“But how does he recognize us for what we are?”
“He must’ve been taught somehow. His family could have history with the fae of some sort. Remember, we made a lot of deals with humans back in the day.”
The curator took us to the basement of the library. The walls and floors here were nothing but plain stone. When he got to the edge of the hallway, all of us halted. There was an iron door ahead, made completely out of the harsh substance. The rich metal rang in my ears and gave off a nauseating quality that made me uneasy. I couldn’t get any closer than five feet to the door.
The curator faced us. “Wait here. You won’t be able to go in,” he replied. “Iron and all that.”
The curator took a key out of his pocket. He unlocked the iron door, then went inside the room. I couldn’t tell much from this angle, except that the room he’d entered was small and stuffed with papers that seemed even older than the ones we’d been going through in the archives.
When he came back out, he was holding a tiny rolled piece of parchment in his hands. The curator looked up. He locked eyes with me first. “If you want this scroll, I need something in return.”
“Ask it.” I wasn’t an advanced sorcerer, but I was certain I could provide whatever trivial desire this human asked for.
“I want a date with the girl that refused me. You must’ve heard us quarreling,” he insisted. “She will be mine. I only need help getting her to succumb to my advances.”
I scowled. “You shall receive what you ask for. The scroll for your desired wish.”
“Done,” the curator said instantly. He shook my hand, and I cringed at how slimy it was. I felt my magic work, sealing our deal as he placed the scroll into my extended fingers. I unrolled it immediately. It was a gorgeous work from the Dark Ages, the letters on the page surrounded by the elaborate Celtic drawing of a tree, its roots wrapping in a circle around the words. At the top of the page was the depiction of a large cauldron, ivy wrapping around the base. I recognized it as a picture of the Sacred Gathering.
Kiara looked over my shoulder. I struggled to comprehend the harsh cursive scrawling of the beautiful scroll, but I felt her nod behind me.
“This is certainly it,” Kiara said as she read over the scroll quickly. “We got what we came for.”
I handed the scroll to Lucien, who carefully pocketed it. “Be gone,” I told the curator sharply. “You’ll recieve what is just due.”
I hated the way his beady eyes sparkled as he scrambled away. Alexei frowned and said, “Wish we hadn’t thrown that poor girl under the bus to get the scroll.”
“He wanted a date with the intern, and he’ll get one. A date at the courthouse,” I said bluntly. “He’ll be receiving a notification for charges of harassment in a few days, and I’m certain, a letter of discharge from the university.”
“Brilliant, Ethan.” Alexei smiled. “Quite a manipulative use of meaning.”
“He should’ve known to use his words carefully with the fae.”
Alexei gave a coy smile. “I mean, wearefamous for fucking people over.”
“I would’ve rewarded him if he wasn’t such a perverted ass.” I turned to Lucien. “We have what we need. We should go, before any more humans come round asking for more favors.”
“Indeed.” Lucien cast a portal, and we left the library behind us. I shook off a shiver as we returned to the main foyer of the manor. I didn’t like being in a place full of those who weren’t my own kind, and humans particularly bothered me.
Kiara sighed as the portal closed behind her. “Too bad other supernaturals aren’t as easy to trick as humans.”
“Or that we can’t really trick other fae,” Alexei added.
“The human served his purpose. We got what we came for,” Lucien said. “I need to take the night to study this scroll. I’ll notify you once I’m certain of what it says.”
“I’ll help you,” Kiara offered, and she set off with Lucien. Alexei was left standing awkwardly between Arthur and I.
Arthur didn’t hesitate to leave the room the moment he was able to. “I’m off to bed. Goodnight, Alexei.”
I ignored the snub. We didn’t have to like each other right now, just work together. I took a seat in the armchair in front of the fire. “Now we wait, I suppose.”
“Now we wait,” Alexei agreed. “Hopefully there will be good news in the morning.”
I grunted. Getting the scroll had been the easy part. I was sure performing the ritual the scroll entailed would be difficult, as everything else on our quest had been.
But I couldn’t say for certain. Only time would tell.
I feltsomeone shake my shoulder. My eyes opened. The fire had dwindled down to smoldering embers. Emma’s green orbs peered back at me, and I startled. “You’re—”
