Page 12 of The Alien in the Archive (Galactic Librarians #1)

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I ’ve found an incredible source, invaluable to my research. That should be a good thing, yes, but there’s one stumbling block to including Thorne’s information in my findings.

Historians have to cite their sources , and I can’t exactly cite “Fugitive Alien Hiding in the Library.”

But I can’t avoid meeting with Davina forever…and that’s how I find myself walking to her office a few weeks after I arrived on M’mir. She told me she didn’t need to hear from me unless I needed help, but I guess she thought I would be less independent than I turned out.

I ignore the constant thrum of Thorne’s mind somewhere in the Obscuary as I pass the gate, finding Davina’s office door open at the end of the hall. She’s sitting at her desk, wearing what appears to be a human button-up and a vest, looking like the consummate academic outside of the antlers and metallic skin. She smiles at me when I walk in, eyes sharp and assessing.

“Page,” she says. “You’re early. I assumed you’d be buried in the Archives until the last possible moment. ”

From anyone else, it might sound offensive—like from Riley, for example—but from Davina, I know she gets it. I take a seat in the chair across from her desk, and she closes the holographic display on her desk with a flick of her fingers.

“I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch more often,” I apologize. “I’ve just…you know. The Obscuary is enormous and there’s so much to learn…”

“Trust me, I understand.” She clasps her hands in front of her. “How are you finding M’mir?”

I laugh softly, shaking my head. “Um…how do I describe it? I’m a lifelong bibliophile and I live on a library planet. It’s a dream come true.”

“Have you made any friends?”

The question surprises me—not because it’s uncalled for, but because it’s very human. When I was at Harvard, my best advisors were always getting on me about spending more time with living people, not just with dead ones.

It wasn’t ever my strong suit.

“Yeah,” I lie—or partially lie, because Riley’s made friends, and I do spend time with them. Plus…I think Thorne is starting to become a friend, not that I can tell Davina about him. “My brother is here as well, and he’s introduced me to a couple people in Engineering. I also met Thalara Seviris, who’s working with Merati royal history.”

“Oh, she’s a lovely girl,” Davina smiles. “That’s good. You should try to make sure to spend time outside of the Obscuary, too. It can…affect your psyche.”

I frown. “What do you mean?”

“Being in the quiet so long, with books that have their own kind of psychic resonance, books we don’t fully understand,” she shrugs. “Taking a break every once in a while is wise.”

I peer at her, trying to figure out what she wants from me. I would promise her I’ll take a break, but I don’t plan on it. And besides, I’m not really alone there.

“But that’s beside the point,” Davina says. “Let’s talk about your research—any major developments, or are you still laying the groundwork?”

“Yes, actually.” I reach down for my bag, pulling out a bundle of parchment and numerous notebooks. I’ve already filled out two with information from Thorne, and the parchment is all material he gave me—things he’s filed away over the years. “Something I thought you’d want to see right away.”

She leans forward as I put the material on the desk, her attention entirely captured. “Let’s have a look, then.”

She pulls the first sheet from the bundle, her brow furrowing as she scans the handwritten notes. The room is quiet except for the rustle of paper and the faint hum of a glow lamp above us. In the back of my mind, I can feel Thorne…listening, questioning.

I let him in, not even trying to block him out. I want him to know he can trust me completely.

“This…can’t be right,” she mutters, reaching for another sheet. Her eyes are scanning the material faster now, her motions a little less steady. She’s excited—and alarmed? “These references to the Lost Expeditions…they’re far more detailed than anything we’ve recovered so far. This information on the Skoll warships, their melding with Borean technology, the interpersonal negotiations between Skoll, Borean, and humanity?—”

She stops abruptly, her gaze snapping up to meet mine. “Where did you find this?”

I hesitate, hoping like hell that my cover story makes sense and doesn’t arouse suspicion. “I’ve spent some time going deeper into the Obscuary, past where the archivists have everything catalogued. There were some unlabeled crates I thought might be worth checking.”

“Unlabeled crates,” she repeats, her tone flat. She doesn’t believe me; turns out, spending my life searching for the truth hasn’t made me a very good liar. “Page, this information wasn’t just mislabeled. It wasn’t in the archive, not officially. I would know if it were.”

“Well, you’re looking at it right now,” I shrug, forcing myself to hold her gaze. “It must have been overlooked.”

Davina leans back in her chair, her fingers steepled under her chin as she studies me. Her expression is unreadable, which only makes my stomach twist tighter. “Page,” she says finally, “do you have any idea what you’ve uncovered?”

I nod. “It will completely change our understanding of humanity’s connection to the Pact.”

“Indeed.” She picks up another sheet, her eyes scanning rapidly. “ If it’s authentic.”

“It is,” I say quickly. “I double-checked the source material. It matches up with other records.”

She raises an eyebrow. “Other records that also don’t exist in the Obscuary?”

I open my mouth, then close it again. Right. That will be a problem.

“Page,” she says, setting the papers down. “Your scholarship is fantastic, I’ll give you that. And you have a knack for finding things most researchers overlook. But this…” She gestures to the bundle. “This doesn’t add up. Are you sure there’s nothing you’re leaving out?”

I hesitate for a fraction of a second too long, and her eyes narrow. “There are dangerous items in the Obscuary,” she goes on. “You can trust me. If you’ve found something…unusual, something outside the scope of your research, it could become a matter of safety for the whole library.”

The words are right there on the tip of my tongue: I found it with Thorne. He showed me the Labyrinth, hidden archives, books he’s stolen away, things no one’s supposed to see .

But I can’t say it.

Not yet.

Not when I’m still trying to piece it all together myself…and when I promised I would keep his secrets.

“It’s just research,” I say instead. “I’m thorough. I hope that won’t impede our work.”

Davina doesn’t look convinced, but she doesn’t press any further. “Very well,” she says, her tone cool. “Leave these with me. I’ll review them and see what we can validate.”

I nod, even though now I’m regretting bringing her the material at all. If she reviews it…will she be able to figure out I’m getting my information from a living, breathing source? I stare at the papers for another second before I get up, grabbing my bag. “Thank you for meeting with me today, I hope you?—”

“Page, wait,” she interrupts me. “If you find anything else…anything that seems out of place. You need to bring it to me immediately. Do you understand?”

“Of course,” I say. “I’ll be around. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about the research.”

Outside, the hallway feels both too long and too short. I want nothing more than to run to Thorne for some stupid reason, but I know I need to leave him be for a while. If Davina is remotely suspicious, we have to be careful.

But I also know I’m not stopping.

He’s too tempting for me to stay away.