert…” The Winthrop heir drags the sentence out in a puerile taunt.

I’m almost certain that the only reason Dakari doesn’t smack him for it is the giant, amiable grin on his face, and the plate of muffins held out like an offering between them.

Dakari takes another with a sigh. “Thank you. Now, bake some more because there aren’t going to be any left by the time the others wake up.”

He grabs his coffee, kisses me as he walks past, and settles onto the sofa with a tiny head shake of disbelief.

The lull in their banter drags my attention back to my work.

I freeze.

Leo’s shadow has shifted closer without me noticing. He’s looking down at the island—directly at the place where the booksare hidden beneath my illusion—one hand inconspicuously tucked in his grimoire.

There’s a tiny runeform by his left eye, but it’s gone with a blink.

A lead weight settles deep in the pit of my abdomen as his cold stare meets mine.

A silent argument promptly ensues.

His right eyebrow rises in question.

I shift my grimoire over the top of the others.

The corner of his lip curls down, and he runs a hand through his hair. His next look is a warning.

My shoulders stiffen, and the set of my jaw turns stubborn as I momentarily debate ensorcelling him to make him leave me alone.

Leo can only speculate. The page I’m working on is a simple transmutation spell—likely one Pierce inked there to help with the renovations. Sure, only one of our number has a black grimoire, but that’s not proof. The colour is very traditional. It could be any spellbook from the Vault.

I soften as I beg him with my gaze.Please look away. Don’t ask questions I don’t want to give you the answers to.

He has every right to demand an explanation. After all, wasn’t I furious at him for doing things behind my back that had the potential to blow up in our faces?

But this is Pierce’s business, and I’m protecting all of them by hiding it.

Lambert shoves a plate at his brother. “Stop bothering the boss. She comes down this early specifically so she can think without you lot hovering over her.”

I tug at my sleeves. While Ihavenoticed he’s been unusually quiet during our morning routine, I didn’t realise that was because he thought I was seeking out solitude for productivity’s sake.

My heart melts, and I grab his hand as he passes, pulling him down for a grateful kiss.

Leo reluctantly moves aside, heading for his normal chair with a final look at the illusion.

Trying not to let my body slump in relief, I hurriedly copy the final few pages, then flick through once more to check everything is as it should be.

Almost perfect.

The final spell will work better if Pierce is the one to cast it.