Page 7 of The Duke’s Bloody Bargain

He was munching on an oat biscuit with gusto. His magic consumed a large amount of energy, which he recovered by eating. “News about Graves?”

I handed my coat to the butler. “Lucy hasn’t seen him in a while. But he gave her some money, which made us think Graves’s situation isn’t as desperate as we thought.”

Darius finished the biscuit. “I have excellent news.”

“What have you done?” Alex frowned. “Did the library collapse after the spell you unleashed?”

“It’s really good news, and it’s funny that you mention the library.” Darius gestured in the direction of the upper floors. “The rearrangement of the library is almost complete.”

A delighted gasp came out of me. “What?”

Darius had cast a spell on the library to rearrange the books over two years ago. The library had to be the largest one in the world with over two hundred million books spread over fourteen floors. Not that I’d seen anything of it aside from a wild tornado sweeping a vast room.

An air of triumph appeared on his face, and sheer happiness glowed yellow in his aura. “I reckon it’s a matter of weeks. Then we can all explore the wonders of the modern Library of Alexandria.”

“You mean the horrors,” Myrtha said, walking down the stairs. She wiped dust from her face. Her sable hair was dishevelled, and her starry white gown was ripped in places. “Look at me. I barely took a peek into that infernal room, and I almost got killed. I seriously doubt the library will be accessible in a few weeks.”

As the queen of the wilis, she radiated a pearl-like light, but the usually wonderful effect was dimmed by her untidy state and the layer of dust.

Darius waved a dismissive hand. “Where is your sense of adventure, of danger?”

“I have never had it.” Annoyance appeared with a brown light in her aura.

“Maybe it’s your age.” Darius tugged at his pristine jacket. He must have cast a spell on his clothes to keep them always clean. “Two hundred and fifty years. It’s a quarter of a millennium. Not a joke.” He leant closer to her. “Are those wrinkles and grey hair?”

Alex and I exchanged a glance.

“He has a death wish,” he whispered.

Myrtha narrowed her gaze to a slit. “You know, scientists have proved that women with wrinkles and grey hair live longer than the men who point them out. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” She marched upstairs. “I need to refresh myself.”

Darius smiled, watching her go up. “I can help you get refreshed in a moment.” He pointed at himself. “No dust on me.”

She spun around. Her aura was ablaze with burgundy shock. “Excuse me?”

He held up a hand. “With a spell, obviously.”

“Obviously, my answer is no.”

“Fine. I won’t use a spell then.”

She groaned, muttering under her breath. Darius followed her upstairs.

Their bickering voices carried through the stairwell.

Alex chuckled and took my hand. The gesture was easy and familiar without any tension in his fingers. “They will never stop arguing.” He kissed my knuckles, and his soft, gentle lips left a tingle on my skin. “I have to meet my agent. I’ll see you later.”

He trailed his fingers over my palm while going away, and the bond vibrated in my chest.

It took me a few minutes to reach my bedroom, so big was the palace. The earthy, ammonia-like smell of the lime plaster the builders had used to install a modern lavatory in my bedroom lingered in the air, even though a few weeks had passed since they’d finished.

The result was wonderful—a large ceramic bathtub, a modern water boiler, and shiny new tiles. Taking long, hot baths had become my favourite pastime.

I was unbuttoning my jacket when there was a knock.

Carabosse swept into view when I opened the door. As a witch, she possessed a glowing aura like Darius, but while understanding his feelings was easy, Cara’s were more cryptic.

“May I talk to you, Irene?” She brushed past me before I said anything. She gazed around with her keen grey eyes. “What a lovely room. With a proper lavatory. The duke truly cares for you.”