showed the Archives in complete disarray. Open books were scattered across
every available surface, and people were rushing everywhere.
“When was this?” I asked, certain it had to be when the Archives was hit.
“The day he escaped. This place was flooded at the same time the marid
attacked Bentham Prison. It was a distraction. Four hours later, Kahanov
showed up.”
A few seconds into the clip, a bright box appeared on the screen, isolating
a figure who was moving warily through the shadows. For one second, he
glanced up, and the video paused.
“That’s him?” Savannah asked, a soft tremor in her voice. She’d never
seen his face. Nor had I, but I clenched my fists and burned the image into
my mind. Got you, asshole.
“Yes,” Neve said quietly. “That’s Kahanov. I can send you other
pictures.”
Savannah swallowed hard and nodded.
Neve slipped her phone into her pocket. “He went directly to the Bound
Tomes and freed the grimoire. Then he vanished with a transport charm. He
knew exactly where he was going…I wonder if the book called to him,
somehow.”
“That’s creepy,” Savannah said absently. “What powers does it give him?
Other than summoning these noctith demons?”
Worry clouded the sky blue of Neve’s eyes. “I don’t know. I’ve gone
through the archivist’s notes on the thing. It’s a guide to the monsters and
realms of the Dreamlands. It promises, of course, unimagi
nable powers to
those that learn its secrets and sleep with their head upon the book.”
My pulse accelerated. “Could he use it to invade the dreams of others? To
stop my wolves from waking?”
Neve nodded. “According to the notes, yes. It can grant the power to
infiltrate and shape the dreams of others. Possibly more.”