“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?”
“We can do this later,” I tell him. “I don’t want to interrupt whatever you’re working on.”
“Don’t worry about it. This is nothing.” He closes the book before I can see much of anything and slides it away from him.
I see the language on the cover, though. “Oh, hey! Is that an Akkadian text?”
His eyes go wide. “How did you know about Akkadian?”