After filling Syd in and getting Chaos acquainted, Ender left—having to sneak up to his room. He would have been in trouble for entering a girl’s room, especially because it was so late. I made Chaos a makeshift bed in the closet, but the little dragon insisted on curling up next to me, his tail tapping with contentment over my face.
Hiding him was going to be a challenge, and I wondered if telling John would be easier. Dragons were known nemeses to dark mages—I didn’t see him objecting to having one around, and he already met him in Singapore.
Then again,my fatherhad kept a huge secret from me.
Time to play hide the dragon.
Chapter Forty-Two
Selene
Coaxingthelittledragoninto staying in my room did not go well.
Chaos defiantly held up his head, purposely glaring off to the side when I told him he had to stay put. I promised him that if he was a good boy, I would take him for a run at dusk. He had chuffed at me again but didn’t move, so I took that as something.
The day would tell.
Ender met me at my room as promised and escorted me to first period. I had skipped breakfast, not wanting to leave Chaos any longer than necessary. The first two classes dragged, and in third period study hall, I sat near the window, keeping an eye on the dorms.
“You’re not in your normal spot.” David sat at the desk in front of me, turning so he faced me.
“Just needed a change of scenery,” I lied. The window seats were closer to the front of the classroom—I always preferred staying near the back and near an exit.
“The window seat is definitely an upgrade, though it might have made someone upset.” David glanced toward the other side of the room, and I followed his gaze. I couldn’t remember her name, but she was in a few of my classes. She was staring at me but glanced down at her notebook, her fear almost palpable when my gaze met hers.
“I didn’t mean to take her seat,” I mumbled, feeling slightly guilty—not for taking her seat; that’s inconsequential—for the obvious fear she had of me.
“Nah. I wouldn’t worry about it.” David smiled, giving me view of his dimples. “Oh. I got something for you.” He turned around, grabbing a book from the bottom of the stack on his desk. “I found this.”
He set a book on my desk. Its cover was black leather with gold etching the edges. It was untitled and lacked an author’s name.
“What is it?” I stroked the old leather. Something about itfeltforeboding. My finger moved to the flap to open it, but David covered my hand with his gloved hand, stopping me.
“I wouldn’t open it here.” He glanced around before moving his hand. Goosebumps rose along my arm when the skin of his exposed wrist brushed me when he pulled away. “It’s an old grimoire that belonged to a lineage of dark mages.”
He grabbed my useless English textbook and placed on top of the leather-bound book, concealing it.
“How…” I gave him a questioning look—how did he know I had been searching for this type of information?
“I pay attention. Sometimes.” He lightheartedly chuckled. “You’ve been searching for anything on dark mages since you arrived.”
“Where did you find it?” I had searched the entire library.
“Let’s just say I got bored while you were gone.” David’s smile turned mockingly mischievous, then solemn. “I wanted to find out more about the control of my abilities and if there is anything naturally dark about fire magic. I heard about a basement below the library with forbidden books and figured it wouldn’t hurt to look. I saw the book and knew it was something you should see—you know, after the dark mage attack and all. I should have given it to you sooner, but I had hidden it in my closet and forgot it was in there. It would have made for an interesting Christmas gift.”
“You went in the basement?” I leaned forward, keeping our conversation quiet though no one appeared to be listening. “Wouldn’t it be locked?”
“I know a few things. Plus, I don’t think they take the security of the basement seriously.” David’s brows furrowed. “You don’t seem shocked about the academy having a basement.”
It had sounded like John took the security of the basementveryseriously. Maybe something was tampering with the enchantments again, but how did I tell John without getting David into trouble?
“Did you…” I wasn’t sure how to ask if he saw ginormous, venomous demonic rats. “… see anything?”
“Yes.” His eyes widened. “An abundance of dusty books and an exorbitant amount of stairs to climb back up. Descending had been less strenuous.”
I rolled my eyes but also understood. It was a lot of stairs—that’s why we didn’t have time to take them when Ender and I were running for our lives.
“Your expression is telling me you’ve been there?” David asked.
