Chapter 13 – The Library

The message arrived during breakfast.

Principal Luca would like to see you in his office at nine.

That was it. No explanation. I stared at my phone. Anna noticed immediately.

"What's wrong?"

"Luca wants to see me."

Her eyebrows rose.

"Oh."

"Why does everyone say oh like that?"

She laughed. "Did you do something?"

"I entered his forbidden garden, walked through two Alpha auras, and stole papers from two angry Alphas."

"When you put it like that..."

"Not helping."

At exactly nine, I knocked on Luca's door.

"Come in."

He sat behind his desk, looking annoyingly calm.

"You wanted to see me?"

"I did. Sit."

I obeyed.

"Am I in trouble?"

"No."

"That's exactly what people say before explaining why you're in trouble."

Amusement appeared in his eyes.

"You're not in trouble, Violet."

"Not even for the garden?"

"No."

"The courtyard?"

"No."

I relaxed.

"Amazing. I'm doing better than I thought."

Luca closed the folder in front of him.

"The academy library needs another student assistant."

"Okay."

"I'm offering you the position."

I blinked.

"Me?"

"Yes."

"Wait. You're offering me a job?"

"Yes."

"A paid job?"

One eyebrow rose.

"Were you planning to work for free?"

"Absolutely not."

That earned me the smallest smile.

"Three afternoons a week. Your studies come first."

It sounded perfect. Books, silence and extra money, but...

"Why me?"

Luca was quiet for a moment.

"Because I think you'll be good at it."

"That's it?"

"It's one reason."

I caught that.

"What are the others?"

He stood.

"Come with me."

"You're avoiding my question."

"I'm choosing not to answer it."

At least Luca never pretended otherwise. I followed him through the oldest part of the academy until we reached two enormous wooden doors. He pushed them open. I stopped.

"Oh."

The library was beautiful. Three floors of dark wooden shelves surrounded a huge central hall. Narrow galleries ran along the upper levels, connected by staircases. Tall windows filled the room with warm light, and thousands of books covered almost every wall. There were even rolling ladders. Actual rolling ladders.

"I think I'm in love."

Luca glanced at me.

"With the library?"

"Don't ruin the moment."

I walked farther inside. For once, silence didn't make me feel alone. It felt peaceful.

"You're late."

A woman's voice came from between the shelves. A tall woman stepped into view. Her long dark hair was pulled neatly back, and silver glasses rested on her nose. Her gaze moved to Luca. Then to me. Then briefly to the chain around my neck. Something changed in her expression. So quickly I almost missed it.

"Her?"

I frowned.

"I'm standing right here."

She ignored me.

"You are certain?"

"Completely," Luca answered.

I looked between them.

"Certain about what?"

Finally, the woman turned to me.

"I am Isara Vaelis. Head librarian."

"Violet."

"I know."

Of course she did. Isara studied me for another uncomfortable second. Then she turned away.

"Come. If you're going to work in my library, you need to learn the rules."

I glanced at Luca. He looked completely calm. Which, I was beginning to learn, usually meant I was about to discover something strange. I followed Isara between the shelves and for some reason, I couldn't stop thinking about the way she looked at my amulet. Isara moved quickly. I followed her between endless shelves while she explained the cataloguing system, returns, damaged books, and which collections students could access without permission.

"Books returned here," she said, pointing to a wooden cart. "You check them first. Never put a damaged book back on the shelf."

"Got it."

"And students are not allowed behind my desk."

"Got it."

"No food."

"Obviously."

"No coffee."

I stopped.

"That's cruel."

Isara looked at me over her glasses.

"No coffee."

"Fine."

Luca was following several steps behind us, clearly enjoying my suffering. We reached the oldest part of the library. The shelves here were darker, the books older. At the end of the corridor, a narrow stone staircase descended beneath the library. A heavy chain blocked the entrance. Isara stopped.

"One rule matters more than the others."

I already knew I wasn't going to like this.

"You don't go down there."

Naturally, I looked down.

"What's there?"

"Books that aren't for students."

"Then why are they in a student library?"

Isara stared at me.

"You ask too many questions."

"I've been told."

Luca made a suspicious sound behind me that might have been a laugh. Isara ignored him.

"Your first shift begins tomorrow."

She walked away. I waited until she disappeared before turning to Luca.

"You didn't really choose me because I'm good at organizing books, did you?"

He was silent for a moment.

"No."

My eyebrows rose. Finally.

"Then why?"

His expression became serious.

"I think there are things in this library that may eventually be useful to you."

My stomach tightened.

"What things?"

"When you're ready, you'll find them."

"Luca—"

"Tomorrow, Violet."

Wiith that, he walked away. I stared after him. I was beginning to think the principal enjoyed giving me answers that created twice as many questions. My first shift started the next afternoon. Isara gave me a cart filled with returned books and disappeared somewhere among the upper shelves. For almost an hour, nothing unusual happened. I actually enjoyed myself. No whispering students, no Alphas fighting, no mysterious boys asking me to dinner. Just books. I was returning the final few volumes when one refused to slide into place. I pushed again. Nothing.

"Seriously?"

I pulled it back out. Something behind it caught the light. Silver. I frowned and reached into the narrow space. My fingers touched leather. I pulled out another book. It was old. Much older than everything around it. Its cover was silver, with no title and no author's name. Only a symbol engraved in the center. I froze.

"No way."

My hand flew to my chest. I pulled the amulet from beneath my shirt and held it beside the book. The same curved lines. The same strange markings. The exact same symbol. Heat suddenly spread beneath my fingers. The amulet was warming. Again. I stared at the book. My heart began beating faster. Luca's words returned to me.

There are things in this library that may eventually be useful to you.

I slowly reached for the cover. My fingertips had barely touched it when a voice sounded directly behind me. Cold and sharp.

"Put that book back."