Page 24 of Grimoire Omens

“Fuck the bag! It’s just clothes.”

Headed for the exit, however, I couldn’t leave without Grams’ book. I entered the room and cast my gaze around, seeking my duffel. There. Tucked under the lower bunk. I yanked it free and was about to sling it over my shoulder when it occurred the weight would bog me down. I unzipped it. The book sat on top, and for a second, I wished I’d never found it. Then wished I’d thought to use it sooner because, honestly, I’d never felt more alive.

I tucked it inside my jacket with a little difficulty since it was bulky. At least it wouldn’t budge. I exited the room to see Flo was gone, but Ulseere stood there, blocking my passage.

“You have it?” he asked.

I nodded.

“Good. We have to move quickly.”

We exited the train to a haze in the air and a noise I didn’t recognize but would wager didn’t bode well. “I can’t see anything.”

“Because the tunnel’s structure is failing, and as pieces collapse, they cause dust.”

“Where’s Flo?”

“Beatrice took charge of her. Come.”

He grabbed my hand, his grip firm, confident, warmer than expected. I couldn’t stop the jolt of awareness that hit me.

Not the right time to be getting those kinds of tingles or thoughts.

He took a step toward the market, only to whirl and tuck me to his chest. I heard rather than saw the collapse of stone. Choked on the resulting filth in the air.

But his murmured, “We can’t escape the way we arrived,” scared me the most.

Did the tunnel have a second exit?

“We’ll have to use Gryvak’s route,” Ulseere stated.

Wait, what? Hadn’t Gryvak burrowing through the ceiling caused this mess?

Before I could ask, think, or even get scared, Ulseere clasped me tight and jumped.

A jump that defied gravity since we kept going up.

Whatever Ulseere did also involved some kind of muffling cocoon that blocked the dust and noise, meaning I could breathe—in his scent—hear—the steady reassuring thump of his heart—feel—his rock-hard body.

We emerged from the ground like a scene from a movie where the hero does the impossible and saves his lovely lady—only my rescue came with less romance. The moment Ulseere had his feet planted, he tossed me over his shoulder and ran, likely because the rumbling and shaking ground indicated we weren’t safe yet.

Only once he’d removed us from the area caving in—the indent visibly noticeable and likely to make the news—did Ulseere release me. Not in a slow languorous descent of his body but rapidly as if I might be contagious. Guess who wouldn’t be getting a hero kiss.

Ulseere glanced around with a frown. As per usual.

“Whatcha looking for?”

“Gryvak.”

“Ah.” That made sense, seeing as how we’d used the same exit. Me, I peeked for Flo. I didn’t see her, but then again, she likely emerged from that grate in the alley. I hoped. Surely Cedric and Beatrice got her out.

I began walking in that direction and kept going, even as Ulseere barked, “Where are you going?”

“To meet up with Flo, duh.”

“Florence is fine.”

“You can’t know that for sure.”