Page 197 of Librarian

These are funeral bouquets. The kind you leave in the place where someone died.

They think I’m…dead.

Are they even wrong?

“Good. That’s good.” Leo looks as tired as I feel. “Is everyone aware of the announcement?”

“Everyone who can come will be here tomorrow, as you ordered. And it will be broadcast on all of our news channels.” Halinor rests a hand on his bicep. “I dinnae want to overstep, but you’ve been at this for days. You need to take a break.”

Leo stiffens, then sighs, nodding. “When Lambert gets back. He shouldn’t be long.”

Halinor watches him quietly, then nods, as if pleased with his sincerity. “See that you do. I’ll tell everyone to clear out for the night.”

She limps away, leaning heavily on her stick.

“What announcement?” I ask, my voice a threadbare whisper that neither of them hears. “What are you up to?”

I manage to pull myself up so I’m sitting on the desk beside him. His ice-blue gaze passes right through me.

Like I’m not even here.

I reach out, imagining I can tuck that wayward strand of red-tipped black hair out of his face, but nothing happens.

On my left, a door opens, and Pierce steps through, North at his heels.

My throat convulses in a silent sob.

Mathias is gone. They’re free to come and go as they please.

It’s everything I hoped for.

And all I can do is watch them go about their lives from behind a pane of glass. Never touching, never speaking.

“If you don’t take care of the Library,” I tell the three of them as they gather wordlessly around my desk. “I will…”

I trail off…because whatcanI do?

Absolutely nothing. I don’t even have the strength to lift paper.

“It’s getting better,” North comments. “But…”

“Still not there,” Leo says. “I know. But the doors started opening again, so we must be on the right track. The repairs to the roof might do it. It took some heavy damage.”

“What if that doesn’t work?” Pierce demands.

“Have you got a better idea?” Leo turns away from the paper, which I now see is a sketch of the stained-glass pattern that once graced the ceiling. “You should tell us if you do, no matter what it is.”

His words are layered with double meaning, and Pierce bites his lip. “I’m working on something.”

“What?” North demands.

“It’s theory at the moment.” Pierce looks around. “I’ll tell you when I have something concrete.”

The Ackland heir frowns. “We could help?—”

“It’s not your speciality.” The Carlton heir’s shutdown is quick. “Give me a few more days. We might not need it. Like you said...the roof is a big deal.”

“I brought Thai food,” Lambert says, walking through the door with white plastic bags in each hand. “Hope you’re all hungry.”