When the aftershock finishes a few seconds later, I pull out my phone and text Jaxon. Just to let him know I’m okay—and to make sure he is. Plus, I’d like to actually have a conversation with him where neither one of us is hurt—and half the school isn’t looking on. I text him a quick, Where are you? Want to meet up? then wait impatiently for his answer.

It doesn’t come, which only makes me more nervous.

I wish I’d gotten Mekhi’s phone number this morning so I could text him, too, but I didn’t, so I’m stuck, wandering the halls and waiting for Jaxon to text me back.

Not sure what else to do, I head up the stairs toward Jaxon’s tower. But truth is, I’m not keen on showing up at his door uninvited again. He’s the one who left me in the cafeteria, and he’s the one who isn’t answering my texts. I want to see him, want to talk to him, but I’m not going to chase him anymore. This time, he needs to come to me.

Which means I probably shouldn’t head back to my room, where I’ll spend all my time obsessing over where Jaxon is and what he’s doing instead of something productive. And I’ve already spent enough of my time thinking about that boy today—probably too much, considering the way he’s currently ignoring me.

It’s that thought more than any other that has me heading down the hallway to the library as soon as I get to the second floor. I’ve been meaning to go back during regular hours so I can take my time looking around—and also maybe even find some books to check out. Apparently, I have a lot to learn about paranormal creatures, and now is as good a time as any to get started. Plus, I figure my uncle and Macy can’t complain I’m not resting if I spend the day curled up with a bunch of horror movie throw pillows and a good book.

Class is in session, so the library is almost empty when I get there. Which is more than okay with me—the fewer people I run into, the lower the chance of any more “accidents.”

I think about starting in the mythology section, seeing if there are any books on the different paranormal creatures I go to school with. It’s where I would start in a regular library, but here at Katmere, monsters are real. So would I find books about them under nonfiction? Or biology?

This whole monsters are real thing is going to take a lot of getting used to.

I decide to stop at the main desk and ask the librarian where I should start. And the truth is, I’ve been dying to meet her since I found this place the other day. Her sticker choices and gargoyle placements alone mark her as supercool in my book.

It’s an impression that is only reinforced when I actually get to see her up close.

She’s tall and beautiful, with glowing copper skin. Her long, dark hair is threaded with orange and silver tinsel—leftover from Halloween, I imagine—and she’s dressed like a total hippie, all flowing, long-sleeve boho dress and boots. Plus, she’s got a giant smile on her face as I approach, something I haven’t seen much of here at the very dark and very Gothic Katmere Academy.

“Ms. Royce?” I ask when I reach the front of the desk.

“You can call me Amka. Many of the students do.” If possible, her grin gets even friendlier. “You must be Grace, the new student all the fuss is about.”

My cheeks go warm. “That’s not quite how I would have put it, but yeah. I guess I am.”

“It’s good to meet you. I’m glad to get to know the girl shaking up the status quo around here. They could use it.”

“They?”

She chuckles and leans forward just a little. Then, in a loud, staged whisper, says, “The monsters.”

My eyes go wide at the description, and relief floods me as I think back on what my uncle said. “So you’re human, too?”

“Most of us are human, Grace. We just also happen to have a little something extra, that’s all.”

“Oh, right.” I feel like a jerk. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you.”

“You didn’t.” She holds out a hand. Seconds later, a light wind blows through the library, ruffling my hair and making the magazines on the rack behind me flutter.

“Oh! You’re a witch!” I turn my face up so I can feel the breeze.

“I am. From the Inupiat tribe,” she answers. “With an affinity for the elements.”

“The elements?” I repeat, emphasizing the S. “So not just wind?”

“Not just wind,” she agrees. She closes her hand, and the wind dies down instantly. Seconds later, without so much as a flick of her fingers, the candles in all the wall sconces begin to burn. “Fire. And I’d show you water, but I’m thinking you’ve had enough snow already.”

“I really have,” I agree. “But…if you don’t mind, I’d still like to see it.”

She nods, and seconds later, snowflakes start falling from the ceiling directly above our heads.

Instinctively, I reach my tongue out and taste one. Then tell her, “That’s the coolest thing I’ve ever seen.”

“Keep your eyes open,” she answers. “There are a lot of cool things to see at Katmere.”

“I’m looking forward to it,” I say honestly. Because watching her manipulate the elements actually calms me down, convinces me that maybe things aren’t as scary as I fear.

“Good,” she says with a wink. “Now, what brings you to my library today?”

“Honestly, I just wanted to explore some more. I was in here the other day, and I fell in love with it. You’ve done an amazing job.”

“Books are fascinating and fun. I figure the rooms that house them should be as well.”

“You’ve definitely made that happen.” I turn and look behind me. “I mean, the stickers alone are incredible. I could spend all day reading them. And the gargoyles. And the horror movie pillows? I love it all.”

“I figure what’s the good of working in a place like this if I can’t have a little fun with it.”

“Exactly!” I say with a laugh. “Which is actually the second reason I’m here. I was hoping to find some books that would help me learn more about the different kinds of people who go to school here.”

She smiles at my clumsy attempt to incorporate the first lesson she taught me in my request—that most of the people here are human, just different. “I admire your open mind. And your willingness to embrace what you’ve learned.”

“I’m trying. I figure there’s a lot to learn.”

“You’ve got time.” She reaches over and takes hold of my hands, clasping them between both of hers.

It surprises me, but doesn’t offend me, so I don’t pull away. Though I kind of wish I had when her eyes start to do this weird swirling thing.

It’s no big deal, I tell myself. I mean, Macy did a glamour and I was totally okay with it. This is no different.

Except it feels different. It feels like she’s looking deep inside of me, like she can see way more than I want her—or anyone—to.

Which is ridiculous. I mean, just because she’s a witch doesn’t make her a mind reader. Except just when I’ve got myself convinced that nothing weird is happening, she whispers, “Don’t be afraid.”

“I’m not,” I answer, because what else am I supposed to say? That her eye thing is freaking me out a little bit?

“You’re more than you think you are,” she continues.

“I…don’t know what that means.”

She smiles as her eyes go back to normal. “You will when you need to. That’s what matters.”

“Thank you,” I say, because what else do you say at times like these? I guess I should work up a few comebacks, since I’m going to be here for a while.

“Here.” Amka rips a piece of paper off a notepad on her desk and scribbles something down on it, then folds it in half and hands it to me. “You might benefit from checking out the end of the stacks a couple of rows down.”

“What section is it?” Excitement thrums through me, chasing away the disquiet of just a few moments ago.

“Dragons.” She flashes a dimple. “Always a good place to start.”

“Absolutely.” I think of Flint and all the questions I have about him. “Thanks!”

“No problem. When you find what you’re looking for, you’ll know what to do with this.” She hands me the piece of paper, then reaches under her desk and pulls out a bottle of water. Here, take this, too. And drink it. You need to stay hydrated at this altitude.”

“Oh, yeah.” I take the bottle. “Thanks again.”

She just waves me on my way.

I head down the aisle she pointed to, wondering what kind of books on dragons I’ll find there—especially considering it looks like I’m in the mystery section. But as soon as I get to the end of the aisle, Amka’s grin makes sense, as do her directions. Because sitting at one of the round tables—with his earbuds in and a really old book open to a section with weird writing—is Flint.

Dragons indeed.

He glances up when I take a step toward him, and a look I can’t quite decipher flits across his face for a second. It’s followed quickly by a huge grin as he pops out one of his Airpods. “Hey, New Girl! What are you doing here?”

It’s impossible for me not to smile back. “Researching dragons, apparently.”

“Oh yeah?” He pats the chair next to him. “Looks like you came to the right place.”

“Looks like I did.” As I move to sit next to him, I hand him the note Amka gave me. “I think this is for you.”

“Really?” His brow wrinkles a little as he reaches for the paper. While he reads it, I check my phone to make sure I haven’t missed a text from Jaxon.

I haven’t.

“So,” Flint says, deliberately not making eye contact as he drops the note on the table next to the book he’s reading. What do you need to know about dragons?”