The Siege of Shadows: Book one

Library of Secrets (38)

ROWAN'S POINT OF VIEW

The corridor leading to the library was dimly lit, the flickering torchlight casting long shadows on the stone walls. My heart pounded in my chest, not just from the anticipation of sneaking into forbidden territory, but because Kael was so close to me. Too close. His crimson eyes burned with an intent I wasn't sure was entirely for show. At least, I thought it was.

"Stay quiet," Kael muttered under his breath, his voice low and commanding.

Before I could respond, he spun me around, pressing me against the wall. His large hands gripped my waist through the thin, sheer fabric of my gown. My breath hitched as his touch sent a confusing ripple of heat across my skin. One hand slid down to my hip while the other skimmed along my side, his fingers splaying possessively as if I truly belonged to him.

He leaned in, his breath warm against my ear. "Play along," he whispered, his voice sharp.

I barely had time to nod before he tilted his head, his lips brushing dangerously close to my neck. My hands instinctively gripped his arms, fingers digging into the hard muscle beneath his leather gauntlets. A guard stood a few feet away, shifting uncomfortably, clearly torn between watching us and pretending not to notice.

A group of fae nobles approached, their voices rising in conversation. Kael pulled back just enough to meet my eyes before stepping away, grabbing my arm with fluid precision. He turned to the guard, a roguish smirk curving his lips.

"Excuse me, Knight," he said, his voice dripping with false charm, "but my pet and I will be using this room. Best not to startle the delicate ears of the ladies, hmm?"

The guard flushed and quickly nodded, stepping aside to let us pass. Kael didn't wait for another word, dragging me into the library before the nobles could catch up. The heavy door shut behind us with a solid thud, sealing us into the vast, quiet space.

I took a deep breath, my heart still racing as I stepped deeper into the room. The sight was awe-inspiring—floor-to-ceiling shelves filled with books, the scent of aged paper and leather mingling with the cool air. The only wall not covered in books had a massive window, framing the snow-capped mountains outside, their peaks glowing faintly in the morning light.

Kael's voice pulled me from my thoughts. "We don't have much time. Look for anything on unseelie their magic, anything about Dani, ancient prophecies, or... curses."

I nodded, moving to the nearest shelf. I quickly gathered a small stack of promising books before we carried them to a table in the back of the room, one that offered a clear view of the door in case someone entered. My fingers trembled with excitement and trepidation as I flipped open the first book.

We worked in silence for a time, Kael scanning through the pages with a focus that made me forget for a moment that he was supposed to be this fearsome warrior.

Kael moved with a strange grace, his body slightly hunched, his every movement deliberate as if he, too, feared the weight of this trespass. He scanned the shelves, his eyes sharp and searching, but there was a palpable tension in the way he moved. He was far too aware of the dangers here, the stakes of getting caught.

"Here," Kael muttered, pulling a thick tome from the shelf with a soft groan of protest from the aging wood. His fingers traced the intricate design on the cover, a symbol I didn't recognize, but there was something familiar about it. A series of swirling patterns that almost seemed to move if I stared too long. "This one should have something. My mother..." His voice trailed off, and I saw the hint of pain in his eyes before he quickly masked it.

I leaned in, my curiosity piqued. The title on the spine was in an ancient, flowing script I couldn't read, but the aura around it felt like a whisper in my bones. "What is it?"