I hunched against the wall, trying to look harmless as I shoved a hand into my pocket, reaching deeper until I touched a metal sphere the size of a softball. “I think you should tell them to lower their weapons.”

“Give me one reason,” Granach demanded.

I licked my lips. “Because I’m holding a thermal detonator.”

Nobody moved. I carefully pulled out the softball-sized silver orb. It was heavier than I had expected, and I had no idea how sensitive it might be to rough handling. I wasn’t even a hundred percent certain how to activate it.

That was one of the problems with libriomancy. Sure, I could create Harry Potter’s wand, but that didn’t mean I knew how to use it. I had nearly given myself carpal tunnel trying to levitate that damn feather.

“You were searched!” Granach looked furious enough to rip me apart.

Lena appeared almost as annoyed as the vampire. “You were carrying a bomb around inside your jacket?”

“Did I forget to mention that?” I gave her a sheepish shrug. “The pockets are bigger on the inside. I should probably warn you all that I’m not sure what kind of blast radius this thing has. It might just destroy everyone in this hallway, or it might rip through the whole mine, and the next thing you know, your little kingdom is Michigan’s biggest sinkhole.”

Granach smiled and lowered her gun. “Go ahead, little human. Run away. Run as fast and far as you can. It won’t be far enough.”

“Ray Walker was my friend. I want to find this killer as much as you do.”

“You could be telling the truth,” Granach conceded. “Or you could be one of Gutenberg’s pawns, sent to eliminate our prisoner.”

“Mister Puddles was one of you!” I protested. “He could have entered the nest any time he liked!”

“But he couldn’t have reached the prisoners,” Doctor Shah said. “For that, he needed you.”

“You’re not helping!” I stepped toward Granach, hoping she could read me well enough to recognize the truth. “Give me one week. I can find Gutenberg.”

“How?”

“By doing something really stupid.”

To my surprise, that earned a genuine bark of laughter. “Like confronting us in the heart of our nest?”

I tried to smile. My hand was sweating, and the detonator was feeling heavier with every passing moment.

“What are you planning, Isaac?” Doctor Shah stepped closer. Of everyone here, she was the only one who might have some idea what I was considering. “You can’t—”

“I’ll need their help.” I pointed to Lena and Shah.

Granach chuckled. “The doctor stays here, but you can have your dryad. In fact, I’ll make her a deal. Bring me the body of the one behind this, and I’ll give you back your lover. If you’re unable to defeat Gutenberg . . .” Her smile grew. “Then in seven days, you bring me Isaac Vainio.”