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“Fine.” I look them over too, but don’t find anything.

We go up and down the aisle and several adjoining ones, as well. Nothing. Like that’s a big shock. Bash insists we keep searching, so we spend more time than seems necessary looking. And finding nothing.

Exhausted, I turn to him. “They aren’t here. Can we give up now?”

“That’s really what you want?”

I nod. “I have my answer.”

“Which is?”

“They aren’t here.”

He tilts his head. “Who do you think is behind it?”

There are too many people around for me to say that out loud. I inch closer and whisper, “You know.”

“You really think so?”

“Who else? It all points to him.”

He frowns. “It just seems unlikely.”

“Why? Why wouldn’t he want exactly this? It solved all of his problems.”

“But he could’ve done it himself. And it isn’t like he added that info in himself. Those were clearly ancient books—at least the one I saw.”

I nod. “The others are like that one, but with some different information.”

“Maybe he didn’t have a clue about any of this. The books could be checked out.”

“All of them? From both libraries? Really?”

Bash shrugs. “It’s possible.”

“So, you’re saying it has to be someone from the academy?”

“It’s a possibility.”

“Or you-know-who wanted to make sure I got the information because he really wants me to come into my full powers. I don’t see how he can’t be behind it.”

Bash pulls me close and kisses my cheek. “You’re too used to having an untrustworthy dad. Relax and enjoy the fact that your real dad is a kind-hearted guy everyone in Valora loves.”

I can’t deny he has a point. Even though my dad’s true nature didn’t come out until he became king, he was still never father of the year material with his long work hours and never being home with Mom and me. And now that I think about it, his “business trips” on land were most likely visits to Valora, working out his plan to kill his brother. Could he have already been seeing Middlebrooks? What if he knew or suspected his brother was my biological father and his wife still loved him? That would’ve given him more reason to seek revenge.

“You know I’m right.” Bash kisses me again. “Why don’t we head back to the academy? You have your answer—the books are gone here too.”

“I’m going to have to ask him about this.”

“You want to tell him about the father curse?”

“It looks like he already knows.”

“Are you sure, though?” Bash plays with a lock of my hair. “If he knew all along that you’re his daughter, he’d have to know killing Drake would do no good.”

“Unless he hoped it would work. My dad was my dad, even if not genetically. Even if he was a horrible person.”

“Maybe he’s right about the trials. That could be what you need to do rather than following the curse.”

“Either way, I hate it! I didn’t ask for any of this.” Anger pulsates through me. My hands glow green.

Bash takes one of my hands and kisses it. “You don’t have to deal with any of this right now. Let’s get back to the academy and study. Try to start off the term on the right fin.”

I hate it when he’s right. “Okay. Let’s go.”

But I’m far from done looking into this.