Page 36 of To Fight and To Fold

“So what do we do now?” Aaryn asked, because she was at a loss.

The prince nodded gravely and stepped back behind his desk. “First of all, I’m putting a guard on you at all times.”

Aaryn blinked, then laughed in disbelief. “That’s hardly necessary. I mean, Thea wouldn’t⁠—”

“I don’t believe that for a second," he interrupted. "But if Thea doesn’t worry you, the people she’s working with should.”

Her awkward chuckle faded, as well as her strained, polite smile. “What do you mean?”

He sighed and scratched a hand through his hair, mussing it. Her mother would want her to reach out and push the strand back into place, and remembered the countless times she'd done the same for Thea. Now, though, she couldn't bring herself to move her hand.

“There’s something you should know,” Jarrick said. His brow was furrowed and he looked… nervous. An emotion she’d never seen on the prince before. “It just—If something happened to you, and I could have prevented it…” He sighed. “You have to know what we’re up against. Who took Starspark from you.”

“We know who took Starspark. Thea,” she answered slowly.

“Yes, but Thea wasn’t working alone. She didn’t steal him for a joyride. There’s a purpose. A history.” His gaze met hers, electric in its intensity. “And the last time this happened, our secrets were what doomed her."

Aaryn’s heart leapt to her throat, and she tried to swallow past it. She crossed her arms, tucking her shaking fingers away. The last time? “Tell me.”

Jarrick shifted closer, moving slowly enough she could’ve stopped him if she wanted. He slipped one of his hands beneath hers and pulled it free. “The information we need is in the Royal Library. Come with me.”

He led, and she had little choice but to follow. Her hand was gripped in his, not tightly, but gently. The guards hardly blinked as they exited the prince’s office.

“We’ve got some business to attend to. I’ll return shortly. Resume,” he said, and waved a hand.

The guards didn’t even so little as chuckle at their departure, hastened with their hands clasped together. Why, if Aaryn had witnessed the prince dashing through the castle with a lady holding his hand, she would assume they were up to…

The thought made her cheeks heat, and she was tempted to pull her hand away, lest rumors begin to circulate, but she didn't want to offend the prince when he had gone so far out of his way to help her.

Her mother would be so pleased.

The Royal Library was quite protected. Not even Aaryn had been inside. It was locked, and she’d never cared what was behind the door. She supposed what had always been in there were things she had no business knowing.

Only when they approached the large double doors did he release her hand. Jarrick produced a key, and as he slotted it into the door, he glanced over at her.

“Promise not to tell anyone I let you in here?” he asked.

It almost felt like an accusation, but she swallowed the misplaced guilt. The prince had no way of knowing of her conversations with Rose, and even if he did, she'd broken no rules.

And still— “I vow it,” she told him.

He studied her, his green eyes unwavering. He must have accepted her vow, because he nodded once and pulled the door open.

She breathed a little easier when she slipped inside the large double doors with Jarrick, out of sight.

It was dark and moody, the floors covered with rugs and cozy looking chairs pushed into every nook and cranny. Floor-to-ceiling shelves lined the walls, tomes and leather spines filling each one.

“Sweet skies,” Aaryn breathed. “It’s beautiful.”

The library at the university was one of her favorite places to visit, since it was public and easier to access than the distant monastery or hospital, and came with less judgment than the collection in the cathedral.

After learning she was Tethered and moving into the castle, she’d been able to absorb all the texts she wanted, and it had opened entirely new worlds to her.

And here were all these worlds yet unexplored.

“What are all these books about?”

“The history of the castle, and Rishika itself. Mostly very secretive information,” he said, a little sheepishly. “So I could get in real trouble if anyone found out I let you in here.”