“Book, book, book,” I rushed out, clasping his hand and darting forward, intending to drag him if necessary. “Bye, Mom. Love you.” I would find a passage featuring the problem with Cyrus, and that was that.
Domino didn’t budge, which meant I didn’t budge. Oh, sweet goodness. I’d grabbed him without permission again. For the second time, I released him in a hurry and muttered an apology.
He faced my mom, unconcerned. “You are Elise Roosa, mother to Lady Arden.”
“I am. And you are Domino Crane, famed librarian.”
He inclined his head. “I’m pleased to meet you,” he said, and I wondered where this polite version of my librarian had been hiding.
I may or may not have muttered the question out loud, and he may or may not have smirked at me.
She glanced between us and grinned. “Go on, you two. Do your thing,” she urged, shooing us away. “There’s plenty of time for chitchat later. Just know I’m always available to help.”
“You shape the lives of the children you tend,” Domino said, still not budging. “You help us every day.”
He’d meant those words. They hadn’t been a polite rejoinder, but a considerate observation from a powerful man.
Mom flushed with pride. “I see why all the girls are crazy for you,” she said, beaming at him.
No question about it: He blushed. I pressed my lips together to stop a laugh.
She didn’t seem to notice his unexpected reaction as she kissed my cheek and hugged me once more. “I love you, baby.”
“I love you too.”
Off she andBeeeepwent, conversing happily all the way.
“So all the girls have a crush on you, huh?” I teased.
“Not all.” Blushing again, Domino finally budged of his own free will, walking off. “Come.” He returned me to the space with the cozy chairs and trees growing through the gold-paved floor. The other occupants were gone. We were alone.
He motioned to a square table, and I eased into one of the two chairs stationed there, ready. As he eased into the chair across from me, his scent registered, and I frowned. The same delightful fragrance I’d detected in the fog. Fresh rain and rich earth.
Hadheproduced the fog?
Before I could delve deeper, he passed me a book I hadn’t known he’d held.
Instant obsession, all other thoughts fleeing. Tingles spread up my arm as I glided my fingers along the smooth brown leather. Over the title. “The Book of Arden, Volume 20.” The same tome I’d read before. Lovely flowers were etched over some of the letters. In the center was a circle with seven lines of different sizes inside it. According to Ember, that circle contained the mysteries ofThe Book of Soal.
“Why did you select this particular volume?” I asked. Why not nineteen or twenty-one? For that matter, how many volumes told my story?
“On most occasions,” Domino replied, “you’ll select the book you wish to read. This time, I made the selection. It has called to me for days. Whatever waits inside the pages occurs in the future, and I’m part of it.”
I tried to look up at him, but I couldn’t drag my attention from the cover. It called to me too.Open ...
Yes. I must. And there was only one way. I concentrated with all my might, willing the lines inside the circle to move. And move they did, but slowly. The barest twitch. Not good enough.
The harder I stared, the stronger the twitches became, until ... yes! The lines drew together and snapped in place, pushing the outer ring into a spin, exactly what occurred to open the Rock. Bubbling over with eagerness, I cracked open the spine. A yellowed title page led to a letter from the author. No coded text, all readable.
Excited, I devoured the passage.
My dearest Arden,
I have written for you a beautiful love story. Yes, there is pain within your pages. Yes, there are tests and trials too. We have a determined enemy. Let me assure you, the end is worth every hardship. I can help you, no matter what snares he constructs, so let me. Read mythoughts, see what comes. Trust me or not. Every day, in every way, you decide.
Yours,
Soal
