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“Ah, but life would be so very dull, Wildling.”

CHAPTER 19

Adira

Kage’s wayof tutoring me meant sitting and reading his own interests. In truth, I did not find it entirely unpleasant. There was a calmness about his presence, like his broody, delightful face was a natural dose of serotonin.

For the first hour, we’d taken up places on opposing sides of the library. In truth, I was rather captivated by the towering shelves of leather books and scent of dust and ink. A few plush sofas lined the walls along with tables with more of those damn inconvenient quills and inkwells.

It was a massive room, wide and open, with ceiling to floor windows that peered out over a blue glass lake in the back gardens.

While growing up in the mortal realms, libraries had been a sort of sanctuary. From after school hours to seven at night, I’d tuck away in the oversized beanbag chairs, reading, escaping. This room breathed in a bit of the same wonder and escapism, while feeling like home in the next moment.

The second hour, somehow, we’d meandered closer together. Prince Kage sat with a thick book of symbols and spells meant for the jesters of the palace. Tricks and schemes that would draw out the occasional chuckle as he read.

Sometimes he’d wiggle his fingers, trying to cast one of thesimpler spells in the corner. He never knew I watched from over the brim of the ancient tome from House Ravenwood.

Soft hair on my arms raised. I knew he was looking at me, sitting a mere arm’s length away, but I kept my attention schooled on the birch parchment pages.

“I’m curious if staring is considered rude amongst mages like it is humans,” I said and flipped one page.

Kage slapped his book closed. He leaned forward onto his elbows on the table. “If you are asking, I should tell you my manners have been named the worst of the two princes.”

“Not surprised.” I didn’t lift my gaze.

“Those poor manners are the precise reason I feel little guilt in admitting you unsettle me a great deal.”

A mutual feeling, no mistake. More than discovering a world packed with magic and creatures of fairy tales, more than mystical tattoos, more than dormant memories, Kage Wilder unsettled me to my bones.

I closed the pages on a drawing of the ancient ones of the Ravenwood family line. “I’m not certain if I dare ask why you have such a distaste for me.”

One half of Kage’s mouth twisted up into a cunning smirk. He dragged the wooden chair closer until his knee knocked against mine beneath the table. “I did not say distaste.”

Hell, had his voice always rumbled like that? All deep and throaty and low. He’d come so close I could make out the streaks of green and dark blue buried in the dark of his eyes, little flashes of light that broke through the shadows.

“You were gone for a time.”

“You noticed.”

I tilted my head, frowning.

Kage chuckled, but it was short lived. “I thought there was a possible lead on a heartstone.”

“And?”

“It ended up as nothing.”

The thieving prince. He must’ve gone back to Swindler’s Alley,or perhaps somewhere else, risked his neck, his reputation, all to return empty handed time and again.

“I’m sorry.”

“It is nothing I’m not accustomed to.”

I let out a long breath. “Since you’ve been back, why have you avoided me?”

“I’m a prince. I’ve been busy.”

“Your brother is busy.”