Seanan McGuire - Chimes at Midnight

“Fine. The Queen just exiled me from the Kingdom. I have three days to get out. I’m sure you’ll hear about it in short order, since neither Dreamer’s Glass nor Tamed Lightning were on the list of places it’s okay for me to go and hide. I need to get into the Library to find out whether there’s anything I can do to keep myself here.”

“Why didn’t you say so in the first place? The Librarian owes me a few favors, and I suppose it’s time I collect. I just . . . have you ever used a Library before?”

“Not in the fae sense,” I said.

“All right. I’ll see what I can do. If I can get her to agree, I’ll call you.”

“Okay. That’s cool. I appreciate it.”

Li Qin laughed. “Of all the things I expected you to ask me for, Toby, a Library pass was not high on the list.”

“I’m full of surprises. Open roads, Li.”

“Kind fires,” she responded, and hung up.

I turned back toward the others. “Li Qin’s going to see if she can get us into the Library.”

“You didn’t say ‘us,’” said Tybalt, voice suddenly sharp. “You just said you needed a pass.”

“Oh, Maeve’s teeth. I’ll explain when she calls me back, okay?”

Tybalt nodded. He didn’t look completely mollified. I’d worry about that later.

“I still can’t believe the Queen is doing this,” said Quentin.

I wanted to hug him and say that it was all going to be okay. I wasn’t going to do that, though. I try not to lie to my friends. “Why not?” I asked. “She doesn’t like me. The murder trial should have tipped you off about that, even if nothing else did. I gave her an excuse, and she took it.”

“Not a good excuse,” said Tybalt.

“It didn’t have to be.” I plucked at the gray silk fabric of my dress. “I’m going to go upstairs and change. Then we’re going to call Sylvester, and—”

My phone rang. Or rather, my phone chirped like a techno remix of a cricket. I pulled it out of my pocket, frowning at the display, which indicated that Li Qin was calling. Motioning for the others to hang on, I raised it to my ear. “Li. Please tell me you have good news.”

“I got you a Library pass,” said Li Qin.

“Oh, thank Oberon.” I flashed a thumbs-up at the others. “So how does this Library pass thing work? Do I need to come to San Jose and pick up a note or something?”

“No note—the Librarian is expecting you. I’ll text you the Library’s current physical address. It moves around more than most knowes, because of the way it’s anchored.” Li Qin sounded concerned. “Do you want me to read your luck for you?”

“No!” I said, more loudly than I intended. Tybalt and Quentin both took a step forward. I waved them back and repeated, more quietly, “No. No luck. Please.” Li Qin was a Shyi Shuai. Her race specialized in manipulating luck. The trouble was, for every action, there was an equal and opposite reaction. The last time I’d allowed her to play around with my luck, I’d wound up getting disemboweled. Twice. Not an experience I was in a hurry to have again.

“I understand,” said Li Qin. “Let me know if you change your mind?”

“I will. Look, this Library pass, is it only good for me? Because I’m not sure I want to be running around without some sort of backup just now.” More, I wasn’t sure my backup would let me get away with it if I tried.

“I made sure you could bring an escort.” Li Qin’s concern melted into amusement. “I couldn’t picture you going out alone. The Librarian is nice enough, and she understood why you might not want to come without friends. Her name is Magdaleana. Play nicely with her.”

Not that long ago, I considered myself a loner. It was a little odd to realize that I’d moved so far past those days that people I’d met since then didn’t even consider it an option. “I really appreciate this, Li,” I said, skirting dangerously close to thanking her.

“I’m gearing up to ask you for a favor to be named later. I’m just adding to my leverage here.” Her tone was light, but there was an element of seriousness there.

That was something to worry about later. “I still appreciate it. I’ll talk to you soon.”

“Please do. Now get yourself un-banished before time runs out. This Kingdom would be awfully dull without you.” Li Qin hung up.

“She got me the pass,” I said, lowering my phone. “And yes, you can come with me, since she didn’t think I’d want to go alone.”

“Both of us?” asked Quentin hopefully.

Tybalt didn’t ask. He just raised an eyebrow.

Li Qin said “friends” when I asked her about bringing an escort . . . “Yes,” I said firmly. My phone buzzed again as Li texted me. I checked the display. “Lucky us: we’re staying in the city. The place is just a few miles from here.”

“I don’t think you should change your clothes,” said May.

I turned, blinking, to see her standing in the kitchen doorway with Jazz. “What?”

“Keep the dress. Most Librarians don’t get out much. Whoever runs the local branch is probably a little bit behind the times. They’ll find formality appropriate and respectful.” May shrugged. “Just a suggestion.”

Sometimes it was easy to forget that my silly, flamboyant Fetch had started her existence as one of the night-haunts. They met all the Librarians, eventually. “Okay,” I said. “As long as I can keep my jacket. But I don’t think we can all go.”

“I know,” said May. “Jazz and I will stay here and deal with anyone who shows up to tell you how sorry they are. You go and make this exile go away. Find out whose throne that really is, and depose the bitch.”

“No pressure,” added Jazz, with a sweet, if worried, smile.

“No pressure,” I echoed. I tucked my phone back into my pocket. “Come on, boys. Let’s go to the Library.”

“If I may,” said Tybalt. “Were I the Queen, I would almost certainly set someone to watching this house, to see if you went anywhere after you finally came home from racing about the city, looking for aid. Were I the Queen, I would also be quite likely arrogant enough to disregard the fact that you are being courted by a man who can take you anywhere you wish without needing to move the car or, indeed, step outside the threshold.”

“Were you the Queen, I wouldn’t be dating you, but point taken,” I said. “Can you carry me and Quentin over to 5th and Brannan? I’m not leaving him here just so the Queen doesn’t follow me.”

“Your loyalty will be the death of us all one day, but yes, I can take you both,” said Tybalt. “It may not be pleasant. I can still manage it.”

“Then let’s go,” I said, and offered him my hand.

“As you like.” This time, Tybalt took Quentin’s hand directly, rather than letting him hold onto me. “Both of you, take a deep breath, and hold fast. I would not want to lose you.” On that dire note, he stepped into the shadows formed by the meeting of the cabinet and the wall, and pulled us with him, into darkness.

The Shadow Roads seemed colder this time, maybe because we were going farther than before. I held Tybalt’s hand, trusting him to see us through the darkness, which was too deep for my eyes to penetrate, but must have been clear to his. I could hear Quentin’s teeth chattering. He hadn’t traveled through the dark this way as many times as I had, and I wasn’t sure he’d ever come this far.

Just as my lungs were beginning to burn, we stepped out of the darkness and into the watery streetlight shining on the corner of 5th and Brannan. There were no people in sight. A few cars moved on the cross streets, but none close enough to have seen our sudden appearance.

“Good aim,” I said, stuffing my freezing hands into the pockets of my jacket. “Quentin? You okay?”