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Kai forgot moral scruples and leaned in closer ‘What is it?’

‘Some sort of leather’ Irene rolled back her sleeves and pulled it out It was larger than it looked, thin delicate stuff with long trailing attachth and shape, then froze, horrified Behind her she could sense Kai’s stillness and shock

It was a cole slit down the front froroin

It was Dominic Aubrey’s skin

CHAPTER EIGHT

Kai drew back with an indrawn hiss, raising his hands in front of him like claws The skin lay there on the floor, liar

Irene sed, holding on to the sar to keep her own nausea at bay Dominic Aubrey’s features looked so different like this The flattened face was recognizable, but lacking shape, spirit and the congenial warmth that had animated it just the day before

‘Is it some sort of fake?’ Kai demanded

Irene flipped it over The Library mark ran across its back in a coe couldn’t be faked, even if someone tried to copy it She felt the mark across her own shoulders twitch in a kind of sympathy ‘No,’ she said, numbly ‘It’s real But it’s not possible for someone to shed their skin like thisI mean, it may just be possible to remove your skin, if you consider some wilder fictional texts, but you couldn’t remove the Library’s mark and survive’

‘Alberich,’ Kai said

Irene didn’t need to ask hireed ‘Even likely But there’s the Fae to consider as well, and there ht We have to report this’

Kai sighed deeply in relief ‘I was afraid you were going to say that we had to investigate it ourselves’

‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ Irene said briskly ‘We may collect fiction, but we are not required to imitate the stupider parts of it’ And let’s hope we don’t just get told to investigate this s first We’ll hide this thing again, then I’ll open the door to the Library’

The handle of the outer door began to turn

Irene barely had time to think But I know I locked it! She hastily shoved skin and jar behind one of the display tables and rose to shield it further with her skirts

Kaifully open