Shan Yuan’s eyes flared red, and the flames in the fireplace leapt up in response. ‘I am not amused by your words, detective. My brother may treat you as a favourite, but I have no such inclination.’

‘Then kindly let us use the information you’ve brought us,’ Vale demanded. ‘I’d hoped you’d display the same broadmindedness as your brother in putting aside prejudice against the Fae.’

‘I’ve had enough of your insolence.’ Shan Yuan rose to his feet. The room became claustrophobic as the temperature rose. ‘My brother will be safer elsewhere. Kai, we will—’

At that moment, the door opened as the tea Irene had ordered finally arrived. She’d never been more thankful to see a hot beverage. As the servant bustled about, Shan Yuan was forced to sit, his royal upbringing demanding that shows of emotion be kept strictly private. When they were alone again, the wind had been taken out of his sails enough for Irene to interject.

‘If I might ask you something, your highness . . .’ Irene began, hoping her tone would soothe his ego.

‘Of course,’ Shan Yuan said. Now that his temper had cooled, he seemed glad of the excuse to back down.

‘Could we have more detail on those Sagrada Familia articles?’ Irene had recognized the name of the cathedral – designed by Gaudi, the great Spanish architect. In most worlds where the cathedral appeared, it had taken over a century to construct. ‘The Lord Guantes I met in Guernsey mentioned a cathedral.’

‘It was a collection of media reports, covering a period of two months,’ Shan Yuan explained. ‘At first they simply recorded odd events – strange noises, computer systems in the crypts malfunctioning, lights appearing at unusual times. But the strangeness escalated and the cathedral gained a reputation as a nexus of – well, weirdness. Projections of a hooded monk were seen, loudspeakers ordered visitors to leave at unexpected times, bells were also rung at irregular hours and strange voices were heard in the archive below the main structure . . . Explanations ranged from hackers to demonic interference to a suggestion that the cathedral’s computer system had become sentient. The final article revealed that the cathedral had been evacuated and placed under guard.’

‘The dark archive,’ Irene said softly, to the room this time. ‘Under the cathedral. Those were his words.’

‘So the cathedral must be connected,’ Kai said. ‘But how? And why?’

Vale frowned, his expression intent. ‘Alberich must need somewhere safe to conduct his artificial intelligence experiments. Perhaps Lord Guantes caused the odd goings-on, to claim the Sagrada Familia as a private base of operations for Alberich – his patron? I believe it would fit Lord Guantes’ pattern of behaviour to keep these media reports for his personal amusement.’

‘The archive beneath the cathedral contains physical books and computer data, according to some reports.’ Shan Yuan said thoughtfully. ‘That would make it attractive to Alberich, if his power is also connected to books and libraries, as with Librarians such as Miss Winters. And the world in the reports is both highly computerized and presumably highly chaotic, as needed for his experiments.’

‘Did you discover anything further about the archive – either on the laptop or through your research?’ Irene asked.

‘Something, although not as much as I’d like. It actually pre-dates the Sagrada Familia in that world. It was originally a storehouse for the Church – housing dubious materials such as heresies, apocrypha and the like. When the Sagrada Familia was updated with new technology, the archive was expanded to hold servers and data stores. The equipment there was even further upgraded recently. This coincides chronologically with black market transactions between worlds, on the dark web, trading in extremely rare technology. Perhaps that equipment was suitable for the work described in the project.’

A dark archive indeed, Irene reflected.

‘That device Lord Guantes used to track you troubles me, Winters,’ Vale said. ‘What if they have more than one of those things? They may have pinpointed your location again.’

‘I’m no more comfortable about it than you,’ Irene agreed. ‘But nobody attacked me last night, when I was hiding with Catherine. Maybe they did only have one – and we have it now. Or if they do have another . . . It’s marked like a traditional compass – so maybe it can point in the right direction to locate me, but no more than that.’

‘I think it only a matter of time before they can triangulate on your current location,’ Vale responded. ‘Your confrontation will make them even more determined. It is entirely possible that another Lord Guantes is on our trail already. Did you discover how long the process takes, your highness?’

‘They had it down to a few hours,’ Shan Yuan said. ‘Although that doesn’t include the revived personality coming to terms with their new body and reality, and reconciling any inconvenient memories.’

‘Lady Guantes must be good at those explanations by now,’ Irene said grimly. How many ‘husbands’ would she have used up, always seeking the perfect version? What must it be like to see a version of the person you loved degrade and die, multiple times? She thought of that happening to Kai – of losing him, regaining him in such a dreadful way then losing him again – and repressed a shudder.

‘In that case—’ Singh was interrupted by a knock at the door. ‘Come in!’

A servant entered, suitably anonymous, with watchful eyes. ‘Sir,’ he said quickly, ‘there’s been a shooting on the doorstep. We brought the victim in and they’re under guard downstairs.’

‘Details?’

‘A woman, madam – Miss Sterrington, of the Universal Exports firm. She had just given her name at the door when someone shot her from a distance. Lung wound, critical condition. A medic is attending to her in the King Charles Room.’

Vale led the charge with Kai beside him, and the room emptied to follow them.

As Irene rose, Shan Yuan caught her arm and drew her to one side. ‘I’d like a private word,’ he said quietly.

‘Why shouldn’t your brother hear this?’ Irene responded, freeing her arm.

‘He is in danger.’

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Irene stopped in her tracks, her heart suddenly clenching in panic. ‘Another danger . . . besides the assassination attempts?’

‘Yes,’ Shan Yuan said shortly. ‘And I believe you genuinely care for him.’

‘Of course I do.’ Irene replied. She held back from commenting on his patronizing tone. Next he’d be describing her as a credit to the Library and mean it as a compliment.

‘Good. In that case, leave your job.’

Irene stared at him blankly. ‘Explain yourself, sir.’

Shan Yuan snorted and Irene had a sudden mental image of flame rolling from his nostrils, like a fictional dragon. He certainly expected people to do his bidding. ‘Pass the role of treaty representative to some other Librarian. Go back to collecting books. Then Kai can resign his position to some older dragon who’ll do a better job, and he can spend his time more usefully. You’ll both be safer that way.’