Fire and Bone (Otherborn #1)(96)

Oh wow. It’s huge, two stories high, bookshelves floor to ceiling, full to the brim.

The raven squawks.

I walk into the center of the room. As I get closer to the bird, I realize it’s huge, almost unnaturally so. There’s an odd patch of silver feathers on the right side of its neck. It tips its head and eyes me sideways, like it’s making sure I’m allowed to be in here, then it hops closer and opens its shiny beak, releasing a low caw. It keeps staring at me as if it has something to say, and all I can do is stare back and wonder if it’s really just a bird. In this place, who can tell?

“What a party, huh?” I say.

It tips its head again. If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear it’s keying in on my boobs, but that’s just—

A flash of yellow light reflects on the wall behind the raven, and I realize it’s a reflection from my medallion. It must’ve caught the bird’s eye.

The creature screeches again, then flies up and perches on the edge of a higher shelf. The sound of wings continues, though, and I swear I smell roses . . . smell ice . . .

The ground tilts, tingles washing over me—

“You shouldn’t be in here,” a clipped female voice says from behind me.

I spin and see Princess Mara standing in the doorway. She’s glaring at me like she’s completely offended that I’m in this library with her pet bird instead of out mingling.

She glances up at the raven. I could swear fear flashes across her features for a second. “This room stays locked. How did you even get in?”

I shake my head and point at the door. “I knocked,” I say stupidly.

She considers me for a second and then looks back at the bird. “This isn’t a safe place for a newblood princess.”

It’s a library.

“You need to go back to your party,” she adds.

I almost say, “Yes, ma’am,” like I’ve been scolded by a teacher for not having a hall pass. Instead, I just nod and back out of the room. What was I thinking wandering around this place alone? The door slams in my face, even though Princess Mara’s hands stay clenched at her sides.



It’s official: everyone’s having fun at my party except me. Well, or Faelan. I’m pretty sure that wherever the guy is, he’s miserable too.

I find Aelia and her coven laughing and cooing in a room full of young men. One of the girls, Victoria, is doing a magic trick, floating playing cards around her hips. Each time a card flies out, one of the guys catches it. If it’s hearts, she kisses them. Long, slobbery kisses. I gag and walk away after the third guy. I’m pretty sure she was flicking the kissing cards on purpose, like a rigged Spin the Bottle.

I wander outside and wish I could just drive myself home. As I settle on a patio chair, a shadow falls over me. I know right away that it’s Faelan.

“Where’ve you been?” I ask.

“Following you,” he says. “Watching Kieran.”

“Sounds thrilling.”

“You’re miserable.”

“I am.” I glance up at him. “Your world is sorta boring if you’re not into drinking countless cocktails, gossiping, or playing tonsil hockey with strangers.”

He sits across from me, ignoring my snark. “Did you notice that Kieran’s been avoiding you?”

I did wonder why the dark prince hadn’t accosted me again. I just shrug.

He rests his elbows on his knees. “I spotted him going into the room you came out of, almost the second you left. He’s still in there.” He runs his fingers through his hair, and it falls over his left eye. “He’s up to something.”

“And? What am I supposed to do about it?”

“Do you feel anything . . . odd? Like, in your mind or spirit?”

“What? No—what are you talking about? Be more specific.”

“At first I thought he’d brought you here to show off for you, but when he came over to us and acted so . . . un-Kieran . . .”

“He was a prick, how is that un-Kieran?”

He lowers his voice. “He was jealous. Kieran has everything, he needs nothing. And he never shows weakness.”

I frown at him, not sure where he’s going with this.

“I have a hunch he may have brought you here for a different reason. Like a spell.”





THIRTY-NINE

FAELAN

“You’re sure you don’t feel anything weird?” I ask, looking her over more closely. I try to ignore my body’s reaction to the scattering of freckles on the soft skin of her bare shoulders, the shape of her legs in those heels. Kieran’s a prick, but he’s right; she’s going to be the death of me.

“I’m fine,” she says. “Bored to tears, but fine. What do you mean, a spell?”

“I think we should leave.” The faster we get out of here, the sooner I can relax. Something’s up with Kieran. After Sage left us, he leaned over and told me I shouldn’t have brought her. When I asked him why, he just growled at me to be better at my job as he walked away.

“Fine with me,” she says. “The sooner we get out of here, the better. Shouldn’t we find Aelia, though?”

“I’ll text her. She can get a ride with one of the girls in her coven.”