Page 7 of A Dusk Of Stars

Just as he’s about to snap something back at me, someone else’s voice makes him instantly shut his mouth.

“Miss Novak,” the Pied Piper drawls softly, making my head snap to the front of the table. Our eyes meet and blood curdles in my veins. She leans a little forward. “Brothers Grimm werevisionarymen,” she says in a slow voice, still staring into my eyes, “men who had the courage to seek us out, make us come out of hiding and suffer all the rage of the men who, at the time, would ratherdiethan try to live peacefully with us.”

There’s a moment of silence during which all I can think about is that she was there when it happened.

Then, her lips curling into a smirk, she demands, “What is it thatyoudid that makes you believe your twocases, as you say, are comparable?”

“Nothing,” I rush to say, cursing myself for making such a stupid error in judgment. “And if that’s how it came off, I sincerely apologize.”

For a second, we just stare at each other. Despite the urge to look away, I keep my eyes locked with hers.

Finally, she asks, “You really want the position, do you?”

Pressing my lips with determination, I nod. “I do.”

I hear Lorcan let out a scoff.

I grit my teeth and I keep looking at the Pied Piper, but I say, “I’m not asking for charity here.” I look around the table, determined to stand my ground. “You have no one else fighting for the position. If it turns out I can’t do the job, I’ll be the first to address the problem.” I pause, my tone dead serious as I say, “But IknowI’m up to the task.”

I almost breathe a sigh of relief when I see the Pied Piper start slowly nodding away.

“Apologies, veneranda,” Lorcan cuts in, “but we can’t commit, at least not until she’s written her name in the Book of Librarians.”

It makes my blood boil when I see how pleased he is with himself.

“That’s not something we do,” Serra protests. “Not any longer, at least. It doesn’t come without dangers.”

“But it’s a good way to determine whether someone can be trusted,” Lorcan replies sweetly.

I turn my eyes back onto the Pied Piper. My shoulders slump when I see her lips curl into a mischievous little smile.

She nods.

Dammit.

It’s Serra that addresses me next. “Miss Novak, you’ll get access to the Restricted Section for the day. That’s plenty of time for you, even before the Opening Ceremony tonight. Do you accept this task?”

I glance at the Pied Piper, but she’s already going back to the papers in front of her.

“I’ll do it,” I turn to say to Serra.

With the corner of my eye, I can see the smug little smile on Lorcan’s face. He probably thinks I’ll fail the test.

I’ll give it my all if it’s the last thing I do, but hell… It makes me anxious just thinking about the Book’s magic.

Chapter 3

Of all the things they could’ve assigned to me… Focus, I urge myself as I step into the Library, the plush red carpet muffling my footsteps.

I stop, glancing up at the gallery to my left, where I can already see the plain wooden door leading into the Restricted Section.

Another wave of anxiousness floods me from head to toe. I can’t seem to make up my mind about which scenario would be worse for me — successfully signing my name or failing to do it.

From what I could gather back when I had the fascination with it, the Book of Librarians can gauge your intentions about the Academy. The mechanics of its magic, however, are not known, which means I can’t come up with a plan to stop it from digging too deep.

While my sincerest intentionisto be the best Archivist that has ever worked at the Academy, there are some things I’d prefer to keep to myself.

Just keep moving, I tell myself. Luckily, the Library is still empty so it’s in silence that I walk up the stairs and stop in front of the two guards posted around the Restricted Sections entrance. It’s Derek and Layla this time. I open my mouth to tell them I have clearance from the Pied Piper for the day.

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