“But you spent time together in the library.” Her head tilts, studying me. “Several people mentioned seeing you two there.”
My shoulders tense.Several people?
Who’s been reporting my library habits to Little Miss Sunshine?
“He saw me lost in the aisles while he was doing his own research and offered to help,” I jump to explain. “I’m still catching up on magical history and can use all the help I can get.”
“Of course! And how sweet of him to offer.” She leans forward slightly. “What were you researching? Maybe I can point you toward some resources, too.”
“Just basics.” The electricity under my skin prickles with warning, and I push it down. “Magical theory, creature classifications, that sort of thing. First-year stuff.”
“Mmm.” Her smile doesn’t waver, but something shifts in her eyes. “Did Miles ever mention what he was researching?”
Why do you care?
The question burns on my tongue, but I swallow it.
“Something about Hecate’s crossroads and displacement.” I shrug. “It sounded complicated.”
“Did he say anything specific?” She brings out a little pink notebook and pen and opens it to a fresh page, the tip of the pen hovering over the blank paper.
I shake my head, watching her carefully. “Nothing that made any sense to me.”
“No, of course not. Fourth-year research can be quite arcane.” She relaxes back against the window. “I’m just trying to piece together his last days, you know? For closure. For Logan.”
My chest tightens at Logan’s name. “How is he?”
“Oh, you know.” She waves vaguely. “Dealing with the backlash. Taking meals in his room.” Her eyes fix on mine. “Callie seems to be helping him get through the worst of it. They’ve been spending a lot of time together.”
“How much time?” The words escape my throat before I can think to hold them back.
“A lot.” Margot shrugs.
The words are knives in my chest. Because of course he reached out to her instead of me. I should have known better than to think he’d do anything else.
“In fact,” she continues, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, “he’ll be returning to his proctor duties next week. Isn’t that amazing? Although of course, I hope you’ll still feel comfortable coming to me with anything you need. My door is always open, day or night.”
She’s watching me like she wants to dig into my soul and tear out my darkest secrets. Electricity buzzes inside me, as if it’s ready to protect me from her invisible claws, ready to strike her down if she comes even a step closer.
“I should go.” I stand abruptly, and the stars flare beneath my feet, thunder rumbling overhead. “Thanks for showing me the observatory.”
I’m down the stairs before she can say anything else, taking them two at a time as thunder shakes the tower. The stormbreaks properly as I exit the building, rain coming down in sheets that soak through my clothes.
Good. Maybe it’ll hide the tears that are forcing their stupid selves out of my eyes. Because while I’ve been losing sleep over Logan, Callie’s been there with him. In his room. Helping him heal with the power of their epic fucking love story.
Lightning flashes overhead, and I want to scream at the sky and let every bit of power I’ve been hiding surge free. I want to storm up to Typhon Hall and?—
And what? Demand to know why Logan’s with his ex-girlfriend instead of the first-year he kissed—well, a bit more than kissed—a few times?
The rain pounds harder, and I don’t bother running. Let it soak me. Let it wash away whatever stupid hopes I’ve been holding onto. Because Logan made his choice.
And I should have known better than to think he’d choose me.
JADE
Fog clingsto the mountainside as the first-year class gathers at the base of the Scorched Circles. I can barely see the Crown at the peak, wreathed in mist and warning.
Today, my stomach’s churning with more than just the usual pre-Kieran anxiety. Because two days of replaying Margot’s words—Logan and Callie, spending so much time together—has left me raw and distracted.
