“I’m trying to stop us ending up like my damned parents!”
“And in the process, you would repeat their mistakes.”
I know I’ve ruffled his feathers when he snatches the four runeforms from the air. “Thank you for your charity, Librarian. Myfamilyappreciates your contribution.”
The stiffness in his shoulders matches the steel in mine as he turns to the door and storms through it.
Then he’s gone. I return to my body slowly, and all of the heartbreak that was threatening to overwhelm me slams into me the second the transition is complete. My knees wobble, and I collapse against the sofa with a muffled sob.
I have to get up. This is ridiculous. He’s made his choice. I am not some girl to throw myself after him, begging him to change.
No. This is the end.
I will help the Ó Rinns because it is the right thing to do. I will do my best to save Leo from his ensorcellment because he means a lot to Lambert.
That is all.
Even if he turned up with a signed contract and an apology on his lips tomorrow, I would know it was a lie. As long as that spell is active on his chest, nothing he says is truthful or sincere.
Dakari was right.
I should’ve listened.
And yet I chose to hope that a few moments of stolen peace and camaraderie meant something. That my fantasy version of Leo would choose me over his fears.
“Hey boss, the Arcanaeum hit me with books until I quit my workout and then it chased me up here…. Wait. Why are you on the floor?”
Lambert’s heavy steps thunder across the room. Without hesitation, he pulls me up and into his lap. “Hey. What happened?”
Taking a shaky breath, I drag myself back together. “It was nothing. Leo and I had a minor disagreement. That’s all.”
“Leo did this?” His tempest eyes turn stormy as his hands cup my face, thick thumbs stroking away salty tears from my cheekbones. “How do I fix it?”
I shake my head. “It’s not something that can be fixed. There are enough problems between you?—”
A forced and jagged smile curls his lips as he hugs me a little tighter. “And I’ll add one more to the list if he thinks he can make our girl cry and just leave.”
“He’s simply acting in his own best interests.” I try to stand. “I can’t… He just…”
Deep breaths. I need to calm down so my words aren’t some incomprehensible drivel.
Swallowing, I take a second before finishing, “His choices are not compatible with my wellbeing. Thus, I’ve decided to part ways.”
Lambert doesn’t release me; if anything, his hug turns downright suffocating. “You’re giving up on him? I thought you’d figured out the next layer?”
Something behind my ribs twinges, and I find myself tracing the edges of the shiny, just-healed skin across his arm. Despite my earlier certainty that anything between Leo and me is dead, I can’t bring myself to confirm it. Instead, I dodge his question.
“I just don’t want to see him right now. He…he went to Mathias, seeking a cure.”
Lambert’s embrace tightens. “No way. He wouldn’t do that.”
I don’t refute him. There’s no point when the realisation that yes, Leo would do that, is creeping over his face.
“Let me up. There’s a lot to discuss. I have work to do.” I pause, shoulders inching lower as I recognise four unique surges of magic somewhere below us.
I’m not sure if Leo chose to let the others help out of guilt or urgency, but it’s done.
Only one layer left to go. I take a deep, steadying breath, then address the building. “Please don’t forget to take a copy of the next layer of the ensorcellment. I’ll need it.”
