I suck my breath in sharply. Obsidian… I’ve heard of the shiny, pitch-black stone, I think. But we don’t have any obsidian.

A small smile creeps over Sebastian’s face. But the library does.

I frown. Where? I don’t recall seeing the black stone, but then again, it would’ve been easy to miss.

In one of the display cases in the old map room. There’s an alcove with relics. I remember seeing some obsidian knives and arrowheads there. I think there was a necklace too. His expression darkens. We’ll just borrow them and bring them back. And as long as we do it quickly, the librarians will never know.

A laugh begs to escape from my throat, but instead I fling my arms around Sebastian in a hug.

Perfect! I think. We’ll escape tonight after everyone else has gone to bed.

Chapter Eighteen

After our supervised research in the library, Rachel brings us back to our suite and has dinner sent up to us. Once again, a servant is posted outside our door.

But we know how to get around them.

We wait until it’s late at night and most of the minds in the building are slumbering to put our plan in motion. We’re both dressed, with our bags packed and ready to leave, as I creep closer to the door. I begin to scream. Then I drop to the floor, making a huge thud.

What on earth was that? the servant thinks. He hesitates to leave his post, but then I begin to moan.

It does the trick. The servant opens the door to see what the commotion is about. But Sebastian grabs the servant’s arm. It’s a recent memory, so it only takes a few moments for Sebastian to find the one of Euna instructing him to watch us and of why he came into the room. At first the guard tries to pull his arm away, but Sebastian works quickly.

Sebastian releases him, and the servant blinks rapidly. “I… Sorry. So sorry to intrude.” He ducks out the door and hurries down the hall, his mind a mess of confusion.

Now the door is unlocked, and the hall beyond is clear.

We keep close to the walls and tiptoe down the corridor toward the stairwell that leads up to the library and the map room we need. My talent stretches out, keeping track of who’s asleep and who’s not. We’re particularly careful near the hallways where librarians and guests are still awake in their chambers. It’s nerve-racking and exhilarating at the same time. The fear we could get caught at any second, mixed with the fact that we seem to be getting away with it.

At least until we hear someone else in the hallway. Fear lights up our insides, and Sebastian and I exchange a terrified glance as the sounds get closer.

What do we do? Sebastian thinks.

Find somewhere to hide. Quickly!

While we’re not yet on the floor with the maps, we are near a door into this level of the library. We duck inside and hide behind one of the shelves. We hold our breath, hoping the person in the hall—Connor, judging by his thoughts—will pass right by.