Page 197 of Harbinger

His mouth twitches slightly. “Even I have to answer to the queen, Arden.”

The whole point is to retrieve the book without drawing attention. Something that will be easier for him to do alone.

“Fine.” I sigh. “Go.”

He crosses to the bed and kneels in front of me, cupping my cheek. “I won’t be gone long, and then I’ll take you back to bed.”

That promise might normally be enough to distract me, but I’m growing to hate these little quests. If anyone at the palace ever realizes what he’s up to, or worse, why … Dread crawls down my spine.

“Just … be careful.” I burrow against his palm for a second.

His hand shifts, pulling me into a kiss that lingers long enough to make the decision feel worse.

“I always am,” he murmurs.

Then he’s gone.

I definitely don’t sleep after that. I attempt waiting in the library with Hadrian, but his pacing and anxious muttering only make my own nerves worse.

I eat half the food in the kitchen, and Bishop doesn’t return.

I try lying down again, but every time the wind rattles the windows, I bolt up, expecting him to walk through the door. When a storm begins, the lightning chases me back to the library and Hadrian’s company.

But as dawn approaches, even he’s drooping in and out of consciousness in a chair by the hearth. When the library doors finally open just after sunrise, I’m exhausted and more than a little worried.

Bishop strides into the library, and I leap to my feet, relief washing over me. But his expression tells me everything before he even speaks. “It’s gone.”

Hadrian stirs, pushing his glasses up on his nose as he blinks away sleep. “What?” he mumbles. “What do you mean, gone? Did they sell it?”

“Not the book,” Bishop says grimly, pulling off his gloves. “The entire shop.”

I blink at him, stomach sinking. That’s why he was gone all night. “How?”

He shakes his head. “Cleared out.” His mouth tightens. “The windows are boarded up, every shelf is empty. There’s no trace of any of it. The building looks like it’s been abandoned for weeks. No one I questioned knew where the owner has gone.”

“But you were there a month ago.” It can’t have simply disappeared.

“Longer. It was right after Twelvetide.” He collapses into the armchair across from mine and stares into the fire.

“I had it in my hands,” I say quietly. “And I just left it there.”

Hadrian pinches the bridge of his nose, forcing a smile. “You didn’t know what it was.”

“And I should have found it.” Bishop exhales, nostrils flaring as he glances at me.

I know what he isn’t saying. That he might have if I hadn’t been hiding from him with the book in my hands.

“There will be other traces of it.” Hadrian rises, staring toward the stacks with determination. We leave him there, Bishop following me up the stairs.

I sent him halfway across the kingdom for nothing.

When we reach my room, I pause in the doorway. “I should sleep.”

“And I promised to take you back to bed.” He moves closer.

Part of me wants to let him do just that. The rest wants to fall asleep standing up.

I fiddle with the hem of his cloak and force myself to be responsible. “Tomorrow?”