Page 83 of Librarian

“That spell could only have made it past these wards if someoneinsidewas casting it,” Pierce’s hand is glowing. “They need to be stopped before they try again.”

Shit.

The sound has drawn a lot of attention. Our people rush to the wall, reinforcements pouring in.

Benny eyes them grimly. “The McKinleys have this in hand. We need to uncover the culprit before they cause more damage. Pierce, can you track the squalling spell?”

A trail of green is already snaking out of Pierce’s grimoire, forming a mist that blankets the inside of the fort, then narrowsinto a thin ribbon that winds away from him. His eyes follow the line, tracing it back towards the epicentre.

Towards the keep.

White noise fills my ears as all three of us take off running. This time it’s not a spell, just pure, unbridled terror.

Twenty-Four

Dakari

She’s not waking up. Stars damn it. Jasper is throwing spell after spell her way, and despite the strength of his magic, she’s completely unmoved. Every shallow breath she takes is a punch to my chest.

I know, logically, that this has happened before. That doesn’t stop the icy fingers raking down my spine.

I ran in here the second I recovered from that awful noise, barely stopping to pull on sweatpants. Still, I wasn’t fast enough.

When I got here, Eddy and Lambert were already crowding her on the bed, Jasper flicking through his grimoire in a panic.

Even now, the stressed creases haven’t faded from his forehead as he lowers the book. “Last time she was like this, Georgina was killed. She mentioned Artemius before she passed out…”

Meaning it’s likely that the Ó Rinn parriarch is already dead or fighting for his life. That explains why Leo has his phone pressed up against his ear, though he stays back, giving Jasper space to work. I should feel bad about it, but really, I’m just gladthat Mathias is busy in Belfast and likely not behind this latest attack.

Lambert gulps, his grip on Kyrith’s hand tightening. “So we just have to wait for her to wake up?”

“Aye.” Jasper stands. “She’ll?—”

All of our phones chime at once.

North:

Enforcement attacking.

Jasper’s eyes widen, his head turning to the door even though the rest of him stays rooted beside Kyrith. “Fuck. We prepared for this, but?—”

But his family is out there. Mama Dee, who’s an inept. Hazel. Halinor.

He still doesn’t move, and I shake my head. “Kyrith is protected. Go.”

“I’ll come with you,” Eddy adds, standing and drawing her grimoire.

The two of them take off, pushing past Leo, who’s still standing in the doorway. He stiffens, lowering the phone in his hand after a quick murmur to whoever is on the other end of the line. I wait for him to take the out I’m offering. To choose his family over the Librarianagain.

And yeah, maybe it’s unfair, given that Jasper is literally leaving to check on his people as we speak, but there’s a difference between walking outside to check on your family and disappearing to the other side of the country to face a lich alone.

“My cousins are on their way to help my grandfather. He’s a tough bugger. He’ll last until they get there.” The muscle in his jaw jumps, his tension evident despite the certainty in his words. “I’m not leaving her.”

Lambert offers his brother an approving nod, but I’m not convinced.

There’s a minute of silence. Two. Leo starts to pace, and I grind my teeth against the urge to reach out and yank him to a stop.

“More importantly,” he finally says. “How did someone get a squalling spell past the wards? They’re supposed to be impenetrable.”