I don’t want to kill anyone—or thing.”
“Not even those who would destroy all you love?” He glanced sideways at me. “Because make no mistake—if the Mystik world falls, the human world will follow.”
I studied our hands—his large, mine small. “I-I could die.”
“So you could,” he said. He paused before saying, “We each have an appointment with death. I’d rather die for a cause than die of old age never having done something important.”
“I’m still scared.”
“No matter how many battles I’ve fought, I always go in afraid. It keeps me on me toes.”
This was a conversation I so didn’t want to have. I refused to dwell on tomorrow’s fight or who might die. Nausea filled me when I thought about all that we had at stake. “We should get back,” I said. “I have a lot of work to do before dinner.”
“I need you to do something first.” By the look on his face, it wasn’t something he wanted to ask me but obviously had to.
“What?”
“The wizards recovered the whereabouts of your nana’s ancient charm book from Lorelle’s mind. I want to send you alone to retrieve the book.”
“Did you say alone?”
“You’re shielded. No one can detect you in the libraries. A spell be on the charm book and can’t be removed from Katy’s home. You can release the spell with your globe and bring it back.”
I took a step back. “Are you crazy? I can’t go by myself.”
“I wouldn’t send you if there be another way.” He gave me a reassuring smile. “I’ll be watching through the gateway book. It’s a charm. I’ll teach it to you. Once you’re in the library, you’re home.”
“Can I have a minute to process this?”
He lifted his arm and checked his wristwatch. “Okay, one minute.”
I rolled my eyes. “I didn’t mean literally one minute. If you’re going to time it, then give me five.”
“Certainly, but remember no one can detect you in the libraries.”
“Ugh.” I kicked at a rock. “I have to do this, don’t I?”
He shrugged. “You got a bit more time to agonize on it, if you want.”
Getting to the library went smoother than expected. Carrig came with me to the library to show me how to charm the photos in the Libraries of the World book into moving pictures, or rather windows, to see if anyone was in the Boston Athenæum’s reading room before I transported. It was morning in France, which meant it was about three in the afternoon in Boston.
Carrig had had the artisans sew me normal clothes. The women made me black pants, a shirt, and a jacket that all totally hugged what little curves I had, which brought back all the insecurities ever to haunt my mind. The low boots were ugly but comfortable. The curers created energy wafers for me to counter the side effects from using my globe. Though the side effects of the truth globe had stopped before Lorelle destroyed it, the pink globe’s aftereffects were sporadic. I shoved the wafers into a pocket in the jacket.
When the coast was clear, I jumped into the book and hid in the farthest staircase in one of the protruding bookcases. A man departed the elevator and sat at one of the large tables. After grabbing a book from a nearby shelf, I crossed the room to the elevators. It was taking the elevator too long to reach the fifth floor, so I took the stairs, ditching the book on a step.
Okay, this is easy.
The reception desk was busy as I hurried down the white marble steps and out the red saloon doors. It was a clear, hot day in Boston. I flagged down a taxi, opened the door, and slid in. The driver let me off about a block from Nana’s house. My heart squeezed at the thought of her. Merl had said he’d keep her safe, but we hadn’t heard word since. I prayed she was still fine.
I knelt behind a lilac bush across the street, making sure the coast was clear, then darted across the street and peered in the front window. A shadow moved across the half-closed sheers. A twentysomething guy, a chubbier version of Bastien, stumbled over to the window, and I ducked down.
“It’s an oven in ’ere,” Veronique said from somewhere in the house. “Odil, open more windows.”
Crap. This is not going to be easy.
The window squealed as Odil opened it. His heavy feet thudded back into the living room. “Where do you want to start searching?”
“Oh please, do I ’ave