Finally! After far too many close calls where she almost dropped them all, Glimmer unloaded the entire armful of scrolls on the back table. Sometimes she suspected Lexi always went for scrolls specifically because they were such a pain in the ass to put back. For all her dads talked about the prestige of this apprenticeship at Bright Moon, it felt like she did way more shelving than actual historical study.
The topmost one was easy. Architecture went right—Wait. Glimmer hesitated. Hadn't there just been a shelf there? But, no, it was behind her, right where it always was.
What was with her today? It was a lovely day, not a cloud in the sky. Everything was perfect. Her dads had said as much when they'd kissed her goodbye this morning and told her they were proud of her, just like they did every day. And yet all morning she'd been feeling unsettled, like something was off.
Stupid stuff was throwing her off. The feeling of her skirt against her knees, her reading glasses hanging from their chain, or how weirdly smooth her hands felt. Even the weight of her hair piled atop her head was driving her nuts, even though she always wore it up that way so it wouldn't end up dipped in ink.
Plus, she kept spacing out, losing moments. Like now, when she couldn't even remember pulling over the ladder, let alone climbing up it. But it didn't matter. She just needed to finish this, make a good impression so everyone would know she'd earned this herself and not just because… you know.
She jumped back down, grabbing the next scroll, but, of course, Lexi hadn't even bothered to re-roll it before handing it over. Did that woman have it out for her specifically, or was it just her policy to hate the royal historian no matter who it was? She must know, or at least guess. Glimmer carefully re-rolled the old paper, not sure how she felt about that. Embarrassed, mostly, but maybe a little smug too.
"Well, well! Back again!" Lexi's nasally tone carried across the empty library. Glimmer tensed, knowing exactly who the head archivist was talking to without needing to see.
"What can I say? I'm very committed to my studies," came the too smooth reply and Glimmer rolled her eyes without pausing her work. If anyone looked over here, they would see that she wasn't listening and didn't care about the prince of Bright Moon. Not at all.
"King Micah was in earlier, looking for runes for your next sorcery lesson. Your father said he's incredibly proud of your progress."
King Micah was here earlier? Bow's father. Here? That was… She fumbled the scroll and had to redo the stack. Well, it was normal, wasn't it? He was the King of Bright Moon after all! He could use his own library. But why did her mind keep going over that, drawn to it like an unexpected hitch in smooth cloth?
"Oh, yeah." That was something genuine, at least, that sheepish tone. "I've still got a way to go, but I think I'm getting the hang of it. We were practicing a few spells in the garden earlier until mom came out to yell at us for wrecking the flowers. Then she ended up horsing around with us for a while. My dad said it was nice to have all three of… that it was too long since it was, uh…"
"Your highness? Are you alright?"
"I—" Something about the catch in Bow's voice made it feel like the world was pitching under Glimmer's feet. But then in an instant it was gone, replaced by the usual confident charm. "Sorry, just spaced out a minute there."
"Well, it sounds like a lovely morning. Just about perfect! Now, what were you looking for today?"
"Oh, the usual. Probably around mid-century FO this time."
"Tariffs again? You've done an awful lot of research into those lately, your highness."
"Well, they are a very fascinating subject." Gag. Such a freaking shameless flirt when he wanted something.
"Well, perhaps I should be the one to accompany you to the archives this time. Our royal historian..." Gods, could Lexi say that with more disgust? "Takes far too long in helping you find what you're looking for."
"Oh, I don't mind." He was grinning, turning on the charm. She could hear it in his voice. Probably doing that eye twinkle thing he did when he was looking good and knew it. "Glimmer's still learning! How else will she become an expert like you if she doesn't get a chance to practice?"
Oh, she was definitely going to kill him.
"But—"
"I appreciate your concern, Lexi, but I'm confident Glimmer knows what I'm looking for."
Smug ass. Glimmer flushed. He definitely knew she was listening or he wouldn't be so damn cheeky. Well, she sure as shit wouldn't give Prince Charming the satisfaction of a reaction. Let him come to her and find her too busy for him! Except before she could even think about grabbing another scroll, she was at the front of the library, Lexi and the prince standing right in front of her, with no memory of how she got there.
"Royal historian, the prince has some important research to conduct this afternoon." Lexi glared at her over her spectacles, barely hiding her disdain. "I trust you can help him find what he needs in a TIMELY manner this time."
"Oh, I'm in no rush!" Bow's tone was pleasant enough, but the look on his face was so clearly mischievous, Glimmer didn't understand how the old archivist didn't immediately know what was going on. "I've got plenty of time!"
Lexi made a sound as if she'd like to object, but Bow leaned over and scooped the entire armful of scrolls out of Glimmer's hands— hadn't she put these away already?— and dumped them on the archivist's desk. "You don't mind taking care of these for Glimmer, do you?"
"Uh, no, your highness," Lexi said in a tone that said she definitely did.
"Great! You're the best, Lexi!" Bow gave the older woman a wink that left her speechless and gestured towards the stacks. Glimmer had to bite the inside of her lip to keep from laughing as she slipped between the shelves, aware of Bow following close behind her.
"So, what are you researching today, your highness?" she asked, keeping her tone even, knowing full well Lexi was listening in. She made the mistake of glancing back at him, forgetting how completely insufferable he was every time she had to call him by his title.
"I was hoping you could show me some of the old logs. This time from the border towns."
"Tariffs again?" she teased.
"What can I say? I really like to get a good feel for the whole body of work."
What she really wanted to do was turn around and glare at the smug bastard for that, but she wouldn't put it past Lexi to be spying on them from the end of the aisle-way, so she kept her eyes trained ahead. "Sounds like pretty boring reading to me."
"On the contrary. I would be happy to show you what a titillating topic it is."
She could practically hear his smirk, but refused to dignify it with a response. They'd reached the stairs that led down to the archival section. She pushed open the door and the smell of musty paper and ink that was her life hit like a wall. A familiar smell after years and years of this, but today it felt somehow… wrong.
"OK, so, we split the border towns into sections. Sea, woods, desert. The sea and desert ones are here, but if you want the woodland towns, we'll have to go all the way back there."
"Then I definitely want the woodland towns."
Of course he did. She closed the door behind them and started for the far corner hidden behind rows and rows of old books and scrolls. Once they'd passed between the shelves and she was certain they were out of sight, she could breathe easier. The tension of being watched replaced with a different kind of static now that it was just the two of them.
He made a show of rounding the nearest support column as he followed, enjoying this way too much. "Ah, nothing more interesting than the study of ancient duties leveled against—"
Suddenly he gasped, his legs giving out from under him and she dove forward, grabbing him before he could fall.
"What is it?" she asked, watching as he desperately grabbed at his legs, eyes wide with terror and pain. "Bow, what's wrong?"
"I don't… He threw the column and it… I thought…" He stood tentatively, the tremor in his hand slowing as he seemed to shake it off. He let go of her hand as he got his footing again. "Nothing. It was nothing."
"Are you sure?" Somehow they were in the back of the room already, though she didn't remember the walk. The mention of his legs, of someone throwing a column… It sent an icy chill through her body, like someone had cracked a window and let in a draft. She shivered involuntarily.
"What can I say?" The smirk was back, as if nothing had happened. "Your beauty makes me weak in the knees."
Glimmer snorted, glad to be back on familiar footing. She turned to the shelf and gestured to the top row. "Anyway, there are your tariffs."
His fingers trailed along the back of her neck, playing with the stay hairs that had escaped her bun. "It's strange to see it so long."
"It's always been long." She spun around, tucking some of the loosen tendrils behind her ears, suddenly self-conscious about them. "As long as you've known me."
"Right. Of course." He was being normal finally, the real Bow, the one she knew as her best friend while everyone else got the polished playboy. "Well, it looks good this way. I like it." He leaned over, his voice a hot breath against her ear. "Though I like it even better when it's spread out across my pillow."
"I'll bet you do." She grabbed him by the front of his robes and shoved him against the nearest shelf, her lips crashing into his. He laughed against her mouth, fingers running through the back of her hair. He was going to make a mess of it, just like he always did. She tried to care about it as his tongue slid between her lips, his hand traveling up under the edge of her pleated skirt.
"See?" He pulled away to smirk at her. "I told you tariffs were interesting."
"They have… a certain appeal," she answered breathlessly, as he trailed kisses down her neck.
"Just wait until tomorrow when we'll be studying..." He reached over his head and pulled out a book at random. "Common Varieties of Tree Rot."
She laughed. "Sounds very sexy."
"Oh, it will be. I promise." He flipped them, pushing her up against the shelf as he put the book back. His body was flush against hers and there was some kind of ancient volume digging into her back, but she didn't even care. They did this all the time, but it felt brand new, like she'd been waiting half her life for this moment and couldn't get enough of him now that it was finally here.
She slide her hands down the front of his robe, looking for the place where the rich material gave way to warm skin, and stopped short when she couldn't find it. "Your abs! They're covered!"
Bow looked down, grabbing a handful of the material at his midsection. "Are they… are they not supposed to be?"
"I— It's fine." She had the vague sense that something was wrong, but he looked so upset, she quickly grabbed his face and recaptured his mouth for another deep kiss. "I was just looking forward to getting my hands on you."
"We can still arrange that." His fingertips brushed up under the edge of her sweater where he knew she was ticklish. She squealed involuntarily and smacked his hand away, shushing him when he started laughing.
"Did you forget I work in a library? Librarians are supposed to be quiet!"
"Oh, I know." He grabbed her by the ass and lifted her off the floor. She wrapped her legs around his middle automatically. "That's why it's so much fun to make you get really loud."
She squeaked as he pressed her back against the bare wall—but hadn't it been a shelf a minute ago? But his hands were cupping her breasts through her sweater, and she was too turned on to care where the wall had come from. She started tugging his robe open, determined to get at his abs anyway. Probably a bad idea to take stuff off when they could get caught at any moment, but she wasn't exactly thinking with her brain right now.
"Your highness?" Oh, shit! Lexi! She froze at the unmistakable sound of the archival door groaning open and clipped footsteps coming closer. In half a second, the head archivist would see her straddling the prince, him groping her in the dark.
She pulled away, her heart in her throat, but Bow didn't even stop nibbling her earlobe. Just as the steps grew close enough that Glimmer was certain they'd be caught, she crashed backward onto something soft. Her heart was still pounding like mad, but Bow hovered above her, laughing. He'd teleported them to his room, and they landed on his bed, still entwined.
She smacked his chest. "That way too close! You're going to get me fired!"
"Mmhmm." He didn't look even a little repentant as he reached into her cardigan, his fingers brushing against the top of her cleavage as he pulled out the thin silver chain tucked inside. He held it up, his gemstone dangling at the end. "No one is going to fire the Prince's fiancée."
Fuck, why was it so hot when he called her that? She had to fight to keep her face stern. "Lexi doesn't know we're engaged!"
"Because you won't let me tell anyone!" He sighed dramatically. "I guess you're just embarrassed to be seen with me. Or maybe there's someone else?"
"Stop it. You know it's only ever been you, even since we were kids." She was playing with his hair, watching the sparkles catch the light.
"Since we were kids, huh?" He was teasing her in more ways than one. He traced the gem against the v of her collar, the stone still warm from hiding against her chest. The sensation sent the best kind of shivers down her body. "You mean when you were learning how to use your bow and I was teleporting up to the roof to get your arrows, you were like I'm going to marry that— What's wrong?"
Glimmer had frozen, her blood stone cold. "What did you just say?"
"I was just talking about when we were kids and I'd have to teleport and go rescue some book you dropped out the library window. Are you OK?"
"Uh, yeah. Yeah, I'm fine." Of course. How could she have forgotten about the books? The memory slotted perfectly in with all the others. A line of perfect days all in a row. The scholar's girl and the prince, nothing to do but flirt and fool around without a war to—
That was odd. Why was she suddenly thinking about war? Bright Moon had only ever seen peace.
"Do you want to stop?" Bow was watching her carefully. "Too much? I'm sorry. I finally had you all to myself and I got a little carried away. You'd think I'd never kissed you before."
"No! No, I don't want to stop!" She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in for a kiss, deep enough that it quieted the growing storm in the back of her mind. Kissing Bow was the only thing today that felt entirely right. "I want you. I want this."
"I love you."
"I love you, too. I always have." She yanked out her hair band, letting her hair fall all over the pillow. Bow made a low growl in the back of his throat as he pounced. She slid her hands down his bare back as the kissing got more intense, wondering dimly when he'd taken off his robe. She couldn't get enough of the luxury of being able to touch him, taste him, their bodies pressed so closely together. Usually she didn't even let herself to sleepover in his room, forced herself to keep that space between them so no one… but that wasn't right, was it? They'd snuck away to make out like this dozens of times before.
Hadn't they?
Suddenly Bow pulled away, confusion etched across this face, his breathing heavy. "Should we be doing this? You and I?"
"Do you want to do it?"
"I do, but do we usually… I mean, have we before…"
"We have." I think. She realized with horror she actually wasn't sure of the answer. Because her memories told her they'd done this before, had done much more than this before, but those memories were thinning until they felt as insubstantial as paper. But being with Bow like this felt right! It felt real! The love and the want, that was all real, she was sure of it! "I want to do it. This is perfect."
"Perfect." From the look on his face, Bow didn't look so sure. "You want to. I want to. So, should I do a protection spell, then?"
"You did one already, remember? When I took off my shirt?"
"Uh, right." Bow blinked, running his hand across the exposed skin of her stomach. He trailed his touch past her panties down her bare legs and then seemed to notice for the first time that he was only in his boxers. "I guess we should—"
Before Bow could finish, the doors to his bedroom room flew open and a blond with a ponytail ran in, panting. She kicked the doors closed behind her, barring the door by shoving the stand for the pole lamp through the handles. Before Glimmer had even gotten over the shock of her appearance, the new girl had already dashed up the stairs to Bow's bed.
"Glimmer! Bow! Thank Mara I found you! We need too— Whoa." The stranger stared at them with a mixture of embarrassment and excitement before shielding her eyes with her hand. "Awww, you guys are together here? Like together together? That is so sweet. Holy shit, I am so happy for you! I wish this was real!"
"What are you talking about? Who are you? Who let you in here?" Bow asked, grabbing his robe and hastily covering Glimmer with it. Someone was pounding at the door and there was the sound of distant shouting. "We don't know you!"
"And what do you mean, this isn't real?" Glimmer asked, the creeping sensation that she'd been missing something obvious now a roar in her head. She was certain she'd never met this stranger in her life but she couldn't deny there was something incredibly familiar about her. "How can it not be real?"
The girl exhaled. "Wow, OK, so this is going to be hard to explain but… I'm Adora. You two are my best friends and, uh, we need to fix reality. Somehow."