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It’s strange to see posters of Harry Styles and Megan Thee Stallion on centuries-old doors. The juxtaposition gets a smile out of me. A miracle, considering the day I’m having.
After a few more turns, I reach a set of spiral stairs. At the top of those stands a huge, and I meanhuge, library. Shelves filled with books cover every wall from the lush red carpet to the arched ceiling above.
My fingertips roll over leather-bound spines of everything from poetry to spellbooks to mystery novels with titles that includeEntry-Level NecromancyandThe Elements and How to Use Them.Then I find Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde and even Suzanne Collins.
“Is there something you’d like to check out?”
I raise my head to see a radiant smile beaming down at me from a man, probably the hottest guy I’ve ever seen, standing very close to me. It feels strange to call a man in a tweed suit hot, but his cheekbones rival the vampire portraits in Octavia’s guest room.
The man takes a step back and rests his hip against a nearby desk, sliding one hand into the pocket of his trousers. His skin is pale, his hair jet-black. When he smiles, his teeth shine.
“No thanks,” I say when I can finally manage to stop gawping at the poor guy. “I’m new. I haven’t started yet.”
“Oh, you must be Kira.” He steps towards me and holds out a hand. “Octavia mentioned that you were starting today. I’m Damien Montclair, the librarian here.”
His hand is cool when I shake it. “Nice to meet you.”
“How are you settling in?” He has the kind of plummy accent that shouldn’t be as attractive as it is. Maybe it wouldn’t work for someone who doesn’t look like Colin Farrell and Tom Hiddleston’s love child, but on him, it’s perfect.
“I think I have a lot to learn,” I admit.
“Then you’re in the right place. Where do you want to start? Have you received your schedule yet?”
I shake my head. “I’d love to know more about my family. Apparently, I’m from a long line of necromancers.”
“Yes, the Belvederes.”
“Are we mentioned in any history books? I’d love to read up on it.”
He straightens up and runs a hand through his hair. “Kira, could you leave that request with me? I’ll need to pull a few titles from the stacks to check what we have. There will be minor paragraphs in a few different books as well assome… well, major paragraphs in other books.” He lets out an awkward laugh. “I’ll organise them all for you, and you can collect them in a few days.”
“Thank you. That’s so kind.” I could get lost in this guy’s eyes. Our librarian at St James’ Prep had a grey moustache and mustard stains on his shirt.
“Not at all. Feel free to browse around in the meantime.” He sweeps out a hand to gesture across the room.
Considering I have nothing better to do, I take Damien up on his offer. If he goes by Damien. I’ve only met Octavia so far, but she seems to prefer us to be on first-name terms. That’s going to take some time to get used to.
I’m three paragraphs into a book about auras and Guardians when Laila storms across the carpet and grabs hold of my arm.
“There you are,” she says. “I’ve been looking all over the bloody castle for you. Do you think you’re getting away from me that easily?” When I don’t answer, she glares. “No, I don’t think you are. Come on. We’ll finish this fucking tour if it’s the last thing I do.”
Ten
“You know,you really know how to make a girl welcome, Laila,” I say, waving goodbye to Damien the hot librarian as we leave. “Let me guess—you have a cake waiting for me in our room. And banners! And balloons!”
“Do you ever shut up?” Laila snaps. “Come on. That was the stupid library.”
“Goodbye, stupid library.” I bow dramatically towards the library door. “We shall meet again when I need a stupid book for stupid class.”
“Toilets,” Laila says, jabbing a finger at yet another wooden door before we pass by others. “Apollo’s office. Castle manager. Classroom 1. Classroom 2—”
They all look the same. I’m never going to remember.
“Would you slow down?” I’m practically sprinting to keep up with Laila as she strides around, pointing at a slew of mahogany doors.
“Nope. Keep up, newb.” A sardonic smile plays across her lips.
We trot down a set of perilously steep stone steps. If Ihadn’t recently come into various new athletic abilities, I would’ve face-planted for sure.
