My hand hovered over the page, torn between ripping it out and shoving the whole book into my satchel.
“Find something interesting?”
My heart lurched and I almost dropped the book. I grabbed at the ladder before I could fall backwards, then turned my head.
Professor Rodriguez stood in the doorway, his hands shoved in a pair of shabby brown trousers.
“I’m sorry,” I said automatically. “I didn’t mean to intrude. I was just waiting for you to come back.”
“You’ve got quite an eye for rare books.” Rodriguez stepped further into the room. He was watching me closely, as if unsure I really knew what I'd found. “Few students can read Classical Sangrathan.”
“I can't,” I blurted. “Read it, I mean. I just thought the cover was beautiful.”
I looked down at the cover, praying it was unique. I hadn’t even glanced at it yet.
Fortunately, the book wasn’t the dullest I’d seen. It was covered in deep, black leather, cracked with age but still rich and polished as if it had been well-cared for over centuries. Silver filigree was coiled around the edges, curling into patterns that resembled wisps of smoke. In the center of the cover was embedded a serpentine silver dragon. I touched it lightly with one finger, feeling its ridges.
“Yes, it's a beautiful book. And rare. Put it back.” Rodriguez’s voice was soft, but his eyes were hard.
I quickly did as he said, then climbed down the ladder.
“Now, did you need something, Miss Pendragon? I don’t recall us having an appointment. Or were you simply snooping?” He dropped a stack of papers onto his desk with a thud and I jumped.
Yes, something was going on with Rodriguez, I decided. He was always on edge, but now he was practically on guard. What was going on with him that he was this suspicious? Or was it just the fact that I’d touched the book?
Part of me wanted to ask him about the ritual, but with his suspicious attitude, I decided I’d better not risk it right now.
“I need something,” I said, walking up to the desk.
“And that something is?” He sank into the wooden chair behind his desk and leaned back.
Even with his misguided sense of fashion, Rodriguez was a handsome man. It wasn’t the first time I’d thought so. With his dark hair and long legs he was exactly my type. Or he would have been, if I wasn’t fairly certain he already had a crush on Professor Sankara.
Or the type I thought was my type before a certain crooked aristocratic nose forced its way into my nighttime dreams...
I forced the thought out of my head.
“I need help surviving the Consort Games,” I said bluntly. “Why did you never tell me about them?”
Rodriguez looked up at me from dark eyes, with a considering expression. “Teachers aren’t permitted to tell students about Bloodwing rites. Especially not that one.”
“Well, I know it exists so it’s not a big mystery. I even know when it will happen,” I bluffed.
He raised his eyebrows. “Do you? That’s interesting. I don’t.”
“It’s always held after the Frostfire Festival, right?” I guessed.
The House Leader rite was happening first. Florence and Naveen had seemed certain of that. And we were too close to midwinter for the Consort Games to be squeezed in before the break. They’d have to take place sometime afterwards. Probably in the spring.
“That’s traditionally when they happen. But who knows about this year?” He looked at me directly. “Things change. The unexpected happens. Just look at you, for example.”
“Speaking of the unexpected, I understand the consorts are expected to work together.” I glanced at the door. Rodriguez hadalready shut it behind him. “How am I supposed to survive these Games when Regan Pansera hates me?” I hissed.
“That’s certainly a problem,” he agreed. “For you. Not for me.”
I groaned and sank down into the hard wooden chair he always left out for students. I knew better than to take him at his word.
Rodriguez was a hardass, yes, but he didn’t hate me. He might not like me as much as Florence thought, but I doubted he actively was hoping I’d die.