Chapter 34

The forest cave smelled of damp earth and old pine needles, a stark contrast to the sterile halls of the Arcane Institute. Julian didn't bring the papers back to his room; Victor Sterling wasn't the type to let a theft slide, and Julian was certain the man would attempt to divine the location of the stolen documents the hard way. It took three hours of meticulous work to set up the wards—layers of concealment and misdirection that hummed softly against the rock walls. Only when the perimeter...