Page 166 of Librarian

“I could…”

“No.” His voice hardens. “It’s bad enough that you had to create this using memories of your own death. I’m not going to ask you to cast it.”

I sag a little lower into my bones as I hand him the pieces of paper. “Then…here they are.”

He studies them, jaw tightening. A stone settles in my gut as he mouths the incantation, testing it, before putting the papers to one side.

“Everything else is ready?” he checks.

“Yes. Blanche’s people are arriving in a few hours. Dakari has my permission to do his worst. Everything…” I swallow. “Everything can be fixed later.”

I hate the plan. I hate the risk to the books. To the Arcanaeum. I’ve cast so many protective spells over the last few days that North had to threaten to spank me to get me to stop. Dakari swore there wouldn’t be any fire, but…

Pierce tugs me into a hug, surrounding me with the scent of expensive cologne. Then he drops his lips to the top of my head.

“You’ll stay safe,” I order, making him stiffen. “I mean it.”

“I’ll go somewhere Mathias won’t even think to look for me. Then I’ll be right by your side to help you take him down.” The certainty in his voice may be foolhardy, but it steadies my roiling nerves.

“If anything goes wrong,” I press. “Come straight back.”

He’s silent for a second, then nods. “Wear the earrings and promise me you’llusethem if anything goes wrong… You’re the only person I have left.”

“Not the only person.” My denial is automatic.

I know what it’s like to have been so isolated for so long that the very idea of friendship is unfathomable, but he has the others now. Jasper, in particular, has built up a strange rapport with him. I caught them fencing in the Kinetic Hall the other day.

In time, Pierce’s walls will lower, and he’ll trust their authenticity.

He gives me a sheepish little half-smile. “The only one who matters to me.”

Wait.

My heart does a little kick behind my ribs. Is he saying…?

“I love you,” I murmur, the admission quiet, but no less bold for it. “I know it’s too soon, but ever since Mathias sacrificed me, you’ve let me see behind the mask you wear for everyone else, and if something goes wrong tomorrow?—”

“—it won’t.”

“Ifit does,” I insist. “I don’t want you to ever question how much I care?—”

“Everything will be fine. You’ll have all five of the others and dozens of enforcement officers with you, so stop talking like this.”

I want to argue that it’s not me I’m worried about. I’m sending him on a mission alone. If I could, I’d go myself.

But Pierce is set on this course. He needs to do this, for himself, and for Benny.

“Blanche knew your grandfather,” I say, when the silence gets too much. “A lot of her people spoke highly of him. I think, when it’s over, you should spend some time with them.”

Pierce is already shaking his head, pulling back from our embrace. “My grandfather had a lot of contacts, but very few friends.” His lip quirks. “Besides, Jasper already found me. They talked while they were imprisoned together. It wasn’t nice to hear but…”

“But it will help, one day.” When his grief is no longer the raw, scraping thing lurking in the depths of his grey eyes.

He dips his chin in agreement. “I’ll find you before I leave, but I won’t make a scene of it.”

So as not to tip off the others. “I understand.”

He kisses me, a peck on the cheek that screams goodbye, even before he murmurs, “Good night.”