Page 27 of Librarian

“The dagger is a key,” I mumble to myself. “A conduit for the magic of Mathias’s sacrifices. But if that pathway were reversed…if the Library transferred its energy into a person…”

Into a body created by the Arcanaeum, a body forged specifically to handle all of that power.Mybody.

But that can’t be right. The building’s magic was intricately woven with the collective consciousness of the other librarians. It was keeping them alive—in a manner of speaking.

If the Arcanaeum no longer has any power…if it sent it all away with me…

Oh, stars, no.

“What did you do?” I whisper under my breath.

Because please, please don’t let this be what I think it is. I couldn’t live with myself if all that remains of the Arcanaeum—of the other librarians—is the ball of power in my chest.

My heartbeat stutters, then chokes. Did the Library sacrifice itself to set me free?

“You’re awake!” Lambert bursts through the door, launching himself straight onto the bed with such enthusiasm that I bounce on the mattress. “North’s getting food. How do you feel? Do you need more magic? Can I kiss you? Do you know what’s going on? Because none of us has a clue. Also, you’re outside! We can take you to see those pigeons now, boss! Okay, so it’s mostly seagulls and geese up here in Orkney, but I’m sure we can find a pigeon…”

“Oh, do shut up,” Pierce grunts, shoving through the door. “You’re giving me a headache.”

Lambert half-drags me onto his lap, though he’s limited by Dakari’s reluctance to let me go and the way my body turns rigid at the sight of Pierce.

The covenant mark is there on his cheek, but it’s scarred over, so pale that it’s almost silver. That shouldn’t happen. Themagic usually keeps the wounds fresh and painful. You can’t even cast an illusion to hide one.

Unless it was never a real covenant mark.

“You—”

“I’m truly sorry,” he interrupts, every trace of haughtiness evaporating at the sight of me. “I thought if I faked loyalty, I might be able to persuade Mathias to keep you alive, but by the time you were summoned to the Vault, it was too late. I couldn’t see any way that we’d make it out alive. I should’ve saved you, but I failed.”

Idiot. He’s strong, but he couldn’t have taken on Mathias or Isidora by himself. While they stabbed me, he was silently enduring a torture spell that would’ve sent most people to their knees. There was no way he could’ve prevented what happened.

I can’t even blame him for his deception. It was horrible to die thinking that he’d betrayed me, but he made the smart decision. The right one.

One thing doesn’t add up, however.

“If it was all an act, how did Mathias know so much about the protections I put over the dagger?” I challenge. “He broke through them in minutes.”

Pierce folds his arms and frowns. “I never told a soul. I didn’t even understand half of what you were doing at the time.”

That admission draws a snort from Lambert, but Pierce continues before he can say anything.

“Eddy was watching us both while we were working. She was covered in ensorcellments. Mathias probably saw everything you did through her eyes.”

Concern for her rises, but Dakari promised me she was fine. He wouldn’t lie.

“So you never broke the covenant?” My voice is smaller than I’d like it to be.

Pierce rolls his eyes. “When my mother asked, I made up a story about how you’d severed our bond because you didn’t trust me. It was all lies. Honestly, I can’t remember most of what I said. I would’ve told her anything to get to the Arcanaeum and save you. I’m sorry that it was for nothing.”

I don’t know what to say to that, so I seal my lips shut. In the hallway beyond this room, several voices are getting louder and louder.

Before I can ask if everything is okay, Lambert pipes up, “I still can’t believe your mom had a tracker on you. Jasper said it was one of the strongest ensorcellments he’d ever seen.”

My jaw drops, but Pierce shrugs it off. “Both Anthea and I were investments who knew too much. Of course she needed to keep an eye on us.”

“That’s inhumane,” I growl. “You could’ve asked, and I would’ve?—”

He brushes off my concern. “It was a necessary evil. She would’ve known if the spell was broken.”