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 inthe 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,anda reversible dust jacket. Magic, it’s so pretty. I didn’t even know theseexisted.
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 meetthose 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 alreadyknew—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.”
