Ashe yanked Nylas up as we all quietly ran behind a bookcase.

I slid my face mask over my face, everyone following suit. Nylas pulled out a sword from his cane, Avaloryn held onto her bow, and Rysdan brought up two daggers. Ashe shoved a dagger into my palms.

The door opened, and I heard many footsteps come in. "We haven't gotten to this section of the library yet. Let's research here."

"We'll guard the room," a deep voice said.

My legs grew heavy; I hadn't planned for this.

Ashe placed a finger to his lips.

"Odaya will be here in a few minutes. We'll keep the front door open, but if anything happens, just call out for us." With that, the clatter of the guards' armor made its way out of the library.

"Let's start searching this way," a man said.

The footsteps made its way to the opposite end of the library.

I brought my lips up to Ashe's ear. "We can't kill them, right?"

"Of course not." Ashe peeked his head around the bookcase as he kept an outstretched arm to prevent us from walking away.

Rysdan tapped Ashe and whispered, "Wait for Odaya to come."

"Why? Let's just kill them and get this over with." Avaloryn brought her bow up and aimed it around the corner of the bookcase.

Nylas grabbed the bow away from her. "Let's wait."

"We'll get caught, idiots." Avaloryn sighed and carefully attached the bow back at her hips. "Why wait for Odaya?"

Ashe and Rysdan looked at each other, then Ashe shook his head. "You're not doing that," Ashe warned.

Rysdan said, "It'll be the easiest way out—"

"Absolutely not." Ashe shook his head and glanced around the corner. "Look, one of them is Zeena's brother."

We all peeked around. A brunette boy with spectacles sat with his back facing us.

"So?" Rysdan asked.

"We handle this by bargaining." Ashe sighed.

He started to walk away, but Rysdan grabbed his arm and flung him back. "If you won't let me bargain with Odaya, then I won't let you do something stupid."

Oh, for Saints' sake.

I grabbed a book and tossed it in the opposite direction. We quickly flew against the bookshelves, Ashe shoving his elbow into my ribs.

"What was that?" one of the five researchers asked.

"A book fell off the shelf," another responded.

The sound of chairs moving echoed. A few footsteps followed after. We all shuffled to the other end of the bookcase, the wooden doors visible now. In the aisle of bookcases in front of us, the hole we'd blasted was there, slightly visible.

"Good idea," Avaloryn whispered, glaring at the boys.

Avaloryn grabbed another book and threw it further than the first one that I'd thrown. The researchers jumped, then walked over to the other book.

Rysdan ran out from our hiding and sprinted toward the door. When it flew open, it revealed him.

"Shit!" Ashe started to run toward Rysdan, but Rysdan casually took off his boot and threw it right at Ashe's head.

"Odaya, sweetheart, I found you," Rysdan said, his voice clearly forced innocently.

Ashe mumbled a series of curses as he stood beside me, watching what was happening.

"Lord Selorn, I didn't expect to see you here. I thought I made it explicitly clear that no one is meant to come in here." Odaya glanced up and down at Rysdan. "Why are you dressed in leather?"

Rysdan shuffled in his spot and cleared his throat. "I know how much you like to see me in leather, darling." He took a step back, allowing Odaya to come in. Five guards flanked her, all of them equipped.

Odaya stood silently, gazing around. She looked back to her guards and said, "Please go guard the entrance."

The guards walked away, leaving Odaya with Rysdan.

Nylas shook his head and slowly put his sword back into its scabbard.

"Why are you calling me these things?" Odaya asked as she held her arms. "You said—"

"I had a change of heart," Rysdan quickly stated.

Odaya's eyes widened slightly, but the rest of her face remained serious. "A change of heart?"

"Odaya, you can't honestly think I still don't love you. Feelings don't just go away like that." Rysdan walked her deeper into the library, away from our sight.

Some part of me stung. I didn't know if it was because of the lack of energy I had, or if it was because of what he'd said.

"Saints, is he going to..." Avaloryn and I ran to the other side of the bookcase to see what was happening between those two.

"You made it clear that I wasn't supposed to address you as anything more than my superior—"

"Shush, Odaya. Come, let's sit and talk." He pulled out a chair for her. As she sat, I saw a perfect view of her back. Rysdan jerked his neck in the direction of the door.

Ashe grabbed Avaloryn and I and ran toward the entrance of the library. Ashe and Avaloryn kicked the door down, revealing Kampa—

And five guards staring at us.

Quickly, Nylas slashed his sword through one of the guards. Ashe and Avaloryn took special care of three of the guards. The burns on my palms pulsed, and when I tightened my grip on the dagger, it burned even more.

When the guard dove toward me, Ashe tackled the guard and pulled off his helmet. When Ashe wrapped his hands around the guards throat, it was only a matter of seconds before he passed out.

"Run back to your tents!" Ashe ordered.

Sprinting, I arrived to the tent and crawled inside. There was nothing I could change my clothes into, so I grabbed the sheets and took off my clothes so I could wrap the bedsheet in a dress style.

I glanced around, trying to find someplace to hide my former clothes. Quickly, I lifted the water basin and throw them into the tunnel that I was digging.

Seconds after, Ashe came in, scrambling for clothes. "Look, my tent is too far. Turn away while I change."

I spun around. Clothes were tossed around my tent, some hitting the back of my head. "Done."

"What's Rysdan doing?" I asked.

"I don't know. Something stupid no doubt. I should go in there and get him out." Ashe scrambled out of my tent, cursing. I ran after him, watching him pull out daggers from his pants and throw them behind him.  

When Ashe reached the entrance to the library, he went on a knee at one of the dead bodies, then looked up at me. "Start screaming."

Ah, so we were going to act.

I gave the most blood-curdling scream I could. People started running, and soon enough, Odaya and Rysdan ran out of the library.

"What the hell happened!" Odaya joined Ashe on her knees.

Ashe shrugged and "accessed" the bodies. "I was walking past this area, then Valarya screamed and said there were dead bodies here."

I cued in my tears as I said, "I was walking to the Tent, and then I saw the bodies. Oh, Saints, it was horrid!" Wiping my tears with my wrists, I glanced at Ashe.

Ashe went up to his feet and wrapped me into his arms. "It's going to be fine, I promise. We'll find the bastards that did this." As Ashe started to stroke my hair, he bent his head onto my shoulder and whispered into my ear, "Excellent, Princess."

I held in my urge to laugh as I pulled away from Ashe. "What are you going to do, Odaya?" I asked.

"I'll get my guards to investigate—"

Odaya was interrupted by more screams, this time by the researchers inside the library. "There's a hole in the ground!"

"What?" Odaya ran inside the library. Ashe, Rysdan, and I exchanged glances. Only a few seconds later, Odaya stormed out of the library. "Get my guards. Hamilton, report this to Lord Prodos."

Hamilton ran off toward the Tent.

"Did you see anyone run away when you found the bodies, Valarya?" Odaya said as she looked around.

"Saints, what if they escaped? What if they're in this camp? Oh, Saints!" I started crying again.

"She's clearly in shock," Odaya said. "Ashe, please take her to Zeena until she calms down."

"Of course." Ashe walked me away from the bodies. Once we were a safe distance, he eyed me, then chuckled. "You're too good at this."

"I am, aren't I?" I refrained from laughing as we walked into Zeena's clinic.

"Ashe!" Zeena ran up to him and shook his hand as she curtsied. "Oh, and it's you, too, I suppose." She clapped her hands and looked at Ashe. "Did you get injured? Shot? Want me to just check for an illness?"

Ashe cleared his throat and looked away, his cheeks flushed. "Uhh... I'm fine, thank you. Could you help Valarya?"

Zeena glared at me, then painted on a smile. "Of course, Ashe! Anything for you. Come along, darling. Let's get you sorted."

"No need to act like you hadn't tried to tackle me last time, Zeena."

Ashe choked on the air and looked at her.

Zeena smiled, her teeth glowing. "You're delirious, Princess. Please, follow me."

"Oh, yes. I'm very delirious." I stumbled away with Zeena, knowing damn well she was going to tackle me again once Ashe was out of sight.