Page 87 of Librarian

A younger enforcer rushes up the steps, panting. “Ma’am, still no sign of Anthea. Your son was spotted in the entrance hall, but he escaped?—”

My mother fixes the man clinging to the banister with a glare. “Escaped? How?”

“Parriarch Emeritus Benjamin was with him. They may still be in the fortress.”

“Then search for them! My children have to be here somewhere. If they were innocent, they’d have no reason tohide.” Another boom echoes from upstairs, and she visibly seethes. “Must I doeverythingmyself?! Dakari Talcott is just one man.”

“He’s a parriarch,” someone protests. “And he’s pissed.”

Isidora makes a noise of frustration deep in the back of her throat as she takes the stairs two at a time. Most of the enforcers peel off to follow her, their grimoires ready even as their faces betray their reluctance.

Not for the first time, I experience a bolt of envy. Dakari might be an outcast, but there’s a special kind of power in being so legendary that enforcers are hesitant to cross you.

Let’s just hope Fort McKinley is still standing by the time he’s done.

Only the injured and the two officers treating them are left behind.

My grandfather slips out from behind me, his hand on his grimoire as he strides into the open space, murmuring spells under his breath.

The enforcers slump. One of the uninjured ones actually notices what’s happening and reaches for her grimoire, but Benny’s magic is too powerful. She topples to the floor with a snore before she can open it.

North wastes no time in dropping to his knees beside his sister, hissing when he reaches for the chains over her and they burn him.

“Here.” I flip through my grimoire, finding the right spell. “You have to deactivate the magic first.Dosmos sinitei.”

The net retreats into a small metal sphere as soon as I say it, leaving an injured Eddy for North and my grandfather to fuss over. I stand guard while they heal her. Benny being here is good. She probably won’t even scar.

“Dakari will need our help,” he announces, keeping his voice soft as Eddy starts to stir. “He’s the Librarian’s last line of defence.”

“Kyrith isn’t here. They’ve gotten her out.”

His shoulders drop a fraction of an inch. “Excellent.”

He crosses the room, stopping by one of the injured enforcers.

Yes, that man’s arm is hanging off, but does hereallyneed to heal the enemy? I grind my teeth together.

“We don’t have time.”

His eyes meet mine. “There is always time for mercy, Pierce.”

My eye roll isn’t even subtle as I turn towards the stairs. “Come on. I don’t hear anything.”

After the stone-shattering noise of before, the absence of the walls shaking is making my gut turn.

I make it up two steps only to freeze as Dakari slams into the wall at the top. He catches sight of the three of us, eyes widening as the air sparks with electricity.

“Run!” he yells, diving towards me.

A bolt of lightning arcs, striking the spot where he just was, followed by three more of those damned nets.

Dakari waves a hand behind him, and the staircase collapses in a pile of rubble. “Where’s Jasper?”

“Taken,” I grunt, sweeping my gaze up and down his body. “Kyrith?”

Blood soaks his shirt, but I don’t think it’s his. Other than a slight limp, he doesn’t have any visible injuries.

He looks around carefully before he murmurs, “Rathlin Island.”