Chapter 14
Castles Crumbling
Raven
Rachel and I just stand there with wide eyes, rooted to the spot like a couple of idiots. The shelves stretch to the ceiling and are packed with more books than I can even begin to count. It's overwhelming in the best way.
It’s like we’ve stumbled into a book lover’s wet dream.
Off to the side, there’s even a little dimly lit reading nook, lined with more books. I can’t see where it leads, but my heart kicks at the thought. A secret passage, maybe? Or just more shelves. Either way, my pulse races, and I itch to go explore.
I might have just died and gone to heaven and I’m never leaving.
At the center of the room, two massive, plush couches sit on a beautifully patterned rug with a table between them. The set up is practically begging someone to curl up with a good book and disappear for hours. The whole space is modern and inviting.
Nothing in here is roped off and there's no “Don't touch” signs. No suffocating rules that say this place is for display only. This isn’t some dusty, forgotten room meant for tourists to gawk at behind velvet ropes. People actually use this place.
My gaze drifts to the massive floor-to-ceiling windows on the west side of the room, where soft golden light spills in, illuminating every shelf and every book, casting the space in the perfect glow. It feels like the kind of place that makes the rest of the world fade away.
Did I say I was in heaven?
Because this might actually be better.
I spin toward Cam, practically vibrating with excitement. “Can we walk around? We won’t touch anything. I promise.” My voice is embarrassingly eager, but I need to explore this place.
I see his lips twitch, but he doesn’t answer right away. Instead, he glances at Kane. And just like that, the two of them have one of those silent conversations men seem to have.
Kane finally gives a small nod, and his voice is full of amusement like something is funny. “I think that would probably be okay.”
Yes!
I can feel his eyes on me, tracking my every move.
Whatever, I have more important things to focus on. Like figuring out if that nook actually leads to a secret passage.
I don’t waste another second. My feet carry me straight to the nearest shelf, where row after row of worn leather spines and gold lettering shimmer in the sunlight.
My fingers skim over the bindings, and I don't think I've ever been more excited about something in my life.
Where do I even start? There are too many books, too many places to explore.
“Rachel! Look at all the books!” I blurt out like she isn’t standing right next to me, seeing the exact same thing. But I can’t help it. My excitement is practically vibrating out of my skin, and judging by the way Rachel’s eyes are shining, she’s right there with me.
“I know!” she squeals, and just like that, we dissolve into laughter.
This room is insane, straight up Beauty and the Beast vibes, only better, because I’m the one inside it.
Some of these books look old enough to have lost secrets of the universe, while others seem like they were added yesterday.
The air is thick with the smell of aged paper, ink, and worn leather.
It’s an intoxicating mix that only book people can appreciate.
There's a massive crystal chandelier that hangs over the couches and it's stunning. Would that be too much in my bedroom?
I imagine how this place must look when the sun comes up. Just thinking about the golden light pouring in through the massive windows, scattering tiny rainbows across the shelves, makes me want to stay here forever.
The guys are lounging on the couches, deep in conversation about who knows what, while Rachel and I continue to wander.
We’re busy soaking in the magic of this place when I spot a set of stairs, leading up to a loft.
I bet there's more books up there, maybe even another comfy chair where someone could escape for hours with nothing but words and silence. My kind of heaven.
If this were my house, that loft would be my throne room. My private kingdom of all my favorite books. My hideaway where no one could find me unless I wanted to be found.
And honestly, I’d rarely come down.
My attention flickers to the little hallway I spotted earlier that’s practically calling my name. I have no idea where it leads, but there aren’t any signs telling us not to explore. No ropes, no closed doors, nothing that suggests off-limits.
I lean toward Rachel, keeping my voice low so we aren't overheard. “The boys are busy. Should we see where it goes? Or I guess we can tell them and all go together?”
Rachel looks over at the guys, who are still deep in conversation, then back down the hallway.
That mischievous grin flashes in her eyes before she shrugs and her grin widens.
“Never ask for permission, that’s my motto.
They’re busy being totally oblivious. We’re in this beautiful library, and obviously we need to explore. ”
Without waiting, she steps toward the hallway. Of course she’s already decided.
I look back at the guys and she’s right. They’re completely unaware. Kane is leaning back on the couch and his expression is completely unreadable. He’s too caught up in whatever Cam is saying to notice us slipping away.
Perfect.
“Alright, let’s go.” I whisper, feeling a rush of excitement thrumming through me as we step silently down the hallway.
The deeper we go, the more… off everything feels. A strange tingling spreads through my fingertips, like the air around us is charged. There's a faint humming static that lingers against my skin as I rub my arms. It’s probably just old wiring.
I don't know what happened, but it feels like something is curling up my spine or like someone is watching me.
I look at Rachel and she’s totally unbothered, strolling like we’re window-shopping instead of wandering into what is definitely the start of a horror movie. It is obviously just me.
We round a corner and the walls are lined with old paintings staring right at us.
The only thing that would make this moment perfect is if the paintings started moving. Hogwarts, here I come…
I swear to God… the eyes follow us as we pass. I tilt my head, squinting, trying to get a better look but it's all in my head.
The dim light overhead flickers slightly, casting warped shadows against the floor. The easy hum of life from the library fades into an eerie, stretched out silence. A chill shoots down my spine again and I shiver.
“You get the feeling we shouldn’t be here?” I murmur.
Rachel hums thoughtfully. “Nope.”
I arch a brow. “Even when the walls are literally watching us?”
She side-eyes the paintings, then shrugs. “Maybe they’re just jealous.”
I choke on a laugh. Of course that’s her response.
She tosses me a look that says get over it and keeps walking. Meanwhile, I keep my eyes on the paintings a little longer. Just in case.
We round another corner and at the end of the hall, there's a door that's slightly open. It's not open enough to see inside, but it's enough to be tempting. My steps slow as the prickling nervousness creeps up the back of my neck again.
There’s something about this place…
I look around, taking in the space with fresh eyes. The vases lining the walls, the faint smell of something like aged wood and the barest trace of cologne. It’s subtle, but unmistakable.
“Does this place not seem like someone actually lives here?” My whisper barely cuts through the stillness.
Rachel looks around and her brow furrows as she picks up on the same details. “Now that you mention it… yeah. It does. Maybe someone stays here part-time?”
She pauses, narrowing her eyes. “Cam did say they owed him a favor. Maybe that’s why we’re allowed to wander alone?”
Rachel pushes the door open, and the moment we step inside, I forget everything else and gasp.
It’s a greenhouse. And not just any greenhouse, it’s the most stunning one I’ve ever seen.
The humidity wraps around us like a blanket, rich with the scent of fresh dirt and blooming flowers.
The entire space is bathed in gold light that filters through the towering glass walls and ceiling.
Vines twist along the beams overhead and their leaves sprawl in lush, cascading waves.
There's vibrant flowers that are bursting in wild colors from towering planters, and everywhere I look, the plants seem to be alive in a way that makes the whole space feel… untamed.
“Holy shit.”
Rachel lets out a whistle and wanders ahead, completely at ease. Meanwhile, I stay rooted in place, overwhelmed in the best way.
I take in a slow breath, inhaling the delicate scent of something floral. Jasmine, maybe? Or lavender? It blends with the smell of damp soil and it’s perfect.
I can’t explain it, but there’s something about this place.
I look over at Rachel, strolling around like she’s looking for something. Maybe I’m just being weird, reading into things that aren’t there. But I can’t shake the feeling that we don’t belong here.
Still, I can’t help but smile.
“Someone definitely lives here if they have plants like this,” I say, already feeling a strange connection to the plants. My fingers trail along the cool edge of a stone planter, running over the leaves.
Rachel hums in agreement, crouching down to look at one of the plants on the ground.
“Obviously, whoever lives here is basically me in another life. I mean, I love books, they love books. I love plants, they love plants.” I pause, pretending to consider. “We need to meet this person so we can become best friends.”
Rachel snorts, shaking her head. “You would.”
“I would.” I confirm, stepping deeper into the greenhouse.
She leans against a planter, smiling. “Wouldn’t it be funny if the person who lives here is like, some badass who just plays in the dirt for fun? You know to wind down after… murdering someone?”
I can't help the laughter that spills out. “Rachel!”