Dark Frost (Mythos Academy #3)(49)
Author: Jennifer Estep

"Maybe we should take things slow," I said. "You know, sit down and actually talk instead of fighting Reapers and going from one crisis to the next. Maybe we can finally get that coffee we’ve been talking about for a while now."

Logan’s grin widened. "I’d like that. As for taking it slow, that’s fine, too-as long as you can control yourself around me, Gypsy girl. I have a reputation for being irresistible, you know."

I rolled my eyes, and he laughed, a low, warm, deep chuckle that made my toes tingle.

My good mood didn’t last long, because Vivian entered the library, along with Savannah and Talia. The three Amazons put their stuff down on one of the study tables, then Vivian walked over and stepped up behind Logan, apparently thinking the Spartan was in line to check out a book.

"We’ll talk later," I said. "There’s something I need to take care of right now, okay? Call me later."

He gave me a crooked smile. "You got it, Gypsy girl."

Logan winked at me and walked away, but instead of leaving the library, he stopped at Daphne and Carson’s table and started talking to them. The Valkyrie spoke to Logan, but she kept staring at me, waiting to see if I’d touch Vivian and freak out when I realized that she was really the Reaper girl. Only one way to find out.

"I got your message," Vivian said, stepping up to take Logan’s place. "You said you found my ring?"

I pulled the plastic bag with the ring in it out of my bag and showed it to her.

Vivian’s whole face lit up at the sight of the ring, like it was the most important thing in the world to her. Maybe it was, given the attachment she had to it. I didn’t believe she could be the Reaper girl, no matter what Daphne thought. I just didn’t see how Vivian could fake that level of shy niceness. Plus, her voice was so soft and sweet. It didn’t sound anything like the Reaper girl’s low, harsh tone. Then again, neither did Savannah’s voice.

Vivian put the other hundred bucks she owed me on the counter. I touched the money and concentrated, but I only got the familiar, faint vibe off it, the feeling of the bill going from one hand to another until it had wound up in mine. No clue there, so I tucked the money into my jeans pocket.

"So where was it?" Vivian asked. "Where did you find the ring?"

"I found it in Savannah’s room," I said in a neutral tone.

This was always the hardest part, telling someone her friend had taken what rightfully belonged to her-and not by accident.

I watched her closely, but all the usual emotions flickered across Vivian’s face. Surprise. Confusion. And finally, cold knowledge as she realized what my finding the ring in Savannah’s room really meant.

"Oh," she said, her face paling. "Oh."

That was all a lot of people could say when they found out something like that about their supposed best friends. I waited for Vivian to do or say something else, but she just stood there, a miserable expression on her face and tears shining in her eyes. After a second, she snapped out of her daze and held out her hand to me.

I handed over the bag with the ring in it, accidentally-on-purpose letting my fingers touch her hand so I could flash on Vivian and see if she was really the Reaper girl.

Various images of Vivian filled my mind. Her sitting in class this morning, eating lunch in the dining hall, walking over to the library. But mainly what I felt was a sense of hurt and confusion over Savannah’s betrayal. Apparently, it had affected Vivian more than she was letting on because the emotion blocked out everything else.

There was no hint she was a Reaper, and I didn’t sense any sort of hate or malice in her at all. That was a little strange. Even the nicest girl could be a total bitch sometimes. If I’d just found out that my best friend had stolen something from me, well, I’d be royally upset about it. But all Vivian felt was sad, disappointed confusion. She was a far better person than I was. By this point, I would have dug my fingers into Savannah’s red hair and started pulling out clumps of it until she confessed to stealing the ring.

Before I could get any more vibes off her, Vivian pulled back, breaking the connection between our fingers.

"Well, thanks for finding it," she said in a tight voice.

"Sure. Anytime."

Vivian turned and walked back to the table where she was sitting with Savannah and Talia. Savannah asked Vivian something, but Vivian gave her a strange look and turned away from the other girl.

Across the library, Daphne looked at me, her eyebrows raised in a silent question. I shook my head, telling her I hadn’t gotten any flashes off Vivian that told me she was the Reaper girl. The Valkyrie shrugged back at me.

But I wasn’t done yet. I grabbed some books to shelve and wandered over to the table where Vivian, Talia, and Savannah were still sitting. Talia and Savannah were talking about something, but Vivian just sat there, keeping quiet and staring at the ring she’d slipped onto her finger.

I did my accidentally-on-purpose thing again, only this time, I dropped a book onto the table, right into the middle of the three Amazons.

"Whoops! So sorry about that. Let me get that out of the way."

I reached down and grabbed the book, touching Savannah’s hand along the way. Memories and emotions rushed into my mind, everything from Savannah’s sitting in class to eating lunch in the dining hall to the Amazon’s smiling up at Logan as the Spartan walked her across campus when they’d been going out. A soft, warm, fizzy feeling swept over me then, telling me just how much Savannah had liked Logan-and just how hurt she’d been when he’d broken up with her.

That last feeling made my own stomach tighten with guilt, but I forced myself to keep touching her, to keep concentrating and keep looking for any hint that Savannah was the Reaper girl.

I didn’t find anything.

Oh, Savannah was plenty pissed at me for a lot of things-for taking Logan from her, for the way the Spartan looked at me, even for dropping the book practically in her lap a few seconds ago. The Amazon wouldn’t have minded working out her anger and frustration by sparring with and beating me a few times in the gym, but she didn’t have any cold, dark, murderous rage toward me, and I didn’t sense any of that feeling in the echoes of her heart.

Mystified, I drew back, clutching the book. By this point, all three girls were looking at me like I was a complete freak. Right now, I supposed I was.

"Sorry," I mumbled again and hurried off to shelve the books like I was supposed to.

The three Amazons watched me the whole time, putting their heads close together and whispering. I gritted my teeth and ignored them, pretending I didn’t see them talking about me. On the way back to the checkout counter, I stopped by the table where Daphne was sitting with Carson and Logan.