Page 218 of Librarian

Warmth.

Stars, it’s been nowhere near as long as it was before, but I forgot what it was like to be warm.

His arms flutter, like he was expecting the hug, but equally like he doesn’t know what to do now that I’m pressed against him. My nose is buried in his neck as I gulp down breath after breath of his sugar-sweet scent. For the first time in ages, my eyes start to burn, and my chest tries to explode as the truth of the Library’s recovery and my embodiment hit me all at once.

Hands touch my back, carding reverently through my hair.

“Lass…when did this happen?” Jasper asks.

I swallow against the twisted knot of emotions swelling in my throat. “I started being able to feel your touch a few days ago…but I didn’t want to wear down the building if I attempted it too soon.” Or get their hopes up by mentioning anything.

If I could feel them, even as a ghost, that seemed like a good sign that I could embody. The cart and the bunting were the final straws, cementing my decision to at least try. Their touch always helped with the transition from ghostly to physical, so hugging one of them was the safest method to ensure success.

I pull back from Lambert or try to. He’s in full-on barnacle mode, clutching me against him like he’s afraid that letting go will make me slip back into my ghost form.

“Share her.” North’s voice is rough.

“Five more minutes?”

“You’re being selfish,” Pierce says.

“There’s nothing in the way of us making this a group hug except your own toxic masculinity,” Lambert fires back.

My eye roll isn’t even subtle. “If you’re going to start arguing about this, I’ll stop embodying.”

“Do it, and I’ll spank your ass,” North grumbles, giving up on waiting for Lambert and wrapping his arms around my waist so he can press himself against my back.

His lips press into my hair, breath tickling my neck.

I grin, hiding the expression in Lambert’s shirt. “Promises, promises.”

A sharp crack fills the air, and I jump, expecting a sting to follow even though I’m too crushed between North and Lambert for him to realistically spank me.

It’s just a party popper, I realise, as Eddy’s snort follows shortly after.

Strings of paper fall carelessly over Lambert’s golden hair, a few strands landing on my head. I wipe one out of his eyes, raising my brows at my best friend for her not-so-subtle way of reminding me that I have an audience.

When Pierce finally pries me from Lambert’s grip, he kisses me so soundly that I melt, my stomach falling through the floor.

“Congratulations on passing,” I murmur against his lips.

“I was never going to let any of us fail, darling. That’s what bribes are for.”

I shake my head at him, because I know he’s serious, and move across to Jasper.

He doesn’t immediately kiss me, just rests his forehead against mine. His palm presses against my nape, holding us together with a care that steals my breath.

“When did it happen?” he asks. “The building reached the magical threshold, right?”

“A week ago. Those extra infusions definitely helped.”

Though the frequency of their donations has decreased, they still made an effort to continue. Not because the Arcanaeum technically needed it while I was feeding it my extra power, but because they wanted to hasten the process.

I think they missed the Library as much as I did.

A paper crown appears on his head as the Library continues celebrating. The party poppers are going off by themselves, showering all of us in brightly coloured streamers.

Jasper’s grin gets even wider. “Thank magic. I had this plan where I was going to ask the others to sacrifice me and make me a ghost right alongside you once we had all of the parriarch stuff sorted.”