Page 75 of Bound By the Sleeper’s Harp

“The king and queen of Freyland didn’t always have a troubled reign of terror—as you put it. There was a long period of prosperity, with a peaceful rule and happy citizens. Then… It was like a switch was flipped. Rumor has it they fell into a peaceful sleep for weeks, no one could wake them, and when they woke, they were…changed. Atrocities happened all across their country and within years, it fell, conquered. Then conquered again by neighboring rivals.”

Bastian was quiet, thoughtful.

“This harp is known by other names,” I finished. “You probably wouldn’t have heard any of them. The Sleeper’s Harp is one of its most prominent aliases. I’m sure you can imagine where it came from? There were others, more obscure names I’ve forgotten. But The Sleeper’s Harp was always the one that stuck. I learned it from Professor Miller. She found it on one of her archeological expeditions into Europe. She never gave me the details, but it took a great deal of detective work to track it through history and locate it.”

“The Sleeper’s Harp,” he mused, leaning back. “So, this is it? This is causing magical comas for supernatural creatures?”

“Maybe.”

“It still doesn’t explain how they can be in two places at once.”

“No, perhaps not. But don’t you think it’s funny that King Aloc and Queen Neris woke up changed?” I used air quotes for the last part.

Bastian grunted.

A new thought hit me, one that made a chill bleed into my fingertips. “What if they never woke up at all?”

Bastian jerked forward. “Shit.” He glanced down at the book in my hand, then stood. His hand found mine and he all but pulled me off the couch. “Time to go, sugar. And bring that book.”

“But,” I protested, “I can’t take it with us. I don’t have a library card. Only students can⁠—”

“It’s not stealing if you plan to return it.” He snatched it from my hand and it disappeared. “It will be at home waiting for you. I’ll drop you off. I’ve got some things I need to look into.”

He kept a tight hold of my hand, practically pulling me through the library. We strode past clusters of studying students, their heads down, noses glued to the textbooks they studied. Those who glanced up and saw Bastian regarded him with wide eyes.

There was no sign of Marsh Thadur.

“You’re not going to take me with you?” I whispered. “To these…things you need to look into? I want to be involved with whatever you find! Especially if this involves the harp.”

“Sorry, sugar,” he said, keeping his voice low. “If I discover anything you ought to know, I’ll tell you. For now, I think I got what I need.”

“Great,” I snorted, rolling my eyes. “I’m so glad I could be of use. How convenient.” He didn’t answer. “We need to find that artifact, Bastian. Find it before more bad shit happens.”

“That’s exactly what I plan to do.”

I scoffed but said nothing else. Of course that’s what he planned. And he intended to do it without me. After all, this was his case, not mine. Given the involvement of a prized artifact, one that most humans had no idea about, I felt I had a right to be involved. I couldn’t help the heaviness taking over my body at being denied, the disappointment eating away at the fringes of my mind.

We emerged into the parking lot adjacent to the library. Bastian dropped my hand. Only then did I feel the absence of its warmth, even out in the sun. His shiny sports car waited in the front spot. I smirked. “I told you that you needed a permit.”

“That’s great, sugar. And I told you that I didn’t care.” He plucked the parking ticket off the windshield, crumpled it in his fist, then opened his palm. It was gone.

“Nice magic trick, Mr. Magician. That won’t make it disappear from their digital records. Trust me.”

“Oh? Speaking from experience, are we?”

“Nope. Not once.”

I couldn’t help my pleased grin. Bastian Croft had gotten a parking ticket. Served him right for being a total ass.

26

Bastian dropped me off with a warning to stay inside, then sped off, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I checked Teddy’s food, cleaned his litter box, then curled up with a book. A couple of hours passed before I was seeking out my phone. I had two missed calls from Vivi. I called her back.

“Jeez, Rose! Did you die?!” she asked, picking up on the first ring.

“Sorry!” I said a little sheepishly. “Been preoccupied.”

“With that hot goblin guy, huh?” she teased. I rolled my lips between my teeth, contemplating what to say. The silence was telling enough. “Oh. My. God! You have been, haven’t you?”