Page 55 of Sweet Nightmare

“I’ve heard better,” Ember says with a sniff. “She was a little flat.”

“Wow,” I say. “Judgy much?”

“I just call it like I hear it,” she says with a shrug, then falls back so she can join Jude.

Remy lifts his brows in silent question, but Mozart just shakes her head as we walk outside where it, thankfully, has momentarily stopped raining. “Phoenixes can be…temperamental. I’ve learned it’s better not to ask.”

“You’re just a coward,” Ember shoots back, proving she’s still listening even if she doesn’t want to be anywhere near us.

“Coward. Genius.” Mozart holds her hands in front of her, palms facing the sky, and moves them up and down like weights on a scale. “Pretty sure it’s genius.”

Ember flips her off as she and Jude pass us.

“See?” She shrugs. “Temperamental.”

“One of these days she’s going to set you on fire,” Jude comments as we make our way through the gate.

“Please,” Mozart retorts. “I’m a dragon. That makes me the fire, baby! I can take anything she tries to dish out.”

“That’s pretty big talk considering we don’t have any powers right now,” Ember calls back to her.

“See?” She makes a face behind Ember’s back. “I’m always thinking ahead. Genius.”

She’s so ridiculous that I can’t help cracking up. I try to stop—I don’t know her well enough to figure out if it will offend her—but she just grins at me, so I decide it’s okay.

It’s kind of weird that we’ve been in school together for three years now and this is definitely the most words she’s ever said to me. I’m not sure if that’s her choice or mine—from the day I finally figured out he was ditching me, I’ve given Jude, and his new friends, a wide berth.

They’ve always seemed a little intimidating, and my years at Calder have taught me that unless you know someone’s story, it’s always better to let them come to you. But Mozart actually seems pretty cool. So does Simon, as long as I don’t look him in the eye or breathe when he’s around.

And yes, I am precisely aware of how ridiculous that sounds. But Mozart’s comment about getting used to him notwithstanding, sirens aren’t easy to be friends with.

“So what exactly is a monster menagerie?” Izzy asks. She’s the last one through the gate. She doesn’t look worried so much as intrigued as it slams shut behind her.

CHAPTER THIRTY

WHY YOU GOTTA

BE SO JUDE

“The admins keep a bunch of creatures in the school dungeon,” I tell her as we walk toward the admin building. “Most of them aren’t exactly what I’d call friendly.”

My shoulder picks that exact moment to twinge, as if calling me out on my understatement.

“What kind of creatures are we talking about?” Remy asks, and he doesn’t look any more concerned than Izzy. Then again, he did spend almost all of his life in the Aethereum, the scariest prison in the paranormal world. He probably figures a few monsters can’t touch what he’s already been through. And who knows? Maybe he’s right.

Besides, it’s not like he’s doing anything but nailing plywood over windows. Why should he be concerned?

“We’ve got chricklers,” Jude tells him matter-of-factly. “Along with a bunch of creatures so unusual I don’t actually think they have names.”

“That’s an interesting choice to populate a menagerie with,” Remy comments. “I thought I’d heard of everything, so I can’t imagine creatures more obscure than chricklers.” He lifts a brow. “What are chricklers anyway?”

Luis and I exchange a look. “They’re special,” he says.

“Probably not the kind of project you want to take on,” I add.

“I already told you, I’ve got this,” Jude interjects.

“Have you ever even been to the menagerie?” I ask incredulously. “Hearing about what’s down there isn’t the same as actually being in the cages with them.”

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