Page 40 of As Above, So Below

I’ll be the first to admit it.

But ferrying a shadow hag into Netharis’ library to claim a book of her choosing is easily near the top of the list. The nagging fear of being discovered screams in the back of my mind and leaves me tense.

I’ve already damned one soul to be feasted upon. I could have offered the other to sweeten the deal. But it would be an unnecessary cruelty when I can offer time within the library. It doesn’t make what I’ve done any easier to bear, but it doesn’t make it worse.

As long as I don’t get caught.

Five minutes.

She gets five minutes.

Pushing the heavy library doors closed, I turn the lock. With a click, we’re sealed inside the room, away from potential prying eyes. Typically, this layer of the Tower lies empty, but today would be the day any one of my siblings or Netharis himself would change that.

Granted, a locked door isn’t enough to stop Netharis were he to seek me out. But it would buy just enough time for Ylara to ferry Sunshine back down to the lower layer as I attempt to distract.

There’s too much here that could go wrong, and it sends my anxiety soaring.

“Your five minutes start now,” I say, turning to the hag whose head swivels wildly as she takes in the library.

Leaving a giddy giggle and the scent of bergamot in her wake,Sunshine gallops deeper into the disheveled library. Unleashing herself upon a mount of books, she falls to her hands and knees to tear through them, huffing like a bloodhound. She tosses a few aside without care, creating new piles on either side of the one she’s dismantling.

“It’s like she’s a boar,” Ylara whispers beside me as we watch in both awe and concern.

“She can’t make a bigger mess than I already did,” I say, trying to stifle my laughter and failing.

Giggling to herself behind a hand, Ylara loops her arm through mine and leans against me. Platonic closeness like this is rarely shared between demons.

“I’m going to miss you,” she says quietly and I glance down at my sister.

Her words pierce through me, and my laughter dies as she meets my gaze. We’re too often dishonest about our thoughts and emotions and I’m left stunned.

Swallowing against the sudden tightness in my throat, I paint a soft smile on my face. “Don’t be stupid. Knowing you, you’ll find a way to bore holes through the veil and join me.”

Ylara gives me a playful smirk. “I already have a few ideas.”

Chuckling, I nod. “Of course you do. Make sure to find me.”

“I will. I promise.”

A small silence blankets us, and for a moment, we stand together watching Sunshine. Part of me wishes for more time—should my escape work, there’s a possibility of never seeing her again. The last few centuries since Ylara’s arrival have been dotted with shared moments like this.

The nature of our darkest selves resonates with the other, finding a strange sense of solace and peace in a realm that demands violence and noise. Leaving her is going to be harder than leaving Vaelyn.

But even if my escape fails, we’ll be separated.

I’ll be bound to obsidian, I’m sure.

Sunshine leaps to another pile of books and begins tearing through them with the same methodical practice as she had with the first.

“It’s here. It’s here. It’s here,” she mutters, each iteration in a higher pitch. “I cansmellit,” she sings, bringing a book to her face and inhaling deeply.

Tossing it aside, she snarls.

“How does she remain hidden in the hells?” I ask, tilting my head as I continue to watch the curious shadow hag.

“I gave her my hair.” Ylara answers, smiling rather mischievously.

As the realization washes over me, my jaw falls open. My eyes dart to the black rope around Sunshine’s waist.