Page 113 of Arcanist
My gut twists uncomfortably. Dakari has a point.
I hate this. Leo’s criticism, so fresh on the heels of Pierce’s, and combined with what I just learned about the bonds we share, burns like acid in my chest.
“No matter which direction I turn, I fail one of you.” I fall back in defeat.
“Not true. You’re sheltering their useless asses. Even if you weren’t, you think Jasper and I haven’t noticed how you’re always working? Every time one of us isn’t looking, you have your head buried in a book—and none of them are your sexy romance novels.”
Oh magic, he noticed?
“Only part of that is Leo’s curse,” I admit guiltily. “I’ve been researching liches—what little I can—and arcanist law. Trying to come up with a way we can at least replace Mathias as vicegerent before he does any more damage.”
Not that I’ve had any luck. Thankfully, Dakari doesn’t ask for a progress report.
“And you weren’t exactly sitting around doing nothing before I interrupted, either. You need your grimoire to work on his ensorcellment.”
Reluctantly, I concede his point. “I was also trying to figure out why Ackland hasn’t used it to force entry.”
He stays silent, and I find myself elaborating without meaning to.
“My connection to it is so withered that Mathias trying to use it to exert his will over the Arcanaeum would be like trying to force entry through a crack in the wall. It would take years. During that time, I would’ve noticed and put a stop to it. The dagger is a better option. The dagger, me, and…you.”
“Me?”
Deep breaths. “All six of you are tethered to the Arcanaeum—and me—now. I think it happened when you cracked me. That’s why touching you makes me solid. It completes the bond.”
“Does it hurt you?”
“Not at all. But…I don’t know what the implications are. So far, the Library is treating you all like books. Feeding you energy whenever we touch. You probably haven’t noticed since none of you have been hurt. In theory, I suppose it could go the other way. The building could drain you if it needed to.”
I brace for his reaction, but his expression doesn’t change. His face is a careful blank mask, those predatory eyes revealing nothing of his thoughts. The silence stretches, tears at my nerves, and I tug at the sleeves of my cardigan, standing just to put some distance between us.
“You’re afraid,” he finally notes. “Is that because of me or this bond?” I dart a glance up, and he curses. “Baby girl, I’m not angry. Even if I were, you didn’t do this. It just happened.”
My next breath is shaky. “I don’t know if I can undo it. I could study it further, but?—”
“But you have a lich, that stupid Ó Rinn boy, and the Carltons to deal with. It’ll keep.” He dips his chin. “You do need to tell them, though. Mathias could use this against you. Every time one of us leaves the building, it’s a security risk.”
“I know.”
I can only imagine how that will go. North won’t like being the subject of more magic he doesn’t understand. Lambert will just make some joke about the whole situation without really grasping what it means. Perhaps Jasper will forgive me, but Leo will no doubt rage, worried about what this could mean for his ensorcellment.
I deliberately don’t let myself think of how Pierce will react.
The Carlton heir’s coldness has a calculating edge that scares me. If he knew he was one of the linchpins that could topple the Arcanaeum into the palm of Mathias’s hand, what would he do with that information?
“Leo was out of line.” Dakari cuts off my gloomy thoughts. “I’ll get Lambert to speak to him.”
The idea of Lambert being his brother’s keeper is almost laughable. “It won’t help. He’s under a lot of stress.”
“Are you really making excuses for him?”
“No. Yes. I don’t know.” I stop as I realise I’ve started pacing. “You see the worst of him because you’re a Talcott. There are…softer parts of him.”
I’d hoped the confession might soothe his ire, but Dakari’s frown darkens. “Please tell me you’re not falling in love with him.”
“No!”
“He’s dangerous.”
