Chapter 292

Harper’s POV

The library smells like dust and old paper and something faintly bitter, like time itself has settled into every page. I’ve been here for hours.

Maybe longer. I don’t even remember when I last stepped outside.

My fingers drag over another page, eyes scanning words that blur together after a while, ancient symbols, broken translations, theories that circle the same impossible truth.

Nothing is simple.

A quiet sigh slips past my lips as I lean back slightly, pressing my fingers against my temples.

“I hate this,” I mutter.

Across from me, Lucas doesn’t look up immediately. He’s leaning forward, elbows on the table, one hand pushing through his already messy hair as his eyes stay locked on the book in front of him.

“You hate a lot of things,” he says after a second, voice low, distracted.

I shoot him a look. “Not helpful.” That earns me a small huff of something that almost sounds like a laugh, but it fades quickl