Page 41 of Death Card

My brother begrudgingly agreed to stake out the bookstore with me after Gramps reminded him what’s at risk. Our eighteenth birthday is a week away, and the full moon is right on its heels. I’d be here with or without him, but I’m glad he’s with me. I’ll never admit that to him, though.

We both duck down as the lanky dark-haired guy I saw with Aria the other day unlocks the front door. A few minutes later, the neonOpensign in the window flares to life.

“What’s the plan?” Orion asks. “If we stroll in like regular customers, they’re going to clock us immediately.”

“I don’t even know if we can go in,” I muse aloud. “I’m pretty sure I destroyed the ward, but I’m not sure if I got everything or if they’ve placed new ones.”

Gramps was adamant that we need more evidence to take to the Council before we can make a move. While I seem to have hit a roadblock with Joelle, I refuse to let the Hightowers outsmart us. No one else has been sickened since Mr.Peterson, but that doesn’t mean the threat is over.

“Let’s try to keep a low profile when we go in,” I say. “Keep an eye on the guy at the register while I snoop around the store.”

“Don’t you mean ‘if’ we make it in?”

I sigh and tuck my sunglasses into the cup holder. “I’m trying to be positive,” I say. “Let’s go.”

We cross the street and loiter near the café next door until a couple strolls up to the door of the bookstore. As we follow at their heels, the hairs on my arms prickle with magical energy. An intense sensation of nausea overcomes me briefly before my stomach settles. Beside me, Orion’s face is scrunched as his nausea subsides.

“What was that?” he asks through our bond.

“Lingering traces of the ward. It was meant to deter us.”

“Yeah,” he says.“They almost did the job.”

My lips part as I peer around at what must be the prettiest bookshop in New Orleans.

The walls are covered in floor-to-ceiling bookcases, stuffed to the brim with vintage books. Some look to be in pristine condition, while others are yellowed with cracked spines. Tall candelabras pepper the store, providing warm lighting and a massive fire hazard that couldn’t have possibly passed inspection. Baskets of plants and winding vines add a pop of color to the space.

Off to the side, a wrought-iron spiral staircase leads to thesecond floor. According to a sign, that’s where the new releases are kept.

There are only a few customers wandering around the stacks this early in the morning. But that also means the guy at the register isn’t paying as much attention as he would if the store was busier. He has his back to us, flipping through a stack of papers.

Orion and I walk down one of the aisles. “They ward it from other witches but not from mortals,” I remark. “This place didn’t seem to be short on customers the other day, but I’ve never heard anyone talk about it.”

Orion shrugs. “Sorry to be the one to break the news, but you don’t actually know everything.”

I roll my eyes. “Remember the plan. If I’m not back in ten minutes, come find me.”

“Wait.” He grabs my sleeve. “What am I supposed to do? I don’t want to attract too much attention, you know?”

“Just browse. Stick your nose in a few books. Act like you actually know how to read.”

He shoots me a dirty look, but I shrug it off. “I’ll be back. If he heads in my direction, let me know.”

Orion gives me a thumbs-up. “I’ve got this. Don’t worry.”

For some reason, that makes me worry even more.

I make a lap around the bottom floor, searching for anything out of the ordinary. There’s a door markedEmployees Only, but it’s locked. Once I’ve explored every nook and cranny, I head upstairs. After walking down a few aisles, I realize there’s no one else up here. I’m completely alone.

My eyes rove around the space, absorbing every detail I can. Every single inch of space is covered in shelves and filled withbooks. There are cookbooks and memoirs and the latest fantasy novel about dragon riders. I can’t help but drag my finger along the spines. I’ve barely had a chance to read since this whole mess began. Life has done everything in its power to stop me.

I pause a moment, trying to think of the last book I read, but the title escapes me. There are so many books in the world that I’d never be able to read them all, but the thought of not having enough time to read evenonemore is like a punch in the gut.

I slip a copy ofLegendbornoff the shelf and bury my nose between two of the pages. They smell fresh and crisp, straight off the printers. Old books smell the best, but there’s a place in my heart set aside for new books, too.

Tucked away in a dimly lit corner, a section of books is blocked off by a black rope. A sign hanging from the rope saysRestricted: Ask for Assistance.

Secrets are precisely what I’m looking for.