Page 151 of Firestorm
Wyatt inclined his head in resignation, and then I turned on my heel and stormed out the still open door.
Chapter 42
Skye
I sighed againfrom where I sat in the library. The ancient book that had appeared at my dorm was a mystery. Neither Willow nor Mia knew what it was or where it had come from. Willow told me to throw it out, Mia wanted me to turn it into the administration,which was insane, and Aiden only asked me to read it to him while naked.
Except now he’d texted that he had detention again after his counseling appointment, so I was in the library, reading through the tome while Landon sat a respectable distance across from me, researching something entirely different.
I hadn’t asked what he was looking for. Part of me was afraid he’d be looking up possible final essay topics for me.
The ancient book I was attempting to read was…old. I knew the old language, my mother had made sure to teach me like I was meant to be some sort of princess one day, but my comprehension was rusty.
I was just fine with verbs and their conjugations. My vocabulary, though? Total shit.
I peered over at Landon, looking bored out of his mind across from me. He was a noisy study partner, constantly sighing and groaning, shuffling and scrubbing his hands over his face or through his hair.
I didn’twantto spend time with Landon, per se, but Aiden hadmade it obvious he didn’t feel threatened by him, and Landon was a GTA, so he had a higher library clearance than me.
Men annoyed me plenty but somehow…Landon annoyed me a little more than normal, which was especially irritating since I needed his help.
I’d only been translating the ancient book in my mind as I read, which was alreadysoboring, and with my pathetic vocabulary, the process was beyond tedious. I’d given up trying to let Zephyr into my mind alongside my translating process hours ago.
Just project back once you’re done,he’d said, somehow yawning even through our minds.
Landon sighed deeply from across from me while rubbing his eyes. I clenched my jaw.
“I feel like I’m reading the same paragraph over and over, but nothing is connecting to my brain.” He groaned. “Any luck on your end?”
I pursed my lips.
“You know the old language at all?” I asked.
Landon snorted. “Do I look two-hundred years old to you? No.”
I rolled my eyes before turning a page and attempting to read a family tree of famous Healers in history. It seemed like it was hinting at the fact that healing was a genetic affinity, which would be odd considering most rare affinities were anomalies.
I ran my hand down the old page, trying to clear some of the dust. The pages were so yellowed and worn, the photos on the family tree were basically smudges of ink. Come to think of it, this entire book almost appeared handwritten. Just as I was taking a closer look and considering making an appointment for reader glasses, Landon spoke, startling me slightly.
“I can get you a dictionary.” Landon said, peering across the table. “What are you studying, anyway? Isn’t that the word for healing?”
I shrugged, not wanting to lie but not wanting to confirm he was correct, either.
“Hold on,” Landon said, sliding his chair back smoothly before he jumped to his feet. I watched as he disappeared up a closed-off staircase.
My shadow decided to materialize then.
I glanced over my shoulder at a particularly dark corner where I suspected the shadow was hiding.
I opened my mind just slightly.Don’t you have anything better to do on a Friday night?I asked.
Amusement radiated from the corner, but as usual, it didn’t respond. A thought struck me suddenly.
This was from you, wasn’t it? You couldn’t have found one of these books in English for me?I asked.How’d you even know I’d understand the old language?
I was met with surprise, and I got the faint sense that the shadow was shrugging at me.
Wouldn’t that be funny if you didn’t leave this book for me at all, and I was just talking to myself in the library?I projected.I don’t even think medication would work on me if that were the case. My affinities don’t allow things into my bloodstream. I can’t even get drunk, you know.
