“I washed and dressed you when we got you out of the vault,” Eddy explains, propping me up with multiple cushions—more of which the Arcanaeum supplies without prompting. “Your clothes were… Well…everything was covered in blood.”
“That doesn’t explain why my top says ‘World’s grumpiest librarian,’” I remark dryly, rolling my neck.
Maybe teaching her to conjure garments was a mistake.
Eddy shoots me an unrepentant grin as the thunder of footsteps on the rickety stairs reaches a crescendo, and a tangle of men bursts into my private sanctuary. Dakari first, followed by North and Leo, and finally Jasper lingering at the back.
No Lambert.
My heart didnotjust fall a little.
Four pairs of eyes search me out, then pin me in place. Magic. I’ve never truly felt the impact of those stares before now. The way they drill into me sends a subtle little thrill down my spine. Addictive. Intimate. The weight makes dusty, forgotten parts of me perk up. I’m decent, but without mystays and kirtle, I feel practically naked, and I drag the covers a little higher to compensate.
My nipples are practically poking holes through the flannel, and while I could argue that it’s due to the temperature, I’m not sure they’ll believe that any more than I do. Especially since it suddenly seems a lot warmer than it was a moment ago.
“Out!” Eddy snaps, before her twin can take another step into the room. “I told you to bring food, and you promised not to rush her, remember?”
Her voice is deafening. I wince, then grimace as the action sets off another round of sensory overload.
“I’m not rushing her,” Jasper promises, weaving his way to the front of the group of men. “But someone needs to check on her.”
“You already did that, and then you made Leo double check,” Eddy protests, but her sigh says she’s given up fighting him, at least. “Why are the others here?”
“I’m not going anywhere until Kyrith tells me to,” Leo says, folding his arms. “It’s been days.”
Days? Surely not?
Dakari mirrors Leo’s defensive posture. “I’m not leaving him alone with her.”
Oh, stars give me strength.
“And I’m fed up of sitting down there with Lambert.” North rolls his eyes. “He’s acting like someone shot his puppy.”
“Tough shit.” Eddy stands firm, despite their intimidation tactics. “If the doors are working, go get the food I asked for and support your best friend.”
North groans, offers me a chin dip, and disappears downstairs. As soon as he’s gone, Dakari leans against the rail, making the wood creak.
“Lambert,” I mumble.
Stars, what must he be thinking? What must he be feeling? It was selfish of me to use him like I did.
Guilt swamps me, and for the first time in forever, I feel it sinking low in my stomach, and burning in my throat. The emotional deluge is a suffocating, confusing rush that consumes my senses.
Why did I bemoan being a ghost again? I hate feeling like this.
Just as quickly as the thought pops into my head…it all stops.
Sensation. The feelings choking me. Everything disappears.
The blankets fall to the bed with a muffled thump, and my hands, which I had resumed examining under the force of the others’ stares, turn transparent and blue. My pyjamas have turned ghostly alongside the rest of me, and I look up in a panic, meeting Eddy’s unsurprised gaze.
“Yeah. You do that now, apparently. You kept floating out of the blankets in your sleep. See if you can turn it off.”
Turn it off? I’m either dead, or I’m not.
That doesn’t make sense.
Only…
