Page 102 of The Book That Wouldn't Burn

Livira put down the book and bit her lip. She stared thoughtfully at the wall. A long moment passed and Arpix looked ready to say something. Livira beat him to it. “Volente.”

“What language is that?” Arpix peered at her. “I don’t—” Suddenly he threw himself back with a most un-Arpix-like curse.

The black dog walked out of the wall and came to sniff Livira’s desk.

“What in all the hells is it?” Arpix asked from the corner he’d pressed himself into.

“A dog.” Livira studied the hound.

“I saw it! Before... when you pushed me off the bed? That was this!”

“It’s a guide. It’s here because I know its name. Or maybe because it saw me steal the book. Or both.”

“You stole the book?” Arpix gasped. “Who from?”

“Volente, you know the Raven, don’t you?”

The dog looked up at her and although she couldn’t see its eyes, she could feel their regard.

“Who did you steal the book from?” Arpix repeated his question, advancing from the corner of the room.

“Yamala.”

It was Arpix’s turn to combine a squeal, shriek, and squeak. He looked as if he was going to hide in the corner again. “And that’s her dog? Why isn’t it attacking you?”

“I don’t know,” Livira admitted. “I guess it’s built to help.” She stared back into the blackness of the hound’s face. “Volente, I need to find the Raven.”

The dog took a step back and shuddered.

“Volente. I need the Raven. It’s urgent.”

The dog shuddered again, then coughed, an ugly sound. It coughed again.

“What’s wrong with it?” Arpix asked.

It coughed once more, hacking like Wentworth had on Livira’s last visit when bringing up hairballs. With a last violent retch, the dog took another two backward steps and there on the ground before it was a black feather.

“He... ate... the Raven?” Arpix’s eyebrows rose.

Livira didn’t have an answer for that. Somewhat stunned, she bent to pick up the feather.

“Why do you need the Raven anyway?” Arpix rallied himself. “You’ve got a guide. Can’t he open Chamber Seven?”

“Arpix! You’re a genius!” And much to Arpix’s surprise Livira flung her arms around him in a fierce hug. “Come on, we’re going. I need to see if he’ll come to the library when I call him there.”

“Now?”

“Now.” She tugged him towards the door. “We’re going to the Exchange!”

Many objects are an inherent invitation. A sharp edge invites you to cut. A coin wishes to be spent. A sword begs for violence. A door requires that you try to open it.

Temptation: A Novel in Three Parts, by Summer Applebaum

CHAPTER 44

Livira

You can’t just leave it there!” Arpix protested.

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