I blinked slowly. “What?”
She kept petting the cat. “I never thought Graham would entertain you like he did.”
A tiny thread of unease pulled tight in my stomach. If the sudden exhaustion wasn’t hitting me so hard, I might’ve paid more attention.
I rubbed at my forehead. The room felt…fuzzy.
“Mara…what are you talking about?”
She leaned forward, her lips twisting into something between a smile and a sneer. “Graham has never looked at a girl the way he looks at you.”
There was simmering rage in her tone.
“What…are you talking about?” I slurred, my tongue suddenly thick and clumsy.
“I see everything that happens in this library.” Her eyes sharpened. “Everything. This place was always Graham’s space. His sanctuary.”
Her jaw clenched tight enough that a muscle jumped in her cheek. “Iwas his sanctuary.”
My heart lurched, a sluggish, panicked thud.
My body wasn’t responding properly. I tried to sit up straighter and only managed to sway.
“And then”—her voice cracked and something unhinged flashed across her face—“and then you came along and ruined everything. You aren’t good for him. I thought he’d see that himself, but he seems to need my help.”
My pulse stuttered.
“Mara…” My vision swam. “What…did you…do?”
She glared at me like she could burn holes through my skin.
“He used to sit with me, Quinn. He used to talk to me. But ever since you got here…he’s been distracted.”
The chair under me tilted.
Or maybe I did.
My empty cup slipped from my fingers, but I barely registered it.
I tried to stand, but my legs gave out instantly.
I caught myself on the edge of the table, but my arms shook violently.
“Mara…” My voice was a broken whisper. “S-Something’s wrong…”
She stood.
“Oh, Quinn.” She tilted her head, almost pitying. “You should’ve stayed in Cincinnati.”
My knees buckled.
Her face blurred.
The last thing I felt was the pressure of her hand against my back—and everything went dark.
32
Graham
