The Hunter and the Mage (The Raven and the Dove #2) - Kaitlyn Davis Page 0,83

strength, though a little push from her might tip the scales.

"Haven't you ever done anything you're not supposed to?" Most of her life had been defined by her doing things she wasn't supposed to, usually with Lyana by her side.

"I— I'm not—" His brow furrowed into a deep groove.

"Come on, a little rule-breaking can be fun."

"Fun?" He curled his lip as though a foul odor laced the air. "Fun? The last time I broke a rule it was to let my brother pretend to be me during our most sacred ritual, and we both know how well that turned out."

"I said a little rule-breaking," Cassi scoffed. "Not challenging the gods."

Xander sighed heavily. "I'm already in thin air with the owls."

"Well, I'm an owl, and you’re not in thin air with me."

He opened his mouth to respond, but a gentle click sounded, stealing his words. The uncertainty on his face turned to excitement, and she grinned. With a little push, she eased the door open and slipped inside. Xander paused at the threshold, but with the light seeping in through the gap, illuminating a wall of leather-bound spines, it was only a matter of time before he relented.

One second passed.

Then two. Then three—

Xander gulped audibly and entered. Cassi closed the door behind him, shrouding them in darkness. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust, but when they did, she stepped easily across the room toward the sheen of glass in the corner. Her spying had taught her how to light the special lanterns used in the library. Instead of requiring a candle or torch to ignite the wick, the metal tops used miniature flints, which contained the fire inside the lantern and kept the collection protected.

A bang drew her attention, followed by a hastily whispered, "Ow!"

Cassi glanced over her shoulder to find Xander hopping on one foot, his wings flapping to keep him upright as he clutched his toe. The air circulated, rustling pages and tossing up dust. She laughed softly and spun the dial to light the lantern. Within seconds, a warm glow revealed curved walls lined with books. Three worktables sat in the middle of the space, one of their legs having been his invisible attacker.

Xander froze.

With as much dignity as he could muster, he slowly dropped his foot back to the floor and folded his wings against his back. "How much of that did you see?"

"I have perfect night vision."

"Right."

"Your toe all right?"

"Never better." He pursed his lips and sucked in a breath, then slowly expelled it. "Anyway…how'd you know how to use the lantern?"

"Woman's intuition."

He stared at her, unconvinced.

Damn you and your frustratingly attentive mind.

"There was one in my room." Cassi shrugged and turned to the shelves, hoping that was explanation enough. "I'll take this side and you take the other. First one to find something interesting wins. Deal?"

"You're on."

As she ran her fingers over the spines, Cassi scanned the titles—trade logs, supply records, interhouse agreements, and various merchant contracts. She had, it seemed, stepped into what was quite possibly the most boring room in the entire library. Still, even the most boring room was still a room. The smooth brush of leather against her fingertips calmed her heart. The slightly musty, almost sweet smell of old pages cleared her mind. Back in the House of Peace, Cassi had spent hours in the royal library, a dismally small room compared to the one she was in now, but it had meant so much. It had been her shelter from the lies, from the double life, the only place where she could be herself—or escape herself, as the case so often was. Books had always been her haven, and even surrounded by tomes filled with nothing but numbers and lists and useless data, she found peace.

"I think I got something."

"Really?" Cassi spun, unable to hide the shock in her tone. "Let me see."

Xander held out the book and Cassi snatched it from his hold. Punishments and Executions in the First Age. Volume 1. After reading it three times in disbelief, she looked up to find complete sincerity etched on his face.

"I thought I said interesting."

"This is interesting."

"Clearly, you're much darker than I ever gave you credit for."

He rolled his eyes, snatched the book back, and took a seat at the table closest to the lantern before staring at her imploringly. "Well?"

"Fine. Enlighten me."

With a sigh, she collapsed into the chair by his side. Xander eased the cover open and flipped quickly through the first few pages