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“The seven deadly sins.” Calandra cupped a hand over her mouth. “It makes the most sense—torturing us with our mortal shortcomings.”
“And slowly pitting us against each other,”I said.
Realization spread across our features as the weight of our epiphany settled deep into our bones. A silent omission that we could no longer trust one another.
The main door to the library popped open, and we twisted around, keeping our surprise hushed as a large silhouette appeared in the entryway.
They crept their head into the room, the sword on their back gleaming under the candelabra’s light, and scanned the space.
A guard.
My back went rigid. We were never told we couldn’t be in here. A faerie implication, I’m sure, but I didn’t want to find out what would happen if they found us out of our chambers.
He sniffed the air, and our eyes grew wide in silent agreement that we needed to get out of there as fast as possible before we—and our secret cove—were discovered.
We slipped out of our chairs and dropped to the ground, scurrying on our hands and knees to the side door, using the row of easels and drafting tables as cover.
Breana stifled a giggle. “We’re so dead if we’re caught.”
“And it’d be no thanks to you”—Calandra shoved her arm—“get yourself together.”
I tilted my head toward a nearby wall of books, motioning for them to follow, and one by one, we spilled into the small nook, collecting ourselves.
There was a five-foot opening between where we sat and the exit that’d leave us exposed, but I knew making a run for it would be risky. Especially when we no longer had our sight on the fae guard.
I poked my head around the stack to find him stalking in our direction, peering around every stack before he made a swift left.
It was now or never.
Urging them ahead, I felt the burn in my knees from the coarse rug beneath. I followed behind, a constant vigilance prompting me to glance over my shoulder every two seconds, ensuring I made for a watchful lookout.
Calandra chewed her lip as Breana reached for the brass knob and pulled the door open, motioning Calandra through first before she reached for me.
My torso was halfway through the threshold when I stopped, making one last sweep to ensure the coast was clear.
Breana unleashed a string of hushed curses, and I did as she demanded, slipping through the opening just as a black-toed boot stepped around the corner.
We took off down the hall, weaving through handmaidens and servants and their mile-high brows—not slowing until we reached our corridor.
Once we reached it, I slumped against a wall, out of breath, and paled, matching Calandra and Breana, who lay on the ground.
“That was so close!” Breana said.
Calandra laughed. “What do you think he would’ve done if he caught us?”
A beat passed before I spoke. “Probably make us fight to the death.”
We looked at each other, and unable to control our laughter any longer, collapsed in a fit of giggles.
Eighteen
With a slow, controlled breath, I adjusted my grip on the knife and lifted my arm above my shoulder. Talon had left me to train alone. Apparently, he needed to ‘handle something.’
While it was strange to train without him, I couldn’t think of a better way to release all the pent-up frustration than throwing knives at an immovable target. However, I must admit, I strangely missed Talon’s brooding, sarcastic commentary. And after my talk with the others in the library, I realized I didn’t have it the worst.
Lowering my arm, I lined the knife up with the target—pulled back once more—and sent the knife flying. It twisted and spun straight toward the bullseye, rebounding off the wooden board and clanking on the ground below.
“Dammit!” I kicked the air.
