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“Optimistic, aren’t you,” I groused.
“I think I’ll stay,” he said cheerfully.
“I could force you to leave.” Cole’s voice was low, threatening.
“Not without breaking your vows, you can’t,” Phaidros chirped.
Cole’s expression said that he didn’t much care. He didn’t like having the demon in his territory any more than I did, and his control was frayed after the past few weeks. Dark shadows gathered behind Phaidros, his death magic eager for a release.
“Fine. You can stay. But if you want all your internal organs to remain intact, keep away from Daphne.Shehasn’t made any unbreakable vows to not harm you.”
“She can’t still be mad about Harold,” Phaidros huffed. “He was nothing, especially compared toher.”
“I don’t have time to spend guessing how your psychotic mind works. But rest assured, my best friend can hold grudges. I think you saw what she did to the last male who hurt someone she loved.”
“Females.” Phaidros sighed, clearly working up to some quip.
I cut him off by throwing a massive, dusty tome square at his chest. He caught it, but the dust scattered onto his freshly washed shirt. He glared, not appreciating my gift. I smirked.
“If you’re staying, you can help look for a way out of this mess. And if you’re too good for that, you can go find Daphne and see which of us knows her better.”
Chapter XXXI
We had hours left.
I was barely reading anymore. I pulled a book, flipped through the pages, and discarded it. I was tempted to go to Hecate and tell her we should try the knowledge potion even if it left the user catatonic in hopes it found us something.
The latest book was useless. A recipe book for how to cook Scorpio demons without poisoning yourself. I hurled it away in frustration, knocking several more books from the shelf down.
Cole was immediately by my side, trying to soothe me.
“We’ll figure it out,” he promised, wrapping his arms around my waist.
I leaned back against him, finding comfort in his scent even though everything was a disaster.
“I want to believe that,” I whispered. “But we’re running out of time—wait.”
I broke out of his arms and he followed me over to the pile of books I’d knocked down. It was a section of the library I’d gone through before. I’d moved on from it and onto the side that had Cookbooks From Literal Hell, which had been an improvement over the section that had extremely detailed tax law, which, given my state of sleep deprivation, was particularly dangerous.
But there, among the pile of legal books, was a title I recognized.
Portals.
The one-word title had been my lifeline when I’d first died and searched for a way out. I’d read the book cover to cover. It didn’t mention dragons once. Yet I kept looking at it, trying to make the puzzle pieces fit.
Cole frowned. “I didn’t see that book there before.”
“It wasn’t here. I’m positive. When the pocket-realm was destroyed, it should’ve been destroyed too.”
“The realm has its own mind. Perhaps it’s a gift, to help us keep the balance.”
I plucked the book from the pile. It even had the piece of cloth I’d used as a marker. It was the same book.
“When I was in the first trial, I was lost. It should’ve taken me days to get out, if I could even get Dario to stay with me long enough. But instead of wandering for ages, the lights shifted, guiding me down the right path. Was that you?” I asked, already knowing the answer.
Cole shook his head. “If I could have helped you, I would have. But any interference would’ve cost us the round.” A pause. “It must have been the realm.”
I flipped open the cover of the book, tracing my fingers down the aged parchment. “Then maybe it’s helping us again.”
