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Lunara shuddered as she and Fern approached the tree trunk desk at the entrance of the Archives. “And I sincerely hope they aren’t.”
“Sisters’ blessings and greetings, Your Highness, Lunara,” Tahny hummed, a smile revealing their sharpened teeth. “You have been approved by their Imperial Majesties. Forgive the short notice, but the information you seek requires a particular guide through the lower levels.”
“That doesn’t really explain why we had to come right now, Tahny,” Fern said, rolling her eyes.
Lunara pinched her lips between her teeth, stifling a huff. Fern wasn’t fooling anyone. She was practically vibrating with excitement.
Only because she got to avoid spending the rest of the day with the Demon carpenters learning how to fix tables and benches.
True.
“Of course, forgive me.” Tahny offered a slight bow. “The creature in question is not one of habit and routine. He tends to work quite spontaneously, and rarely.”
She and Fern shared a look, both of them waiting for the Directory to elaborate.
When they didn’t, Fern leaned in, a characteristic glint in her eye that said she was about to stir the shite. “You know, Tahny, you talk fucking weird for a Fae. Even I know that, sure as the freckles on this one’s face, and I can’t remember my own name.”
“Fern, honestly.”
“Forgive me, Your Highness. I do not mean to offend.”
“No, no! You haven’t, Tahny. Believe me”—she flashed her fangs at Fern—“you are not the one being offensive.”
Fern ignored her and leaned against the desk, chin propped on her fists. “Can we make a deal Tahny? How about we say right here and now that you are perpetually forgiven for every possible thing you think you’ve done to offend. In return, you skip asking for forgiveness for nothing, and we can all move on to other things like where this mysterious guide is and why we had to hie our bums here when he’s nowhere to be seen.”
“Your proposal is noted and accepted.” The Directory softened, their shoulders easing. “And he has been impatiently standing behind you for the last few moments, waiting for our conversation to reach its end.”
Heart in her throat, Lunara spun as Fern laughed. “That was fucking cheeky, Tahny. I like you.”
The young, brooding creature was nearly as tall as Brand, and just as wide. More alarming was that she hadn’t felt him there. No power. No prickle on the back of her neck. His signature was nearly invisible.
He dipped his head. “I am Sokar.”
Over the swaths of linen adorning his body, black hair flowed like a rippling river to his hips, sleek and shining. Above the short crop of his beard, light brown skin shimmered beneath the surface as he straightened, the scales there flashing in vibrant, aquatic hues.
An Arrajnekkatti Rider.
Lunara had only met two Riders in her life, but there was something about Sokar that nagged at the back of her mind.
Finding her voice amidst the strange feeling, she said, “Hello, Sokar. I am Lunara. This is Fern.”
“I am aware.” He handed each of them a strange flake of…something. “Come.”
He didn’t wait to see whether they obeyed—just tossed his toll into the archive portal and disappeared.
Fern huffed. “This should be fun.”
Not the word you would use.
Definitely not.
Having little other choice, they followed him through.
A gasp lodged itself in Lunara’s throat on the other side. They were on the bottom floor, right in the center of the open column through the library’s center. Mist rained down on her. The birdsong rang in her ears. And against all odds, it felt even bigger than from above, as if they’d entered another realm entirely.
Sokar jerked his chin and plowed on, leading them into a vast offshoot. Fern had the advantage of her wings to propel her, but Lunara was forced to skip and jog to keep up with his stride, all while resisting the urge to stop and marvel at everything they passed.
The rock and diamond was honed with stunning accuracy, the walls and ceilings a series of masterfully cut gems. Lanterns of a sort she didn’t recognize were mounted in strategic places, the light bouncing and refracting from the crystalline surfaces, illuminating everything.
