Page 233 of Librarian

Worse than it did the last time I saw her, which means somewhere along the line, Anthea Carlton returned to practising necromancy.

She must be dead, or that book wouldn’t have been summoned back here.

Jasper curses under his breath, grabbing a pair of shorts from the floor and tugging them on. “Enforcement tracked her down then?”

“Probably.” Dakari sighs. “I’ll see if I can find Pierce.”

A door opens downstairs, the Arcanaeum’s interest perking higher as the shelves of the Rotunda lean in to get a better look.

“No need…He’s home.”

North steps through after him, but it’s the third presence I can’t place.

They don’t have a library card.

Wait.

A child?

I’m still demanding answers from the building as the other two get their clothes on. It doesn’t seem to have any for me. My confused frown is set on my face as I pull us all down to the Rotunda.

There’s a blond-haired toddler crawling across the floor. My heart stops as a pair of curious round grey eyes meet mine. I’ve seen enough people with that particular combination of features to know that this is a Carlton. It doesn’t take a genius to connect his appearance to that of Anthea’s grimoire, and the stiffness in Pierce’s posture.

“Enforcement asked for our help tackling a group of necromancers.” North is hovering awkwardly behind Pierce, holding a bag of stuff. “We didn’t think anything of it…”

“This is Theodore.” Pierce puts down his own bag. “I…Apparently he’s my nephew.”

In all our years together, I’ve never seen him look quite so lost.

“Anthea…didn’t go down without a fight.” North looks away. “Enforcement got to her.”

Which means either they had to execute her, or she died in the struggle. For Pierce’s sake, I hope it was the latter.

Theodore crawls across the tile towards the cat tree, and two feline faces—one white and one ginger—watch on in concern as he starts trying to climb it.

The Arcanaeum conjures a toy train that circles around his feet, distracting the tiny terror before he can land himself in mischief.

Pierce sinks against a desk. “I didn’t know what to do. I know it’s a Library, not a nursery. I just…”

I cross to him, wrapping my arms around his waist. “What did Anthea want? Was there any indication of her wishes?”

North shakes his head.

“She was dead by the time we even knew she was there,” Pierce mutters. “But I…He’s got no one. If his father was there, he’s either dead or about to be executed.”

Somewhere in the Clock Tower, things are moving. Eddy’s old room is being redecorated. The bed shrinks, and a mural of enchanted sea creatures covers the walls. A highchair appears at our table.

The changes are all made with a kind of cautious optimism, like the building is expecting me to scold it, but it can’t contain the hope that’s practically leaking from the walls.

The train is still going around and around, merrily keeping the boy occupied.

“The Arcanaeum is making arrangements,” I murmur. “If you want him to stay with us, I believe the Library is more than happy to accommodate that.”

Pierce’s eyes finally leave Theodore and lock with mine. “And what about you?”

In the eight years we’ve been together, none of us has considered trying for a child. We’ve been busy. First, they were students; now Lambert’s magiball career takes him all over the world. The others aren’t exactly swimming in free time either.

I almost don’t want to try. Not because I wouldn’t love our children, but because this body of mine is a complete enigma. Could I even carry a baby to term? Honestly, I’m still fairly certain that the answer is no. Despite their reassurances that it doesn’t matter, I don’t want to have it confirmed and face my men’s reactions.