TWENTY-NINE
Taking a timeout for sex improved Quin’s and Layla’s moods, but they were reminded of their worries when he started donning armor for a trip into the business district.
“Do you really think that’s necessary?” she asked, pulling a simple, black gown from their clothes rack.
He watched until her ass disappeared. Then he returned his attention to his own attire. “For my peace of mind, yes, it’s necessary.”
“Surely someone wouldn’t attack us in public.”
“The library isn’t public, and it’s overseen by someone in the council’s pocket.”
“Isn’t he a priest or something?”
“Yes.”
“Then he should be on our side.”
Quin smirked while arming himself with daggers. “Anyone who grew up in the hexless world should know priests aren’t infallible.”
“True.” She hopped onto the side of the bed to watch him dress. “So you think Mekhi is corrupt?”
“Either that or he’s too scared to expose the corruption. There might be a few credible council members left, but the ones calling the shots have forgotten their oaths to preserve our way of life. It’s reasonable for them to question the Crusaders’ claims, but an honorable assembly would launch a formal investigation, not challenge a rumored angel to prove herself in a deadly trial. The way they treated you is all the evidence I needed to be convinced something’s not right.”
She shrugged. “Maybe I’m not as special as you think I am.”
“Bullshit. They know you’re spectacular. That’s why they’re scrambling to get you out of the way.”
She chewed her lip while summoning a black cloak and flip-flops. “Are you telling me there’s not a doubt in your mind that I’m an angel meant to save the world?”
He halted his task, studying her face before scanning her lights. Then he donned a pair of shoes and took her cloak, holding it open as she slipped her arms in. “I can’t claim to understand your purpose, but I do know you’re meant to do remarkable things, things that will affect this world for centuries to come.” He turned her toward him then cradled her cheeks in his palms. “I know you’re an anomaly in an extraordinary breed, and I know I can’t keep you all to myself. No matter what title they give you, one thing remains the same. You are a force greater than the rest of us, and you’re compelled to use that force to make the world a better place. For that alone, you’re an angel. And there’s no denying the Dark Guild is a threat. Whether or not their quest for power will destroy humanity is beside the point. As long as they’re spreading their poison, you’ll fight to clean it up. If I’m wrong about that, tell me now, and I’ll take you home to live out your incredible existence in peace.”
She swallowed and shook her head no, denying the temptation, so he moved closer and kissed her nose. “I also know how much you love your babies and want to be with them. Any woman who can give up the thing she wants most for the benefit of others is an angel in my book. I don’t know if the Crusaders got it right, but I do know you’re not getting it wrong. You’ll always find a way to shed light on the world around you, and I’ll always be there to support you through it. I believe in the power of your angelic grace because I’ve witnessed it. Not because the Crusaders told me a prophecy.”
She intently stared into his eyes while whispering her doubt. “I don’t know if I believe it.”
“You don’t have to believe it. You’re living it. A hero doesn’t spend his life telling people he’s a hero. Some of them perish without ever knowing they earned the title. Your humbleness is further evidence I’m looking at an angel. You lead with compassion instead of ego, and you fight for peace and love, not pride or recognition.”
She closed her eyes, as if searching her soul to make sure that was true, so he scattered her brain with a deep kiss before delivering his closing argument. “Do you believe you’re different? Your powers and the bond we share. Do you believe they’re unique to anything else you’ve witnessed?”
“Yes.”
“Now tell me why you’re here. Why did you choose to leave home? Was it because the Crusaders told you to?”
“No. It was to keep our family safe from the Dark Guild.”
“There were other ways to get the guild off our backs. If we were to leave them to their plans, they would probably leave us to ours. I know you well enough to know you’ve considered every option, even those that are morally questionable, so try again.”
Her lips thinned. “I don’t want the world to end.”
“Nobody does, but they’re not here. You are. Why?”
“Because there’s a chance I can stop it.”
“But why you?”
Her nostrils flared, and he braced, aware he was pushing her buttons.
“Because,” she huffed, “I’m the one with the crazy powers.”
He took her biceps while touching his forehead to hers. “That’s right. You are the one with the power. You don’t have to believe you’re an angel. That’s not what got you into this, and calling yourself one won’t get you through it. Your strong heart brought us on this journey, and your unique powers will see us through. As long as you’re confident in those two things, your perceived title and supposed purpose are inconsequential.”
Her lower lashes moistened as her lips dipped and quivered. Then she slid her arms around his waist and pulled him into a hug. “Thank you. I know it’s not easy for you to watch me do this, let alone talk me through it, but your support is what keeps me from shattering.”
“The pressure is heavy. We’ll bear it together.”
He squeezed and kissed her head, holding on until she let go. Then he made sure he had everything before leading her across the room. “Want to take a cloud to the library?”
Her eyes widened as her face brightened. “Can we?”
“Sure.”
“What about our security?”
“We’ll work it out.”
She grinned and bounced up the stairs in front of him. “Let’s do it!”
~***~
Quin met with Drexel to get a headcount for the trip. Then he used Diamond’s phone to call for transportation, but Layla stayed in the twilit garden, guarded by Crusaders as Diamond rushed to serve everyone tea and cookies.
Drexel waved away the refreshments while staring into the conservatory. “If we’d stayed at The Spire, you would have a phone in your suite.”
Diamond halted, her cheeks flushing as her gaze darted from Drexel to Layla, who’s first instinct was to chastise the commander. Her second instinct was to mourn the private phone line, but she stifled both reactions and took the high road.
“I like it here.” She approached their hostess, accepting a shortbread cookie with a wink. “He obviously hasn’t seen my bedroom. I bet you won’t find anything like that at The Spire.”
Diamond smiled while pushing another treat into Layla’s hand. “No, you won’t.”
Once Quin emerged from the house, the crowd moved to the front of the estate, where they waited for the arrival of five local magicians.
Layla said goodbye to Diamond while Drexel made sure the chauffeurs were registered with the city, and only then was Layla allowed to greet them.
One of the witches motioned for Layla and Quin to follow her away from the others. Then she summoned a sparkling cloud of bluish-white vapor. The outside edges were wispy and translucent, but the middle was too dense to detect.
Layla hesitantly approached the magic, and when its caster noticed her passenger’s caution, she smiled and propped one foot on the mist, using it to lift her other foot off the ground. “First time?”
“Yes,” Layla confirmed. “How deep before I’ll find support?”
“Depends on the passenger. It will adjust to you. You won’t stub your toe or fall through.”
Quin took Layla’s hand and lifted, letting her grasp something real and steady as she found her footing in the cloud. The first step felt as if she’d sunk into a satiny hole, but her foot eventually stopped, so she tentatively put the rest of her weight on it, ending up waist-deep in the shiny fog. The pressure on her soles was minimal, as if she stood in loose talc, and the mist barely shifted her cloak and skirt. The magic was warm, but it wasn’t the least bit humid as it swirled up Layla’s sleeves like a gentle, summer breeze. “So it’s not technically a cloud.”
“No,” the chauffeur answered. “Pure magic. You can sit however you’d like. It will mold itself around you.”
Quin climbed in behind Layla, staying on his feet while she settled her butt into airy resistance. “Wow. This is cool.”
“Would you like me to warm it up?” the chauffeur offered.
“No,” Layla laughed. “By cool, I meant fun.”
“Oh. Right. I’ve heard that one. It’s like awesome, right?”
“Right.”
“We try to keep track of the mainland vernacular.”
“How many languages do you speak?”
“Fifteen. No… sixteen. I’m proficient in sixteen, but I can communicate in more.”
“Wow.”
“That’s not very impressive around here.”
Layla had wondered how people indigenous to a South Pacific island had no problem communicating with Americans, but as much as she’d learned about the intelligence of magicians, she should have known their biggest city would be multi-lingual. “Is there a Maganthian language?”
“Solaye,” the local answered. “That means yes, but it’s not as common as you’d think, and it’s much different than the language our ancient ancestors spoke. You may not hear it again. It’s just as common to hear Portuguese, French, Spanish, Arabic and English. If we know where you’re from, we’ll try to address you in your native tongue.”
A team of Crusaders had boarded the other clouds, so Quin got comfortable next to Layla, and the talkative local climbed into her spell, sitting sideways so she could see ahead and behind.
“Wait,” someone called, and Layla looked over to find Aradia soaring around the corner of the mansion, pulling Banning behind her. “We want to go.”
She came to an abrupt halt, wary of the mist, but upon Layla’s insistence, Aradia climbed in and sat with her back to the chauffeur, who had one leg dangling off the front of the cloud, at ease with the additional passengers.
Banning settled in next to Aradia and scanned Quin’s attire. “Should we all be suited up?”
“Let’s hope not,” Quin countered. “It’s just a precaution.”
“Are you ready?” their escort asked.
“Yes,” Quin answered. “The Buried Library.”
Layla gripped his thigh as the cloud drifted higher, astoundingly smooth and level in its ascent, and by the time it soared toward the business district, Layla was comfortable enough to lean over the edge and gaze at the tropical terrain.
The sun had disappeared, and though the light of the moon didn’t pierce the sea deep enough to hit the dome, a wispy haze similar to an aura stretched across the sky, like the aurora borealis, but softer and boasting a wider range of colors. The rainbow twinkled when it reflected the lights below, and the same electric-green fireflies so common in the caves darted between the treetops and hazy heavens.
Like Layla, Aradia leaned over the side of the magical mist, and the two of them grinned at each other before returning their attention to the wondrous views.
The floating convoy soared over the city wall, which was much bigger than Layla had realized. It jutted from the mountain and surrounded the business district on three sides, with the southern being the tallest due to the incline. The top of the barrier contained a wide walkway dotted with guards, and the battlements were separated by tall spires and towers that looked out over the residential and business districts.
The clouds flew to the top tier and followed the roofs toward the capitol building, but rather than land near the front steps, they descended into a garden behind it. The mountain was much steeper to the north, forming a natural wall, and a path cut through the garden to a cliff. Two city guards framed an entryway carved into stone, and four Crusaders stood a few yards away, providing their own security.
“That’s the library?” Layla asked, holding Quin’s hand as she disembarked.
He nodded while making sure she was steady. “So they say.” Then he tipped their chauffeur and called Drexel over to settle the bill.
The Crusaders who’d been keeping watch met Quin halfway across the garden. Then one of them kept his pace while quietly speaking. “Mekhi told the librarians to expect you, but they’ve increased their security. You’ll have to submit to a search on your way in and out.”
Quin narrowed his eyes on the guards in shiny white and silver armor, and Layla half-expected him to start ranting, but he merely scanned the wizards’ faces and auras while listening to the Crusader.
“Unless you want it emptied, you’ll have to leave your satchel.” The soldier opened a wooden box filled with pouches taken from his comrades. “I’ll stay with it at all times.”
Quin glanced at Drexel while tossing his satchel in with the others. “I’m keeping my daggers.”
“They won’t take them,” the Crusader assured. “They claim they’re concerned about theft.”
Layla’s eyebrows drew together as she discarded her cloak and handed it to a nearby ally. “Then why search us on the way in?”
One of the city guards smiled as he stepped forward. “To make sure you don’t have any tricks up your sleeves. Shall we get started?”
Quin caught the guard’s wrist. “No.” Then he motioned toward the man’s comrade. “You.”
The guard in the background stepped forward as the one in Quin’s grasp objected. “You’re not in charge here.”
“Neither are you,” Quin countered, his grip and stance unyielding. “Now step aside.”
The guard jerked his wrist from Quin’s hand, but he relented and moved away from Layla. “This just means I’m searching you instead.”
“I don’t give a shit,” Quin dismissed, his gaze trained on the wizard patting down Layla, who tried not to make eye contact with anyone as she submitted to a stranger’s roaming touch.
He didn’t get handsy with her breasts, running his palms around them instead of over them, but he made her cringe when he dug into her hair. Then he made everyone uncomfortable when he reached her hips.
“What’s this?” he asked, pinching the top hem of her panties.
Her face caught fire as her voice shrank into her stomach, leaving her speechless, but Quin was pissed. “Let – go.”
The guard obeyed, and Layla swallowed a lump as Quin simmered an explanation. “It’s her underwear. And, no, we won’t be proving it.”
The guard in front of him smirked. “Underwear? Like bloomers?”
“Knickers,” the other offered, feeling up Layla’s legs, and she could have sworn she saw steam coming out of Quin’s nostrils.
“You’re both about two seconds away from a broken jaw,” he warned. “I don’t care what position you hold in this city, keep your mouths shut and do your job or I’ll bury you.”
One of the guards harrumphed, but then he sobered under Quin’s intimidating stare.
“If you doubt my claim, take a look at my lights.”
Both locals shifted their focus, and Quin let them stare while linking his arm with Layla’s.
“Now look at her lights and know you’ll fare better pissing me off than you would if you upset her. You’re in the presence of an angel. I suggest you show more respect the next time you cross her path. Her patience is vast, but she isn’t saving it for a couple of nameless guards.”
The sentinels stood tall, their egos blazing as brightly as their auras, but they had no recourse and eventually moved aside.
Quin led Layla toward the entrance, but he halted on the threshold, making sure the guards treated Aradia with more decency than they’d treated Layla. Aradia’s face paled as a stranger pawed at her, but she got through it without incident, and Layla was there to reassure her when it was over.
Once Banning joined them near the entrance, they walked through the parted curtain into an enormous cavern. Countless books lined the walls, tucked into shelves carved from colorful layers of ancient sediment. Pedestals topped with sculptures marked the beginning and end of each section; glass cases displayed ancient manuscripts; ornate tables and desks dotted the spotless floor; and thick, stone pillars stretched to the ceiling, which was at least a hundred feet high and painted with pristine murals.
A few Crusaders sat at two tables piled with books, their eyes red and droopy as they flipped through volume after volume of useless information, and they were watched over by six city guards scattered throughout the hall. Toward the back, a witch in black robes was speed-reading her way through a stack of novels, which she handed off to another librarian to sort.
A third librarian sat at a desk near the front, recording handwritten notes in a leather-bound tome, but he looked up with a smile when the newcomers approached. “You must be Layla.”
“I am,” she confirmed.
“I’m Stanton,” he offered, passing over a registry. “We’ll need all of you to sign in.”
They obeyed. Then Stanton skimmed their names before setting aside the registry. “Are you pursuing the same subjects the Crusaders requested?”
“I don’t know,” Layla confessed. “Which subjects did they pick?”
“The Seven Sisters, The Servants of Ava, and the veils of the realms.”
“Hmm… May I just look around?”
“Yes, but you’ll accomplish far more looking than learning.”
“Is this the only room?”
Every Maganthian within earshot laughed as Stanton motioned toward the walls. “This is our index. There are millions of manuscripts beneath your feet.”
“Oh.” She glanced down then back up. “How do we get to those?”
“First you need to know where you’re going. Fiction or non?”
“Non.”
Stanton pointed out a sculpture near the entrance then swept his hand toward one in the back. “That includes everything from the Bust of Manu to Whylio the Wise. If you have a subject in mind, I’ll narrow it down for you.”
Layla stifled a huff while scanning the daunting selection. And that was just the index! “Where are the A’s?”
“Next to Whylio.”
“Thank you.”
Layla headed that way, closely followed by Quin and Banning, but Aradia approached Stanton and squeaked a request. “I’m looking for Wolfstanus Quincarnon.”
Layla halted and looked back, recalling where she’d heard the name. He was featured on a scroll Aradia had shown her, an account of a regional war in which Wolfstanus led an army while wearing the armor gifted to Layla by the Unforgivables. She’d forgotten about the treasure chest and the armor it contained, but the spark in Quin’s eyes proved he remained interested in the artifacts’ origins.
“Good thinking,” he praised.
Stanton summoned a leather-bound book, which he handed to Aradia while raising an eyebrow at Layla. “See how easy that was?”
This time she didn’t bother to withhold a huff, but she couldn’t deny their way would be much quicker than hers. “What do you have on angels,” she asked, deciding there was no way to conceal her research. She really didn’t want everyone to know how lost and insecure she felt in her title, but there were too many eyes on her to dodge discovery.
Stanton summoned a heavy index and flipped it open with a thud. “Every non-fiction book that references an angel is listed starting here. The titles and authors are followed by a brief description, as well as their location within the library. It goes by level, then annex, which will be alphabetized by author. Write down the information you’ll need. Then a guard will escort you down to retrieve the books.”
Layla lightly cleared her throat and gathered the index, trying not to look as overwhelmed as she felt. Then she thanked Stanton and made her way to an empty table.
Aradia took the seat across from her while Quin provided notepads and pens, but he and Banning didn’t settle into the chairs beside their women. Instead, they stayed sober and alert while watching the people around them. Every once in a while, they’d lean against the table to break up the monotony of standing or pacing, but they never relaxed or succumbed to distractions.
Wolfstanus wasn’t featured in very many books, so Aradia finished her list long before Layla. Then she and Banning approached a guard near a circular handrail that surrounded four desks and four pushcarts. A gate in the barrier opened, allowing Aradia and Banning to enter with the guard, who instructed them to hold the railing before nodding toward Stanton.
The librarian turned forward, and the floor beneath Banning and Aradia smoothly descended, taking a desk and a cart with them. Three-quarters of the blocked circle remained, and as soon as the guard’s head disappeared, a haze coated the gap in the floor, presumably to keep people from falling through.
Quin watched them go then resumed his pacing. “We should have sent Crusaders with them.”
“You still can,” Layla noted, sliding her finger across a line in the index, “but unless there’s an army down there, Aradia can take care of herself.”
“You’re not concerned?”
She halted and looked up, taking a moment to dissect her current state. “No. I don’t sense that level of danger. I think I’d feel it if there were enemies down there.”
She returned to her task, and Quin managed to slow down, his body, mind and aura. “We’re still taking Crusaders with us when we go.”
“That’s fine.”
His anxiety mellowed for a while, but Banning and Aradia didn’t ascend for nearly an hour, putting him on edge again.
“Everything okay?” he asked, watching them return to the table.
“Yeah,” Banning answered. “We didn’t come across anyone.”
Layla scanned the titles of their gathered books, one of which was an unauthorized biography about Wolfstanus. “What’s it like down there?”
Aradia sat and pulled the biography closer. “A lot like it is up here. The ceilings aren’t as tall, but there are six extensions on every floor. I lost count of the levels. It’s at least a mile deep.”
“I wonder if the Dark Vault is at the bottom.”
“It is. I asked.”
Layla traded a smile with her sneaky friend. Then she grabbed Quin’s hand and pulled his tense body nearer. “You and Bann should try to talk Stanton into letting us have coffee and tea.”
Quin glanced between the table and librarian, as if measuring the distance between them in case he needed to rush back. “I’ll see what I can do,” he agreed, pulling her hand into a kiss. Then he invited Banning along as he walked away.
Aradia smirked, her nose already in her book, and Layla shook her head while adding to her list. “He hasn’t relaxed since we left home.”
“I’m not sure I’ve ever seen him completely at ease.”
“He was pretty close over the holidays.”
“Banning’s a lot different. He can slip out of a bad day as easily as he slips out of shoes. It’s beautiful and weird all at once. Sometimes it’s hard to keep up with his good mood.”
Layla glanced at the guys, making sure they weren’t close enough to eavesdrop. Then she leaned forward and whispered. “How are things between you two?”
Aradia put her book down and drew closer. “I assume you’re referring to the intimacy.”
“Yeah.”
“It’s good. Really good. I think.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means he seems happy.”
“Forget him, what about you?”
Aradia’s cheeks brightened over a cheesy grin. “Oh, I’m very pleased. Like… every night.”
Layla smiled and relaxed. “Good.”
“Good doesn’t do it justice. I didn’t know people could feel things like that.”
“So you’re comfortable with it?”
“I’m getting there. Actually, it would be more accurate to say he’s getting me there. He’s really sweet. I feel safe with him. Not so much in the beginning, but it gets better every day.”
“Then he probably is happy.”
“It doesn’t take much. He seems thrilled with every tiny step we take. You should have seen his face the first time I took my top off. It made his day, and he didn’t even touch them.”
Layla giggled while finding her place in the index. “Has he touched them since?”
“Yes.”
“It’s nice, huh?”
“Yes. Having a guy admire your body is a thrill when you admire him, too. Now I just need to figure out how to get over the anxiety I feel when I see and touch him.”
Layla twirled her pen while recalling the beginning of her relationship with Quin. “I can somewhat sympathize with that. I was comfortable with Quin touching me before I was comfortable touching him.”
“It’s like a commitment. I feel like if I start, I should finish, and it’s the finish part that’s so scary.”
“But it sounds like you’re getting there. It’s okay to be cautious and take it slow, as long as you don’t give up on what you want.”
Quin and Banning had talked Stanton into bending the rules and were on their way back to the table with two steaming mugs, so Aradia smiled while diving into the biography. “You’re right.”
By the time Layla had made a three-page list of books that may or may not prove useful, it was almost midnight, so she decided to wait until the next day to start hunting down the titles. Aradia was only a quarter of the way through Wolfstanus’ biography, which she wasn’t allowed to check out, but Stanton agreed to hold all the books she’d gathered for forty-eight hours after each visit.
Layla withheld her complaints while turning in the index, but once she was out of the librarian’s earshot, she mumbled her displeasure to Quin. “We’ll have to speak with Mekhi about this no taking work home policy. I have over a hundred books on this list.”
“I doubt Mekhi can fix this for us. If they don’t let the public in, they’re not going to let the books out.”
They’d reached the exit, and Quin steered Layla toward the guard he approved of while submitting to a search from the one he didn’t like. The security check went much smoother this time, no mention of knickers or broken jaws, so Quin retrieved his satchel while a Crusader helped Layla into her cloak.
“There’s a small crowd on the other side of the capitol,” Drexel reported. “They know you’re here.”
“How?” Quin asked, flipping on his cloak.
“Rumors,” Drexel answered. “Possibly from our chauffeurs. They returned an hour ago. Shall we ask them?”
The magicians who’d brought them to the library stood several yards away, ready to escort them back, but before Quin could authorize an interrogation, Layla caught his arm and brought everyone to a halt. “No. We will not ask them. We’ll give them nothing but good things to say about us. For all we know, someone saw us fly in. The rumors will spread no matter what we do, but we can influence the stories they’ll tell.” She flipped up her hood, dimmed her lights, and started across the garden. “Besides, we have no reason to worry about the crowds. We’re catching a cloud out of here. They won’t know I’m on it until I’m gone.”