Page 104 of Hidden Kingdoms

“You’re here because His High Lord Prince Bastian graciously granted your request of...books.” His voice dripped with so much sarcasm, I could practically see it oozing from him. “Though why he thought you should come in here, I have no idea.”

“Not what I meant, and you know it. Also, what’s wrong with me being in here?You’rein here.”

Marcellus stood from the chair, huge body rising up so I had to tilt my head slightly to keep his gaze despite the distance still between us. The lights reached more of him, and I saw that even here he was wearing his sword with the opal set into the hilt. Dropping the book down onto the chair, he gestured around. “Do you know what this place is?”

“I thoughtIwas asking the questions.” He ignored me, but I didn’t care, enjoying the way every word he spoke washed against me, realising this was the most I had heard his voice, and I wanted more of it.

“This is the Royal Chamber of Knowledge.”

Means nothing to me.

“That’s a fancy way of saying library.”

He stepped towards me. “Thislibrarycontains every piece of knowledge ever collected from this kingdom. Every scrap of history, every discovery, every event. All collected here. This is not a place you are just ‘allowed’ to be in. Only someone of royal blood can step through those doors and not be punished. On rare occasions, the Keeper may deem few Fae worthy of the words written on these pages.”

“But I’m not royal.” I swallowed, feeling a weight settle over me, pulsing against my skin.

“You’re not.”

“I’m not even Fae.” As I said the words, they felt like a lie on my tongue, the energy rolling through me enough to remind me that I was something more.

Marcellus scoffed at that, crossing his arms over his chest, bulging biceps almost distracting me from pieces I was putting together.

“Which means, that if I hadn’t been deemed worthy—whatever that’s supposed to mean—I would have been what, killed? Just for stepping in here.” Magik pressed into my fingertips, but that weight dropped heavier onto me, dulling my energy.

“Killed? No. Not if there had been a healer to you quick enough.”

“But Icouldhave died. He sent me here knowing that it was possible!” I gritted my teeth against the rage that was becoming all too consistent when it came to Bastian. I flexed my hands as I tried to ease the heavy oppression that was bearing into me.

“The Prince is a bastard. That shouldn’t come as a surprise. Especially to you.” Marcellus took another slow step forward and the pressure eased a fraction as I looked at him, remembering how it had felt to have his hard body pressed up against me. He was more relaxed now. There was no raging storm surrounding us which was understandable given the environment, but I wouldn’t mind being back in his grip regardless.

“So, Alouette brought me here knowing I could die when she doesn’t even have to go along with what he says?” I asked incredulously.

“Alouette has her own way of doing things.”

“How can you work for someone who’s such a dick?” I hissed out, picturing Bastian’s smug face and how much I’d like to punch it again.

Marcellus’ dark laugh rumbled through the space between us, setting my already frayed nerves alight. He was close enough that I could reach out and touch him if I dared.

I didn’t dare.

“I don’t work for Bastian.”

Confusion added to the multitude of emotions racing through me, and I scowled at him feeling my magik respond to the chaos so easily roused inside me and aching to be released.

“Careful, Little One,” he said, reaching to clasp both my hands in his, and my skin was alight under his grip. “The Keeper doesn’t take lightly to anyone throwing magik around in here. You’ll die before you can even release a drop.”

I worked on pulling my magik back, tugging it away from the edges it was so desperate to break through. Slowly it responded, sliding away from its release, and I gasped as the pressure that had been bearing down on me faded. My eyes fell to Marcellus’ large, rough hands encircling mine, my heart clenching as I flicked them back to his face. Sucking down a breath laden with leather and apples, I could taste it heavy on my tongue as it sent my body into overdrive. Swirling energy searched for a way to find that connection, and this time that heavy presence stayed away. It was just us, alone somewhere within this maze of books, his huge body crowding mine.

“The Keeper—they allow you in here?” I asked, as his thumb brushed against the back of my hand. Just as when I had seen him in that room with Bastian, images began to press against my hand—lips touching, bodies moving.

“It does.” I focused on his face, trying to ignore them.

“So, you’re deemed worthy.” It was barely a whisper.

“Something like that.” He let my hands go, and they dropped to my sides. I held them closed, the feel of his skin a lingering burn on my senses, part of me mourning the loss.

“There are other libraries, ones for anyone to use. I didn’t know he was sending you here.” The hard edges of his face drew into a scowl. His fists clenched tight, and light rippled across his rugged face, shadows playing with the contours.

---