My stomach gave a nervous flip.
“A very sought-after possession, by the way… I train you in knife combat and help you practice resisting glamours, and you accuse me of making your lifedifficult.” His voice dipped lower until it was almost a growl. “You kiss me, and the next minute you’re making irreversible bloodbargains behind my back. So my question tonight is this: what is it that you want, Farrow?”
On the surface, his expression was inquisitive, but his gaze was full of heat as it bored into me, igniting a fire in my blood.
I trembled against his hand, unable to move or form words. And then he drew away suddenly, releasing me. My skin felt cold at the loss.
It took me several moments to recover before I could speak again. At last I asked, “Why did you ask me not to return to my dormitory tonight?”
At once, his demeanor changed. “Devereaux and his cronies are looking for theBook of Erebos. They’re probably raiding your dormitory as we speak.”
“They’re—what, right now?” I gaped at him. The thought of Devereaux Graves slithering into my dormitory, ransacking mine and Gwen’s things in his fruitless hunt for the Book was downright bone-chilling. “We have to warn Gwen!”
“No need. I suggested to Neha that Gwen might be amenable to a study session, should she feel so inclined to invite her over. And stay the night.”
“Playing matchmaker now, are you?” I rolled my eyes, though in truth, I was relieved to hear that Gwen was nowhere near Ash Hall tonight. “Did you glamour her as well?”
“Didn’t need to,” he replied, smiling impishly.
I frowned. “But you would have, if you’d needed to.”
Casimir’s eyes narrowed infinitesimally, but he nodded. “Yes, I would have. Would you rather I’d left your best friend to fall victim to Devereaux’s caprices?”
“Obviously not.”
“We are in agreement then,” he concluded, a bit too smugly for my liking.
I quirked an inquisitive brow at him. “So? Are you going to tell me why I’m here?” My tattoo burned as if it knew the answer.
“Ah, yes. Down to business.” Casimir clasped his hands together. “I think you’ll recall that a few weeks ago we discussed a certain unfortunate event that must take place Saturday night prior to the blood ritual, and unfortunately, that time has come.” The smirk he shot me was dripping with malevolence. “I think our little sprite has outlived its use.”
My blood ran cold. This was it. “Yes, of course I remember,” I nodded.
“I took the liberty of retrieving the Book from your dorm.” Casimir reached over to procure the heavy tome from a pile of textbooks on a nearby table.
My heart thrummed against my ribs as my gaze landed on the aged leather cover. “Casimir,” I began, “before we destroy it, I think we should speak with it one last time.” I swallowed, steeling myself. “But this time, I think you should take the lead.”
Casimir snorted softly at my suggestion. “That would be a pointless endeavor.”
“The fact of the matter is, theBook of Ereboshas been useful. The sprite remains our best and only chance of finding the Heir.”
He made an impatient noise. “If we destroy the Book, the Order cannot complete the ritual, period. Forget about the Heir.”
“No way! We’ve come too far to give up now. I’m not going to let Devereaux torture some innocent person?—”
Casimir interrupted, “What makes you think the Book will divulge its secrets to me? It’s never been willing to in the past.”
I bit back a growl of frustration and forced myself to explain. “The Vrag Kigna—the sprite—is clearly…interestedin you. Perhaps it was simply too shy to speak with you before. Considering it demanded a lock of your hair…” I waggled my eyebrows suggestively, which elicited a snort from Casimir. “It’s at least worth a try,” I insisted.
He considered me for a long moment, and then nodded slowly. “I suppose there’s no harm in trying...”
“I think we should do it now.”
His brows shot up in surprise. “Alright,” he agreed. “But afterwards, we kill it.”
I bit the inside of my cheek, suddenly anxious. Now that we were actually going to attempt my idea, I began to question whether the Book would cooperate. And if Casimir didn’t behave exactly as I predicted tonight, my entire plan would go up in flames.
Casimir flicked the leather bindings open with one hand. Immediately, the pages shivered in response.