I squeezed her arm.“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—”
She shook her head.“Don’t.I’m glad you asked.I’m glad that you care.”
I nodded, offering her a small smile.
Tavrik surged forward, his shoulder colliding with mine as he pushed past.“Shut him up before I kill him.”
I pivoted sharply to Theo, who stood with his mouth already open.
“Shut up.”
“You don’t even know what I said!”Theo closed the distance between us with two long strides, jabbing a finger into my shoulder.“Stop taking his side or I’ll start with the bird noises again.”
His lips pursed, cheeks hollowing as he prepared to demonstrate.
I covered his mouth with my hand.
“Please, don’t.”
I gave Tavrik an apologetic look.“Sorry but he wins.”
Theo’s eyes crinkled, victory dancing in them as he mumbled something unintelligible against my palm.I pulled my hand away, wiping it on my clothes.
Theo lifted his chin with smug satisfaction.
Tavrik’s nostrils flared as he spun away from us, his boots striking the floor as he marched ahead.
When we reached the towering doors of the library, the scent of parchment and ink greeted me like an old friend.
Inside, Belshin was already nearby, waiting.His posture perfect, as if he’d been carved from marble.
“Hello, Mira,” he said warmly.“I see you brought your friends.”He turned toward us, offering a polite nod.His movements were fluid and graceful—almost too perfect.
I returned the gesture with a broad smile, my shoulders relaxing.It was easy to be around Belshin, unlike other people here.He was calm, kind, and genuine.I could see why Mira liked coming here so much, beyond just the romance books.
My eyes trailed to the expansive shelves towering around us.Though I’d been here before, it didn’t stop my curiosity from bubbling to the surface.
“I would love to see more of the library,” I said, reaching out to brush the spine of a nearby book.“There’s so much that I haven’t seen yet.”
“Of course.Come, I’ll show you around.”His expression reached his eyes, crinkling the corners as he motioned for me to follow.
I fell into step beside him.We moved deeper into the library, weaving around people who plucked volumes and stacked them against their chests.I closed my eyes, savouring the scent that stirred memories of my parents reading to me as a child.
Belshin observed me quietly.“Did you enjoy the books you borrowed?”
“I didn’t get through all of them,” I admitted.“But I did learn about the other kingdoms, though not as much as I’d hoped.”I cleared my throat.“Have you ever met the other rulers?”
His expression shifted, his bright eyes unfocused as if lost in thought.
“Many times.”He clasped his hands behind his back, his dark blue robes bunching with the movement.“But that was long ago, before the Veil was forged.”
He turned on his heel.“Come.There is more to see.”
Mira had already scattered off, no doubt in search of another romance novel.Tavrik had predictably disappeared into the War and Battle section, his broad shoulders visible between shelves.And Theo… He was most likely leaning against a shelf somewhere, one ankle crossed over the other, winking at every passing female.
Belshin led through rows of towering shelves stacked with history, philosophy, and ancient records.The deeper we went, the heavier the air became.
The weight of knowledge pressed against me.This place held things the world had forgotten.The thought of having access to it was thrilling.
