Page 161 of Fall of Ruin and Wrath

Allyson jumped as something hit the door. “There’s more.” She began backing up. “Library. Now.”

Stomach twisting, I shoved my sudden, inexplicable, and rather impossible prowess with the dagger away to deal with later. I turned as Allyson shoved open the doors. We raced into the chamber just as the sound of wood splintering reached us. Allyson cried out, fingers curling against the chest of her gown as Milton and Grady closed the doors behind them.

“Get the chairs— the settee,” Milton ordered. “We’ll block the door.”

Quickly sheathing the dagger, I rushed forward and slammed my hands into the side of the settee. It barely budged. I whipped toward Allyson. “Help me.”

Her wide, frightened eyes met mine as she hurried to my side, and I locked on to her. It happened so quick. I connected with her, and my second sense came alive so fast there was no stopping it as she moved forward to help. My entire body jerked.

Then I saw her falling—fresh red running down the front of her blue gown.Then I felt it—sharp agony along my throat, burning and final as the silver chain snapped and the necklace fell, the sapphire splattered with blood—

Breaking eye contact with her, I pushed harder on the settee, its legs tearing the carpet. “Hide,” I rasped. “Go and hide.”

“You need help. You can’t push this— ”

“No.” I shoved her away, toward the stacks.

She stumbled back. “Lis— ”

“You need to hide. Now. Don’t make a sound. Don’t come out. You hide. Do you understand me? You stay hidden, no matter what.”

“Y-Yes.” She wrapped her arms around herself.

“Go.Now.”

Allyson slowly backed away and then turned, disappearing between the rows of books.

Grady joined me, grabbing the side of the settee. We carried it over to the door. Milton shoved a heavy chair against it—

A thump hit the doors, causing the three of us to jump again. Another bang hit it. Ani’mereshrieked, turning my blood cold.

“Really wish I had that wine now,” Milton muttered.

“We’ll get you a dozen bottles after this,” Grady assured him. Theni’merehit the door again, shrieking. “We need to hide.”

My mind raced for a good hiding place. I thought of the heavily curtained recesses that many of the staff liked to sneak to, either for a brief rendezvous or a quick nap. Some of them even had doors in them that led to other chambers or to stairs that went to the mezzanine above. Which ones, I couldn’t remember. “The alcoves. To our left. Some of them have doors.”

Milton nodded, swallowing hard as he glanced around. “Best of luck.”

Then he darted off, heading toward the wall. Grady and I did the same. We rushed through the maze of bookcases. The wall of alcoves came into view as the library doors crashed open.

Somewhere in the library, Allyson cried out in fear, and my heart sank.Please be quiet. Please. Please.Grady shoved one of the heavy drapes aside, and then we were quickly enveloped in the dark, stale air of the cramped space as the drape settled back in place.

Grady held me tight to him as I stared through the gap between the curtains, my entire body shaking. It was no more than an inch, but it felt like we stood completely exposed as theni’meresflew through the library. Books fell, one by one, hitting the floor, and I jumped. Each time, I jumped.

A louder crash came seconds later, sounding like an entire row of heavy bookcases toppling over. Silence followed, and then . . .

Slow, steady footsteps.

Then quiet.

Seconds ticked by as I strained to hear any sound. Minutes. There was nothing. Did theni’meresleave? Wouldn’t we—

“There’s no reason to hide,” a Hyhborn said, and my body flashed hot then cold. I hadn’t forgotten that voice. It was Lord Samriel. “I will not harm you.”

Grady made no move to come up. Neither did I.

“Come out,” Lord Samriel called, his tone gentle and coaxing. “You will be safe if you do.”