Page 71 of Crimson Shadows
ADELAIDE
My heart is still racingfrom our encounter with the phoenix as Zephyr and I make our way across the moonlit grounds of MistHallow. The feather in my pocket feels warm, almost alive, and I marvel at the events of the night so far. The cool night air carries the scent of magick and possibility, and I’m excited by what might come next, with both the hunt and Zephyr.
“What’s next on the list?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through me. My vampire senses have kicked in on a massive scale from drinking Zephyr’s blood. I can pick up the rustle of all the leaves, every shift in the shadows, every shuffle from the woodland creatures… every beat of Zephyr’s heart. It’s slow. Almost as if it is too cold to pump faster. It makes sense. His blood was cool to drink, not warm like the synthetic blood or the human blood from the flask. It has given me a kick that I know is going to be hard to resist seeking out again.
Zephyr pulls out the list, his remarkable eyes gleaming in the moonlight. The way the silvery light catches his features makes him even more cruelly beautiful. “A book that writes itself,” hereads, his voice low and melodious. “Now that’s an interesting challenge.”
I furrow my brow, thinking. The logical part of my brain, the part that still clings to the normalcy of my old life, wants to dismiss the idea as impossible. But after everything I’ve seen since I arrived, I’m starting to believe that anything is possible in this new world. “Surely that’s not going to be hard to find in this place?”
“You’d be surprised. That is next level magick.”
“Next level?” I murmur. “As in faculty type level?” My voice cracks at the end, and it draws Zephyr’s attention away from the list.
His eyes narrow, but the smile curving up his lips is wicked. “What do you know, princess?”
“The library,” I murmur, remembering something I saw while looking for the book on the Dark Fae.
Zephyr nods, taking me seriously, which surprises me. I thought he would dismiss me and my ideas. There is a lot more to this creature than his savage exterior, but I would be a fool to forget those things I’ve seen him do.
As we make our way to the library, I study Zephyr out of the corner of my eye. I’m drawn to him in ways that, before coming here, I would say were impossible. But feeling the way I do about a certain djinn and a certain vampire, I can’t really say that this is wrong, or irrational. Itfeelsright. Perhaps even more so with him than the others, if that’s possible. The way he manipulates the shadows, the casual display of power... it’s arousing both my body and my mind. I can’t explain it, and I don’t want to resist it.
I move in a bit closer, marginally so he won’t notice and brush my hand against the back of his. There is a spark of electricity, like a mini lightning bolt. I hiss and draw my hand back as he frowns down at his. Without looking at me, hereaches out and grips my fingers tightly. I suppress the groan of undeniable lust that shoots through me at his touch.
The library looms before us, a massive structure of stone and magick. Its spires reach towards the star-studded sky, and as we approach, I can see the faint, luminous script running along the walls, ancient words in languages long forgotten. The doors swing open silently, welcoming us. Inside, the air is thick with the scent of old books and ancient magick.
I love it. It’s my new favourite place.
“So, how do we find a book that writes itself in this labyrinth?” he whispers.
I’m awed by the endless rows of shelves stretching into the darkness. The sheer scale of knowledge contained here is overwhelming, and I feel a sudden, intense desire to explore every corner, to absorb every bit of magickal lore I can.
“This way,” I say, leading him deeper into the library.
We wind our way through the stacks, the shadows seeming to part before Zephyr. Books rustle on their shelves as we pass, whispering secrets to each other. I reach out to touch the spines, feeling the magick contained within each tome. It’s mesmerising, and I find myself wanting more.
Finally, we reach a small alcove where a single book rests on a pedestal. Its pages are flipping on their own, words appearing and disappearing in a dizzying dance. The air around it shimmers with magick, and I can feel the power radiating from it.
“This was written by Ellis,” I whisper. “I saw it the other day, but it vanished before I could get a proper look at it. Something about it… I don’t know. What do you think?”
“I think you’re right,” Zephyr murmurs, his gaze turning to mine with a look of admiration. “Now, we just need to convince it to come with us.”
I step forward, drawn by an instinct I don’t quite understand. As I reach out to touch the book, this time, it lets me, and I feel a surge of power rise up. It’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced before, a warmth that starts in my core and spreads to my fingertips. “May we borrow you for our quest?” I ask softly.
To my amazement, the book’s pages flutter in what almost seems like agreement. It floats gently into my waiting hands, its weight both substantial and ethereal. I can feel the magick pulsing from it, responding to my touch.
Zephyr’s eyebrows shoot up, genuine surprise etched on his features. “Well, well. Looks like you’ve got a way with words, princess. And more power than you realise.”
I grin at him, feeling a sense of accomplishment and a growing confidence in my abilities. “Four down, four to go,” I say. “What’s next?”
“A mirror that shows the future,” Zephyr reads, his eyes scanning the parchment. “That one might be tricky. Divination magick is notoriously unpredictable.”
As we leave the library, I notice Zephyr watching me with a growing lust in his eyes.
I can relate.
I’m this close to forgetting the hunt and taking him back to my room to ravage him. The only thing that stops me is the knowledge that I have my period. Something tells me he won’t be as turned on by that as Corvus was. Or let’s just say, I’m not willing to find out.
“You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for, Adelaide.”
