Page 211 of Librarian

He shivers a little, then brushes a hand over my arm in a gentle caress.

The Arcanaeum sighs, full of the same contentment that runs through me.

We’re getting there.

Fifty-Nine

Pierce

The Solarium is a lot more romantic when we aren’t using it as a magical duelling pitch.

Mathias didn’t bother meddling with the tiny greenhouse in the courtyard, so it’s exactly as we left it, albeit with a few more decorations.

The floor is hidden beneath piles of cushions and blankets. I know Kyrith won’t be able to feel them or enjoy them as she would with a body, but hopefully the gesture comes off as thoughtful rather than insensitive.

I’d ask the Arcanaeum for its input, but in the day since its return, it’s been mostly silent. Kyrith says the Library is resting, which is good, but it still leaves me with only these two idiots to help get things ready before our Librarian figures out we’re up to something.

“You stole my idea,” Jasper complains.

I frown, because it wasn’t like there was a whole lot else I could do, given the limitations. “Are you honestly upset?”

He hands North the cushion he conjured with a frown. “Naw, but I wouldnae expect you to do something this rustic. Figured you’d go for a Michelin restaurant and a five-star hotel or something.”

“If you haven’t noticed.” I grunt as North flings a pillow at my face. “There’s a lack of those in the Arcanaeum.” I add it to the pile with a huff and return to work on the wisplights I’ve been casting around the edge of the room. “I had much grander plans that involved a sleigh ride and a glass igloo, but our current circumstances are less than ideal.”

If Kyrith ever decides to try leaving the Arcanaeum, I’ll take her on that trip. For now, this is the closest I can manage. Right now, she’s understandably hesitant to do anything that might jeopardise the Library’s recovery.

“While we’re here,” I add after a few minutes of silence. “I’d like to apologise.”

North straightens. “I knew it was you. Lambert said it was that dodgy kebab, but you poisoned my?—”

“For thelasttime, I didn’t poison you.” I grind my teeth together. “I’m talking about when I wiped your memory months ago. It was necessary at the time. And Jasper…I should’ve tried to get you out sooner.”

“Wasnae your choice,” he grunts. “I could see that, even then. Apology not necessary.”

My lips twist, and I finish up with the lights.

“Hey, wait…what meeting?” North frowns. “And why are you bringing this up now?”

“It wasn’t a long conversation.” I shrug his death-glare off. “Eventually, the spell will unravel anyway. I’d rather you weren’t pissed at me when that happened.”

It’s a lame reason, but the truth is harder to put into words. Mathias is dead. So is my grandfather. My future is with Kyrith and the rest of these men. I want to start it on a clean slate.

“I kidnapped you from the magiball game. Ensorcelled you. My grandfather and Josef interrogated you about Kyrith’s cracking.”

It’s been long enough that my words must shatter whatever remains of the spell, because North pinches his temples. He grunts, bending double under the pressure, but it passes quickly. Unsurprising. It was a relatively small mind-wipe. Under an hour’s worth of memories.

“You remember?”

“You were an utter prick,” North says, chucking a round pink cushion at my face with more force than necessary.

“I did what I had to.”

He gives me a frustrated scowl, straightening. “Great fucking apology. Very convincing.”

I shrug. “Iamsorry that I kept the truth from you. My grandfather asked me to. He was trying to build an alliance with Josef, which would’ve served to keep Mathias away from the position of vicegerent. Then the Ackland parriarch got himself killed.” I shrug again. “With everything that happened, I put the matter aside. Now that things are settling—Will you stop that?” I catch the next cushion with a glower.

“If I do, do you promise to shut up?”