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It hit her like a comet landing.

Even if she worked quickly and had no distractions, it would take an entire lifetime to go through every nook and cranny. Two lifetimes, probably.

Shitting stars.

“We’ll find a way and it’ll be alright, sooner or later.” Fern squeezed her shoulder. “Probably when you least expect it, you’ll see. I can feel it.”

She always seemed to know exactly what Lunara was thinking, and just what to say to calm her.

Lunara said as much, gripping Fern’s hand in her own. “It’s a gift. Truly. Never change.”

“For all we know, I’ve already changed. Dramatically. Horrendously.” Fern’s smile was sad as she shrugged. “Shit, I could be worse than the pissbag we’re looking for. Who’s to say?”

“Fern—”

“Forget I said anything about it. What’s our plan?”

“I think we need help focusing our efforts, but I’ve no idea who to ask.” Lunara slumped, squishing both cheeks between her palms. “Who’s been working on the prophecy research again? Maybe we could consult them.”

As far as she could tell, there was no one minding the archives. She hadn’t seen anyone that looked as though they were taking care of the place, or replenishing the stacks. The only other creatures they’d come across had been in the throes of their own feverish searches.

“Ah. Hmm…” Fern examined her fingernails, the pointed claws painted a fetching shade of green to match her wings. “Right. Now that I think about it, I believe you were somewhere between a shocked gasp and a dead sprint for the closest shelf when the Sovereigns introduced us to the Directory.”

“The what?”

“The…creature near the front that manages inquiries?”

Lunara’s jaw dropped. “You didn’t think to mention that at any point in the last week?”

“How the fuck was I supposed to know?” Fern straightened, throwing her hands up. “We’re discovering together that you never heard them. I just assumed you knew what you were doing.”

“I’ve been fumbling like a headless arse!”

She hauled Lunara from her chair. “Yes, I see that now. Come on, let’s take a walk and make that request before you can’t feel said headless arse anymore.”

“That was one time.”

They wove between separate shelves, heading for the portal at the entrance of their current floor.

“It was yesterday,” Fern said from the next aisle, “and you were limping for hours. I reckon your stubbornness is only going to get worse.”

Lunara stuck her tongue out, thinking herself hidden by a particularly impressive wall of yellowed scrolls.

“Besides, it’s nearly time to head out anyway.” Fern’s face appeared on the other side of a hole in the rolled parchments, mouth twisted in triumph as she caught Lunara. “Hedda and Faldir will be waiting on us soon.”

“What? You said I was asleep for an hour!”

Fern’s smirk turned into a full grin. “I lied.”

Lunara didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Instead of either, she turned away, practically running. Damn the library and its spells, stopping her from using her power. Why the library should have them and not the palace itself was beyond her. “We need answers and I can’t justify slowing down. If something happens…”

It always came back to that. She might have a lapse, a momentary giggle or silly conversation, but the truth was that Lunara was drowning. Suffocating. Choking. All hours. Every day. Time asleep was time wasted—time her mate didn’t have when there were too many possibilities as to what was happening to him. Too many things going wrong. Too many unanswered questions.

Too much. Too much.

It’s fine. It will be fine. Breathe.

“I’m sorry.” Fern flew to her side and laced their fingers together a second later, wings fluttering as she pulled Lunara along past the shelves and seating areas. “You needed it, so I made a choice. I never meant to upset you.”