Page 72 of Court of Secrets and Flames

My dream. I saw this exact book in my dream. Totally normal and definitely not freaky at all.

“How is this possible?” I whisper.

I’m not sure if I’m relieved or disappointed by the lack of a reply.

I stare at the book for probably well over a minute. When nothing happens, I scold myself for standing around like an idiot and pick up the tome while my spinning mind seeks a plausible explanation. Maybe I caught a glimpse of this book in the Flighthaven library and it just didn’t register. After all, it wasn’t like I was hunting for what appears to be a book full of fictional adventures. In fact, I should probably put it back and continue searching.

My mind rejects the thought immediately, and without conscious thought, my hand curls the book possessively to my chest. I clutch the volume as if I fear someone might snatch it from me.

The mere thought makes me twist my lip and brace for a fight.

Mine.

A sharp noise breaks the spell, and my head whips in that direction. I take a few more steps and stop again, straining to hear any more sounds.

Nothing.

Could have been a book. Or even a mouse. Maybe even my overactive imagination.

Readjusting the wealth of information in my arms, I continue. After the long day I had flying on Dame, I’m ready for dinner and an evening poring over these texts. I might even make use of the luxurious tub in my?—

There it is again. I’m not mistaken after all. It sounds a lot like…breathing. Is someone else in here, perusing the aisles for a leisurely bedtime read?

Or maybe another kidnapper is waiting to strike.

Treading softly, I reach the end of the row and peek down the next aisle.

Nothing could have prepared me for the scene before me.

Shock surges through me and renders me speechless as my sister and a man jerk apart, bumping into the shelves and toppling several dusty books.

Leesa reaches out to catch some of the falling books and bangs into the shelf again. More books go flying. Pages rip and a cover comes off before the ancient tomes settle in a heap around her feet. The man crouches to start picking them up. His face pings me as familiar, though I don’t believe we’ve met. Maybe I’ve glimpsed him hanging around the castle.

The banquet! That’s it. I’m pretty sure he’s the guy I saw Leesa talking to that night.

Huh. I wonder who he is. Are he and my sister an item, or is this more of an archives’ booty call situation?

Mostly, I wonder why she never mentioned him.

I finally find my tongue. “Those are really old, you know. And valuable, I’m sure.”

“Gods, Lark.” Leesa laughs nervously, cheeks aflame with embarrassment. “Did you never learn how to knock?”

“In the Royal Archives? Hmm, I guess it never occurred to me.”

The man’s rich brown hair is mussed, and he seems even more flustered than Leesa. “We were…ah, searching for…um, information.”

I hide a smile. His obvious discomposure is kind of cute. “And you are…?”

He sneaks a peek at my sister before answering. “Bastian.”

Neither of them can meet my eyes. With the way they’re fidgeting and carrying on, you’d think I’d busted them screwing in Ziva’s temple.

“Well, Bastian, nice to meet you, and don’t allow me to interrupt.” I step over a pile of tattered tomes. “I’ll let you get back to…searching.”

After a wink that stains the man’s cheeks an even brighter pink, I avert my gaze from where my sister is rebuttoning her shirt and scurry out of the archives.

Chapter Twenty-Six

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