Page 87 of The Serpent Prince

Imani’s stomach dropped. She shook her head. “No. That’s a bad idea, Kiran. I can’t help you with that.” She needed more time in the library. If they were caught, they’d be exiled immediately.

“You must not want this book all that much,” he hit back smoothly.

“Why don’t you just order me to help you?”

The smug look on his face grated on her. “I’d rather make a deal than strongarm you, my darling.” With a dramatic sigh, he flicked his wand once, conjuring something.

A book dropped heavily onto the table. It was tattered and thick, and a small puff of dust blew up as it settled on the wood. The title made her mouth go dry. He really did have it.

A History of Royal Bloodlines.

Imani couldn’t hide her surprise. Her mouth fell open. She reached out and delicately ran her trembling hands over the lettering. “How …? How did you know I wanted to read this book? And where did you find it?” It terrified her that he had this and was giving it to her. Did he know about the Drasil?

“Tanyl,” he replied. “He admitted your crime while trying to convince my brother and me to pass you over for the assessments. Said you were caught stealing from the master library, and when I casually inquired what you stole, he admitted it.”

She clenched her hands. “Did he tell you why I’ve been looking for this book?”

“No, but if I had to guess, it would be because you’re researching slips and doorways.”

As usual, the man was too smart for his own good.

Imani canted her head to the side. “How would you know that?”

“Because I read it.” He rolled his eyes. “And gods, it was beyond boring. That was the only interesting part—I figured you would agree, too.”

A moment of tense silence passed over them.

Eventually, Kiran reached out for her hand, twining their fingers together. He didn’t seem bothered by her missing ones. “You didn’t have the same education as most witches with your power. I understand your desire to learn more. It’s not a crime, although it was smart of you to keep your curiosity about doorways and slips to yourself. There are more books I can let you borrow on the subject, if you agree to help me.”

Imani studied his eyes closely. He wanted her to help him badly, and she didn’t detect any evasiveness or lies in his answer or face. She didn’t claim to be an expert at reading the elf prince—he was a master liar—though she was getting better at recognizing his tells, like the slight narrowing of his eyes or the flip of his hair off his face … and she didn’t think he knew about the wand.

“Well, now you know one of my secrets. What about you? What are you stealing from the dwarves’ high sentinel?”

She didn’t expect an answer. He surprised her.

“The locations of all the slips in the dwarves’ territory.”

Imani could only blink, shocked he would be honest with her. “Why?”

“Now, that’s a bit too much information for our little heist. But rest assured, the documents mapping them out are of the utmost importance.”

There it was—him shutting her out again. But he’d given her more than she’d expected. Plus, the book was worth it. All she had to do was unlock a door, right?

Easy.

Kiran and Imani froze. Kiran grabbed her arm and tugged her behind him slightly. She almost growled at his overprotectiveness but bit her lip to be quiet.

Seeing the high sentinel sitting at his desk when they padded into his office was a surprise. He was a hard-looking man with a soft-spoken nature. For a moment, the three of them simply stared at each other. The large clock ticked ominously in the room.

The high sentinel leaned back, his wand suddenly in his hand with a confused look on his face. “This is a private room, as you could see by the locked door and the defensive wards I placed. What are guests of Eto doing in my personal office at”—he turned to check the time—“midnight.”

Kiran kept Imani firmly in place behind him, his own wand out and ready. He gave the high sentinel a crooked, secretive grin and raised his brows. “Well! If you must know, we are on the hunt for some information—information I know you happen to have in this very office.” He paused. “Maybe we can make a deal.”

All the high sentinel did was arch a brow. “I’ve heard of your deals, Serpent Prince. I think I’ll call for my guards and remove you from the premises.”

“You have more slips than you’re reporting to the throne,” Kiran stated.

A mere narrowing of his eyes was all the high sentinel did. “And how would you possibly know that? What is your proof?”