The book fell.
For one suspended heartbeat, Seraphina simply stared upward, her eyes widening as the massive tome began its descent. It was enormous - larger than any book she had ever seen in the library - and it was falling directly toward her head.
"SERAPHINA!"
Autumn's reflexes were faster than thought.
She grabbed Seraphina's wrist and yanked her sideways with surprising strength for someone dressed in flowing silk.
Sera stumbled, her boots scraping against the glass-smooth floor, just as the tome crashed down where she had been standing.
The sound thundered through the library.
A deep, echoing thud reverberated through the endless aisles, making the floating candlelights flicker wildly. A burst of non-existent dust puffed outward from the impact point, swirling in slow, silver spirals around the fallen book.
For a long moment, neither woman spoke.
They stood shoulder to shoulder, staring at the thing lying on the stone floor.
It was gargantuan.
