Page 28 of Librarian

My lips purse, because I’m sure I could’ve come up with something, but the argument outside is getting more heated, intruding on our conversation.

“Just let me see for myself that she’s okay,” Leo begs.

A fissure the size of the Grand Canyon opens in my chest.

Stars, I want to ghost just to escape it, but I no longer can. Because ofhim.

Something of what I’m feeling must show on my face, because Lambert’s grip on me tightens, and Dakari’s expression turns into a full-on glower.

Jasper’s huff is audible even from beyond the open door. “She’s fine. Now, go back to sleep.”

Leo doesn’t back down. “Not until I see her.”

“She doesn’t need this right now.” North’s shadow fills the doorway as he speaks. I don’t know how I know it’s him, but Ido. Just like I can sense Jasper down the hall and Leo caught between them.

Whatever the Library did to cut me off strengthened the bonds between us to the point where I’m feeling them like I would the books. I don’t know what to make of it. Was it always this way and just now noticeable because I can’t feel the tomes in the collection?

Or perhaps it’s because they’ve been feeding me their magic. The Arcanaeum stealing power from them was how our bonds were formed in the first place. It stands to reason that this would strengthen them. Only…it’s not just Dakari, Jasper, and Lambert whose bonds are stronger.

Which would mean…

“Did you all touch me while I was out?”

“That sounds much creepier than it was,” Lambert objects.

“Don’t make it out to be a big deal,” Pierce says. “I only held your hand.”

Dakari snorts. “Leo was lucky we allowed him that much.”

“It was only because we were worried you needed magic from all of us… Well, and we kept getting drained, so we had to take shifts.” Lambert says the last almost apologetically, like it’s a personal failing that he was unable to provide enough energy to keep me alive. Never mind that I’m basically a parasite living off their magic.

“I’m grateful for your help,” I admit. “And I’m sorry I sent you away. It was the only way I could protect you.” I pause. “But I don’t want to see him until I’ve recovered.”

I say the last sentence loud enough to carry.

“Kyrie.” Leo trails off in the middle of my name.

North and Jasper enter, shutting the door behind them with Leo firmly on the other side.

It’s fitting, because I’m shutting out anything and everything to do with Galileo until I’ve figured out what’s happened to the Arcanaeum.

He made it clear I wasn’t his priority, and now he’s no longer mine.

Nine

Galileo

My head falls against the wood of the door between me and Kyrith. I brace one arm over my head, hand curling into a fist as if to knock as I listen to them all murmuring within.

No. She said no. She wants time. I can respect that.

Not that any of them believe me. I swear the look North gave me before he shut the door in my face was pure darkness.

I sigh and push away from the room containing the only people in this world I want to see and trek down the dimly lit hallway. Still, I can’t help the way my ears prick at the sound of the latch behind me.

Unfortunately, it’s just Pierce, head down as he stares intently at his phone.

“You got kicked out too?” I ask as he joins me.