I blinked, taking in the place I had transported to. It was… small, only slightly larger than a walk-in closet, and I was glad my wings were glamored or they’d have scraped the walls. Thankfully, the ceiling had clearly been built with Fae height in mind, which meant my horns were safe… unless I needed to bend down to tie my shoes. Despite the discomfort, I turned in place to assess the space properly, knowing my mate waited anxiously for my go-ahead.

I sensed no negative magic and, though oddly lacking in dust, nothing to suggest the room had been touched by another creature in several years, at least. No scents, no energy trails, just shelves of more books and a square table in the corner with piles of scrolls, tomes, and parchment on top.

It was almost as if it had stayed in the exact same state as whoever had used it last left it in. Whenever that may have been.

I stepped forward lightly, aiming for the table as a sheet of paper caught my eye. There was a seal at the bottom that I didn’t recognize—a wyvern soaring toward three stars. I began to read the script, but before I could even reach the second line, my mate’s anxiety spiked through our bond. I abandoned the documents in an instant, returning to the tear and crouching down. I dipped my hand into the iridescent water, waiting for Luca’s fingers to grip mine.

I hauled him through.

“I was starting to worry,” he said once he appeared, climbing out of the portal. I couldn’t help but smile.

“I know. I wanted to make sure it was secure.”

He brushed off his trousers, though there was not a speck on them—a nervous gesture. “Wow, this is… tight.”

Being a smaller creature, Luca had an easier time pacing the room, scanning every square inch. It didn’t take long. He trailed his fingertips over the books on the middle shelf, even picked one up to flick through. “This looks like a ledger of some kind…” He tapped his way down the page. “It’s a similar format to the ones Rathe got his hands on. Names, occupations, and info on all the creatures who’ve ever passed through the Veil…” He replaced the book in his hands with another. “Yeah, this one is the same. They have dates, too. A few only had an outward journey. The rest of them returned.”

I hummed. “I wonder what sets these records apart from the ones on the other side of the door. They were obviously hidden for a reason. Creatures of interest, perhaps?”

“Criminals, you mean?”

I nodded. “I mean no offense with these words, pet, but it might be worth checking for any crossings around your birth date. Anything that sticks out from the pattern for you. It may be the only clue we have to finding your father.”

Luca let out a slow breath. “It’s gonna take weeks to look through all these.”