Chapter 11
Eleven
Kyrith
Idon’t know what I expect when all six heirs return to the Arcanaeum that night, but I shouldn’t be surprised when they arrive early, swarming the study booth.
Leo has claimed his usual spot in the corner and happily takes up a fair portion of the table with dozens of papers, ignoring the rest of them as he stares intently at the star charts. I’m not sure he’s left the building since Hopkinson’s lecture this morning.
He and North appear to be the only two actually working. The Ackland heir’s jaw is clenched as he stares down the list of materials I gave him to study like it’s his mortal enemy.
Jasper is in the opposite corner, but his books are closed, his attention entirely focused on Pierce, brows furrowed.
The Carlton heir has forgone a seat in favour of leaning against a bookcase a few feet away. He’s as far from the study nook as he can possibly be without letting the rest of them out of his sight.
It’s a powder keg of tension, and Lambert and Eddy sit in the middle of them, their eyes darting between everyone, like they can’t figure out where the inevitable explosion will come from.
None of them have noticed Dakari lingering in a shadowed corner of the room, and it’s him whom I choose to appear beside, stroking his arm to get his attention.
He jumps, hand flying to his grimoire, before realising it’s just me.
One scarred brow rises, as if unimpressed, before he reaches into his bag and passes me a book.
It’s yet another inept novel. I don’t appreciate the Library’s interference, but this is a special edition of one of my favourites, so I can’t even pretend to be mad as I accept it.
This copy has sprayed edges, illustrated endpapers, and a reversible dust jacket. Magic, it’s so pretty. I didn’t even know these existed.
Then, from inside, a piece of card slips free, fluttering to the floor where it lands face up…
Proudly displaying an illustration of one of the main heroes, fully naked and gripping his massive, knotted cock in one hand.
My face is on fire. It’s only when the sensation registers that I realise I’ve embodied beside Dakari. Oh stars.
With a tiny push of power, the book disappears, joining the others on my bedside table and taking the incriminating artwork with it. My mind races, trying to come up with something, anything, I can say to disperse the tension. Then I make the mistake of darting a glance up at his face.
The smirk that graces his lips is downright sinful, tugging at places inside me that have no business warming and twisting in hopefulness.
Embarrassed butterflies take wing in my gut, and I finally gather the wits to stutter, “The Arcanaeum really loves those books.”
Strong fingers grip my chin, forcing me to meet those deep black eyes. “That wasn’t for the Arcanaeum, baby girl. That was your late Christmas present.”
I freeze, lips parting on a soft gasp. “I—How did you—?” It’s not often that I’m lost for words, but this… “Thank you,” I whisper. “I really love her books. She writes emotion and sensation like it’s something you can just reach out and take for yourself.”
During the period of time when I couldn’t feel anything, those books were a blessing and a reprieve, reminding me of what it felt like to live.
He releases me, and I find myself swaying towards him before I catch myself.
“Ahem, yes. Well, anyway… I suppose I’d better get on with tutoring.” I pause. “You…you’ve graduated.”
Why is he here? What does he plan to do while I tutor the others?
My unspoken questions linger between us, but he doesn’t answer them with anything more than a tiny head tilt before his hand brushes the small of my back, guiding me out from our hiding space and towards the gathered heirs and Eddy.
The heat of him radiates through my cardigan. It’s heavenly, and I decide to remain physical just to enjoy it. Besides, Pierce’s reaction to my condition will answer the question that has been brewing in the back of my mind ever since I was embodied; did he know that cracking me wouldn’t kill me?
His motivations remain elusive, and I’m hoping that this will help me decipher them.
“Boss!” Lambert crows as soon as he sees me. “Did you like your present?”
It takes me a second to realise he means the gift he gave me this morning, before the enforcers showed up and everything else happened. As if in answer, the Arcanaeum summons it onto the table before him, the box just as innocuous as it was before.
“You baked her something?” Leo guesses, eyeing the box.
“Shhh, you’ll ruin the surprise,” Lambert cautions. “Open it, Kyrith. Come on!”
Glancing back at Pierce—who doesn’t seem the least surprised that I have a physical form, confirming my suspicion that he somehow already knew—I cross to the table and tug free the ribbon. Inside the box are six perfectly iced cupcakes, crowned with tiny fondant books and cheerful little daisies.
“They’re white chocolate with raspberry jam centres,” Lambert advises. “I have extras for everyone else, but those are all yours.”
Without preamble, he pulls a tin from his backpack and opens it, promptly offering the first to Eddy and the second to Pierce, of all people.
“Poisoning us all is a curious tactic,” the Carlton heir observes, taking one before plucking a scrap from his pocket and casting it.
He really is checking it for poison.
Before I can do more than raise an eyebrow, Lambert’s tattooed fingers lift a cupcake from my box, handing it to me. “Come on, boss. Don’t you at least want to try it?”
Despite myself, I lift the cake to my lips, tongue darting out to lick the icing. Lambert’s pupils blow wide as they track the motion, but I barely notice, too busy analysing the new flavour.
Magic, it’s sickly. I frown, taking a proper bite next. They’re only small, after all. The cake and the sharp tang of raspberry balance the sugary icing better. Before I know it, the whole thing is gone.
“Anthea’s allergic to eggs, Dakari,” Pierce notes slyly, his gaze straying to where the other arcanist’s hand rests at my lower back. “You should probably know that, given your impending engagement.”
The Talcott heir doesn’t remove his hand. “Not. Happening.”
Pierce opens his mouth to speak again, but I hold my hand up for silence. “Before you all start bickering, there’s a covenant to be sworn.”
At the reminder, Lambert bounces out of his seat. “I’m ready!”
“Covenant?” Eddy asks. “What’s that?”
Pierce rolls his eyes. “Stars, what northern hovel did you find her in? It’s a magically binding vow. Even adept toddlers know that much.”
“Insult my sister again,” North growls, shoving to his feet with his fists resting on the table. “I fucking dare you.”
The Carlton heir’s eyebrows shoot up, those cold grey eyes screaming ‘try it.’
They’ve not even been here ten minutes and already we’re on the verge of a duel.
“Fuck you,” Eddy adds. “Great. Now that we’ve all insulted one another, can we put the testosterone away?” She reaches across the table to shove her brother back into his seat. “Jesus. Why on earth did Kyrith agree to tutor any of you?”
I’m honestly wondering the same thing.
Perhaps my sigh tells them as much because Leo nudges North, forcing him out of the booth. “Let’s get this over with. Librarian, are you doing the sealing?”
“Naturally.” I’m the only one here besides Eddy, and she’s not learned enough or powerful enough to cast a transmutation spell.
I struggle to conceal my smirk as they try to navigate the fact that they’re going to need to hold hands for this to work. It’s almost painful to watch. Of course, Dakari won’t hold hands with Leo, Pierce is almost universally loathed, and none of them want to be the first to offer their palm.
Except Lambert. He just shakes his head at them all, happily holding out one hand to Pierce and the other to Leo with a beaming smile that—if anything—makes both of them even less eager to make contact.
Eventually, they manage it. Dakari plants himself firmly between Jasper and Pierce, and North bridges the gap between Leo and the Scot.
The Ackland heir doesn’t ask what’s next, and none of them ask for clarification about the vow they’re about to make. I suspect they’ve talked about it already, probably in that damned ‘group chat’ I’m still curious about. Not that it matters much. My part remains the same.
It doesn’t matter which of them I touch, but somehow my hands fall on Dakari’s chest, and opposite him, on Leo’s. The latter stiffens incrementally beneath my palm as my fingers brush the edge of his ensorcellment through the thick fabric of his turtleneck.
“Scrobi thiue thalail,” I incant under my breath, pretending not to notice his reaction or the warmth coming off both of them. “Scrobi thiue thalail… Scrobi thiue thalail…”
Deep below in the Vault, a grimoire flares with power as I speak. The magic of the Arcanaeum flows easily through the circle of arcanists. It builds and builds, washing over our skin in cool waves of energy. When it reaches its peak, I nod at them, never breaking the chant.
“We swear not to do physical harm to one another inside the Library, to protect it, and keep its secrets, and those of the Librarian.”
Their voices wash over one another, sealing the covenant. Directly across from me, Jasper’s left cheek glows with starlight as the runeform carves its way across his skin. His jaw works to hold back the grunt of pain that none of them will give voice to.
The magic sets, winking out of existence and leaving them all unblemished, which is how they’ll stay, as long as none of them break the covenant. The moment it’s done, they release one another, rotating their jaws and rubbing at their faces to dispel the lingering stinging sensation.
“That’s it?” Eddy asks. “So now they can’t fight?”
I shake my head. “If they do, the runeform will reappear, permanently and painfully, on the face of the one who does.”
It marks them as oath breakers and delivers random debilitating doses of pain for the rest of their lives.
Eddy raises a brow, looking at her brother. “I give it a week.”
“We can control ourselves,” he retorts. “Now, can we get on with this shit?”
Leo is already back at work, unrolling a star chart that’s almost as old as I am. I’m caught between going to him and the others. There are so many of them now, and only one of me. I sigh.
“Jasper, sit next to Eddy. You can help each other with catching up. Lambert, North—”
“Nullification!” Lambert crows. “Also known as; the school that forgot the best defence is a good offence…”
“How very American,” Pierce drawls, taking a seat. “You can’t seriously need help with foundation-level magic?”
“What, did you think we were here learning some super-secret ancient spells from the Librarian?” Lambert asks. “Sorry to disappoint, asshole, but the boss really is just helping us with our homework.”
Pierce’s face betrays nothing of his thoughts, until a book plops onto the desk in front of him, and he scowls. Lambert leans over, reads the title of the brightly illustrated volume, and then bursts out laughing.
“Good manners for young arcanists? Wow. How does it feel to get roasted by the Arcanaeum?”
“Back onto the subject of work—” I try, sucking at my lower lip to avoid betraying my amusement.
“You two might need tutoring,” Pierce admits grudgingly. “But there’s no way ó Rinn and Talcott do.”
Leo lifts his eyes from his star charts. “I’m just here to use the Library’s resources.”
Lambert nods. “And Dakari usually only joins us for magiball night now that your mother has called off her dogs and set Anthea on him instead.”
“Magiball night?” Pierce chokes out. “You’re all just using the Arcanaeum like—”
“You really thought Kyrith was teaching us all dangerous magic, didn’t you?” North snorts. “You stole the pendant that let us watch the game, probably assuming it was part of some great plot, and now you’ve accidentally bargained your way into remedial magic lessons for dummies.”
“My mistake,” Pierce grates. “I should’ve known better than to assume malice from half-wits when ignorance was the simpler explanation.”
“This arguing is counterproductive,” I grumble. “Whatever Pierce’s reasons, he’s here now and can study like the rest of you. Now, open your books and let’s get on with it. If you can get ahead with this term’s required learning, I might be able to help you with your destruction magic…”
Lambert frowns. “But the rules say no fire in the Arcanaeum.”
“Indeed. So, fortunately for you, the Arcanaeum and I have spent the afternoon adding a Solarium to the eastern garden where that rule does not apply.”
It’s still fairly bare-bones right now, but the stained-glass walls are in place.
So is the matching ceiling, which boasts three colourful cupolas.
It’s also enchanted to within an inch of its life, using every fireproofing spell I can summon along with several others for sturdiness and soundproofing.
“Can we see?” Lambert asks, already half out of his seat, despite being sandwiched into the booth by Pierce and Eddy. “I bet it’s awesome.”
“It’s not ready,” I protest. “Later, perhaps, if you make progress with simple shielding and banishing spells.”
But if they keep arguing like this, I doubt we’ll make it that far. The covenant they just swore is starting to feel less like a deterrent and more like an inevitability.