Free Web NovelChapter 244: Chapter 244
Ragnar and Circe gradually skimmed through the endless documents spread across the tables and floor of the vast library, texts Ragnar suspected might hold a clue to the strange occurrences that had been plaguing Circe.
It had been five days since she woke from her unconscious state, five days of restless questions and unease, and yet they had not even come close to examining a quarter of the material before them. That was how immense Ragnar’s personal library was, shelves rising high toward the vaulted ceiling, crammed with centuries’ worth of knowledge, histories, and lore.
And still, they had found nothing.
Not a single passage that pointed them in the right direction. Not a single account that was similar to Circe’s dreams, her sudden ability of healing quickly, or the strange pull she felt toward the woman who haunted her sleep.
The woman in her dreams had yet to summon her again. For now, they were as clueless as they had been on the very first day of their search.
But it was far too early to think of giving up.
Ragnar had promised her answers, and he was not a man who made empty promises.
They worked alongside each other in a peaceful, companionable silence. The only sounds in the room were the faint rustle of turning pages, the soft scrape of parchment, and the occasional crackle of the hearth warding off the winter chill. From time to time, Circe would pause to ask him a question about something she saw in the texts and Ragnar would answer the best he could.
Once answered, they would return to their work as though nothing else existed beyond the stacks of books in front of them.
The texts they focused on were those that spoke of magic and the beings who wielded it. Magic wielders were incredibly rare, often feared or hunted into obscurity, but they undeniably existed. Vampires themselves were no strangers to magic, as they were originally from the Faelands, a realm brimming with raw, untamed power.
Yet no matter how deep they searched, they found no mention of someone capable of infiltrating dreams so completely, of weaving themselves into another’s subconscious and leaving behind such vivid impressions.
Frustration simmered quietly beneath Circe’s calm exterior.
Just as she began moving toward a fresh pile of books Ragnar had set aside for them, a sharp knock echoed through the library.
They both froze, their gazes snapping toward the heavy door. After hours of sitting, they had risen to stretch, now standing on opposite sides of the table with books still open before them. The knock came again, louder this time, followed by the door creaking open just enough for someone to poke their head inside.
"Your Highness," the guard said respectfully, "you have guests."
Circe glanced at Ragnar, her brows furrowing slightly. "I didn’t know you were expecting anyone."
She had assumed he was free for the day. He certainly hadn’t mentioned having any scheduled obligations when he met her in the library earlier that morning to resume their search.
The message delivered, the guard withdrew, and the door clicked shut.
Ragnar let out a slow sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. The look he gave her was almost sheepish. In truth, he had completely forgotten that he had agreed to a meeting with Lady Taryn. Time had slipped through his fingers, as it so often did when Circe was near.
Smiling faintly, he opened his arms.
Without prompting, Circe stepped into them.
There was no real reason for the gesture. Ragnar simply wanted to touch her. The casual brushes of their hands and shoulders throughout the day had done nothing to sate the craving curling low in his chest. Holding her was becoming less of a want and more of a necessity, a problem he scarcely minded. There was nothing he enjoyed more than having his wife within his arms.
"I’ll make sure it doesn’t take too long," he murmured gently. "I won’t be gone long."
He pressed a kiss into her hair, breathing her in, and Circe nearly melted where she stood, her fingers tightening briefly in his shirt.
"No, don’t worry," she said softly, easing herself from his embrace. "Please don’t rush anything important on my account. Take your time."
Truth be told, even she could use the break after hours spent in the library researching.
"Just ask one of the maids to fetch me when you’re done," she added.
She followed him out of the library, then turned down a different corridor, deciding to use her free time to look for her brother. The first snowfall of the year had come during the night, leaving a light dusting of snow over the grounds. The cold air bit at her cheeks as she stepped towards the main entrance, her breath misting faintly.
She thought to check the courtyard first, or perhaps the fields beyond where he often practiced his archery.
But as she crossed the foyer, someone nearly collided with her. Circe reacted quickly, sidestepping just in time to avoid the impact.
The woman gasped and immediately dropped into a polite curtsy. "Please accept my apology, Your Highness. I was not watching where I was going."
Circe recognized her at once.
Lady Taryn’s daughter.
Avarine looked up at her with an apologetic smile, but Circe did not respond immediately. Instead, she tilted her head slightly, her gaze sharpening as she took in the young woman before her, quietly measuring what she saw. freёwebnovel.com
Then Circe’s gaze dropped to the small, covered basket cradled in Avarine’s hands. She had yet to say anything in response to the other woman’s apology, and her deliberate silence was already beginning to make Avarine visibly uncomfortable.
Avarine noticed where Circe was looking and quickly extended the basket, forcing a wide smile onto her lips as she spoke.
"I accompanied my mother here, and I didn’t think it was appropriate to arrive empty-handed. Our cook makes the best almond tarts," she said brightly. "I hope you like them, Your Highness."
