Page 87 of The Scars Within
“Exactly! Which gives us plenty of time to figure out what the hell is really going on in this castle. Wakey, wakey, Thorne!” Tatum’s voice rang out.
That was when Lakota sent my good morning message, “She’s right.”
I pushed up onto my elbows, groggy but curious. “What are you plotting?”
Tatum gestured around the room, her finger circling all four of us. “Today, we’re investigating. There have been way too many red flags about this place. First, Hogboom’s cryptic claim that the public doesn’t know the whole truth about our history. Then, his sudden murder. The villagers. And now, we’ve got the first mage since the Battle for Mareki walking these halls—”
“Keep your voice down, T!” Laney snapped, glancing nervously at the walls. “You don’t want anyone hearing us.”
“Fuck them,” Tatum shot back, undeterred. “Fuck their lies, fuck the way nothing adds up around here. If no one will tell us the truth, we’ll find it ourselves.”
Before I could object, she grabbed my wrists and yanked me out of bed.
We had just finished dressing and were heading for the door when Tatum suddenly turned, grabbed the knob, and faced us with a determined look. “Alright, what’s the plan?” she asked, her curiosity evident in her expression.
“This was your idea, Tatum,” Cleo said.
Laney shimmied through us to open the door, “First, the library.”
As we exited the dorm room, my gaze snagged on a familiar figure down the hall. Shayde. For a brief moment, his eyes met mine before he turned away, continuing his conversation with Davis as if I didn’t exist. Whether he didn’t see me or was pretending not to, I couldn’t tell. It just hit me that I haven’t spoken to him since yesterday at lunch. It was Rhodes who had been there—who ran into the pit while Shayde stayed in the stands.
I shook off the thought as Shayde and Davis disappeared around the corner. Tucking those feelings away for later, I hurried to catch up with my friends.
“Hey, Laney. Why are we headed to the library first?” I asked as we descended the spiral turret stairs.
“Because every great plan begins with a trip to the library, silly,” Laney called over her shoulder.
I can’t complain about her logic. I reached out to Lakota, “Do you like to read?”
“Is there a dragon-sized library that you are aware of and I’m not?” He responded, obviously bored with my question.
“Is it possible to roll my eyes at you through our bond?” I snapped back.
“I can sense your emotions, Scarlet. Just like I sensed your irritation with the Wylder boy just now.”
“He is not a boy–” I stopped, realizing he was right about my irritation.
He huffed.
Thanks to the canceled classes, the halls were busier than usual and crowded with cadets. But something felt off. More eyes were on me than ever before. A group of girls quickly averted their gazes when I caught them staring, huddling closer, and whispering to each other.
Despite the crowd, people moved aside for us without hesitation.
Unease crept up my spine. Surely, this had nothing to do with yesterday’s events… did it?
“Probably does,” he answered my thoughts.
“Nobody asked you.”
“Grab a coffee after the library. You’re grumpy this morning,” Lakota said with that deep but calm voice that I was starting to believe was his normal tone. It also has a sense of sarcasm.
“You’re one to talk!” But again– he was right.
I kept my concerns to myself as we reached the library. We headed straight for the nonfiction section in the far back corner, where the air felt thick with dust and mystery. Old tomes lined the shelves, newer spines peeking between them, and ancient scrolls tucked into cubby holes. The light was dim, with only a single sconce casting aflickering glow over the darkened corner. A worn settee sat in the center, sending up a dust cloud when Tatum flopped onto it.
Clearly, this part of the library wasn’t exactly a popular hangout.
We got to work, each with a task. Cleo combed through the newer books, Laney tackled the older ones, I took on the scrolls, and Tatum searched for anything that seemed out of the ordinary.
