“No, but your work on the prophecies… She had to know a new librarian would put a crimp in that endeavor. Kirkpatrick is going to want to be involved, just like Phaines was.”
“Not if she doesn’t know about it,” Kirin says.
“So we need a cover,” I say. “Shouldn’t be hard—I’m a student, you’re the researcher helping me with some special project.”
“I need to try to limit her access to the archives,” Kirin says. “For as long as I can.”
“Word of advice?” Baz steps forward again, his arms folded tightly across his chest. “Don't trust that woman. Don’t let her get anywherenearthis thing.”
“Maybe we should take a break from the prophecy work, then,” I suggest. “Focus on the search, the Arcana legends, and the dream stuff.”
“We need to keep working on the prophecies,” Kirin says. “It’s all tied together. And we made a lot of progress already.”
“But Phaines took the books.”
“Yes, but he didn’t take the rest of your mother’s notes and sketches, or my databases. We have a lot of the original work still intact. We can try to piece it back together.”
“Your mother was quite prolific,” Doc says. “And you’re extremely adept at translating her work. There are still so many prophecies to examine. If your connection to those is as strong as your connection to her book of shadows, then we're still sitting on a treasure trove of information. Information that could help us understand and unravel the Dark Magician's plans.”
I blow out a breath. “You're right. Okay. For now, I think it makes the most sense for Kirin and I to continue working on the prophecies and any other literature we can find about the dark legends and the sacred objects.”
“I’d also like Kirin to start working with you on your air magick,” Doc says.
“Really?” I ask.
He nods. “You’re spirit-blessed, Stevie. Gifted in all four elements. Unfortunately, if we wait for you to complete your official Academy education, we might be too late. We need to use every tool at our disposal to help you learn your magick—the sooner the better.
“Are you cool with that, Kirin?” I ask, keeping my voice neutral. I knew we’d have to spend a lot of time together working on the prophecies, but now this? I’m not sure either of us is ready for that much alone time.
“Of course,” he says, equally neutral. “I agree with Cass. We need to get you up to speed—and fast. It's too dangerous for you to be without your magick, even here. Even with us watching your back.”
“And front,” Baz chimes in.
“The point,” Kirin says, shooting a nasty glare at Baz, “is that we can’t be with you twenty-four seven. I think we’d all feel better if you had at least a few basic magickal skills at your command.”
“Fighting skills?” I ask.
“Fighting, maneuvering, out-thinking,” Kirin says. “Defensive as well as offensive.”
I nod, accepting the challenge.
“In terms of the search,” Ani says, “we need to pull out all the maps, grid out the entire campus, and start with the most logical places—places where the energy is more concentrated or the wards are stronger and more complicated. Anything like that would suggest something is being protected.”
“Can you take point on that?” Doc asks.
Ani beams. “Happy to.”
“I’ll do my best to keep Janelle off our trail,” Baz says. “But I have to warn you. She's highly intelligent, relentless, manipulative, and downright ruthless. Whatever her agenda is, it’s not good.”
“But I don’t get it,” I say. “If she has ill intentions, how did she get on campus? Wouldn’t the portal magick stop her?”
“Not if she believes she’s doing the right thing,” Kirin says. “The portal will stop anyone with malicious intentions, but if Kirkpatrick believes that her own cause is noble, the portal may not sense that as a threat. In terms of portal magick, self-serving is not the same as dangerous.”
“That means the portal magick is only good for keeping out the most obvious offenders,” I say, “and almost everyone else is a potential enemy.”
The Princesses, still lingering in the background, nod in unison.
A warning.
