Page 94 of Librarian

“Do you not think maybe the Library is lost?—?”

It’s hard to make out his expression, but whatever Isidora sees in it shuts her up.

“I didn’t give you the gift of immortality so I could spend centuries listening to your poorly founded opinions.” He pauses. “You’re lucky that we can use the execution to lure out the Librarian. Don’t make such impulsive decisions again.”

He unbuttons his suit jacket, taking a seat at his desk. Pierce’s mother says nothing. That must be the right move, because Mathias hums, dropping the subject.

“Arrange your father’s transport to enforcement headquarters,” he orders. “Make the transfer public and get it done quickly. I don’t need him cluttering up my study.”

Shit.

That doesnae give Kyrith long to find us.

Isidora’s heels clack as she strides back the way she came, passing our cell without a second glance.

“You’re still a terrible actor, old friend.” My heart stops as Mathias pins us with a glare, but before I can open my eyes fully, Benny sighs.

“I’m only human, and feigning sleep remains a lesser evil than facing the monster you’ve made of my daughter.” He heaves to his feet, supporting himself against the wall. “Beating a man is beneath you.”

Mathias leans back in his chair. “When commanding zealots, one must occasionally allow them to be zealous.”

“How benevolent.” Benny coughs, the sound wet and painful. “And is the execution for their sake, too?”

Mathias links his fingers and puts them behind his head. “No. That was entirely the result of your terrible parenting.”

“You took advantage of her youth and my grief and turned her against me. I never had a chance to be her parent.”

The lich scoffs. “You ignored her and then tore her down when she showed you all her hard work.”

“Youtaught her to raise the dead behind my back to drive a wedge between us.”

“She reanimated your dear wife. Wasn’t that all you ever wanted?”

“She made her mother’s corpse walk, and you expected me to celebrate. There weremaggotsin her eye sockets, Matty.”

Stars. I’m hearing more than I bargained for. Part of me wonders if I should ‘wake up’ and stop this before I learn anything else I didnae need to know. The cowardly part of me doesnae want to.

“Isidora’s first steps along the path were so sentimental.” Mathias layers the last word with disgust. “Thank magic she grew out of that.”

“I never thought I’d see the day Mathias Ackland gave up his secrets and allowed another lich to walk the earth.”

“And I never thought you’d grow a spine and stand against me; yet here we are. Unfortunately, your efforts were too little, too late.” He flicks his hand. The bars of the cell melt away, and a sheet of paper with a large runeform appears in the air beside him. “Now be a good man and do something about my arthritis. It’s getting hard to hold a pen.” A long pause. “I’d hate to have to start relying on young Jasper again. We all know how well he held up the last time.”

It has tae be a trick, right? No way is Mathias going to allow Benny anywhere near him.

Obviously, the other man doesn’t believe it either, because he stays exactly where he is. Maybe he cannae make the distance. He’s pretty badly wounded.

If I get close enough to Mathias, can I get the dagger away from him? I’ve got a better chance than a beaten-up old man, right?

I let my eyes flick open, and Mathias’s grin widens. “What a surprise. You’re not the only one playing at sleep to hide from me.”

“I’ll do it.” I push to my feet.

Only to slam straight into the bars.

Electricity arcs through my bloodstream, my shocked cry blending with Mathias’s cackle as I’m zapped backward into the stone. Bone cracks. My vision goes black.

Fuck. How did I end up on my knees?