Page 146 of Bone Year

The shivering stops within a minute. The cold in my fingers turns from numb to aching, which I know means they are warming up, even though it feels worse for a second.

“This is terrible luck,” I say mostly because I cannot stand the silence. “It’s like everything is stacked against us. I wonder if any of the other teams have had it this hard.”

“I would not assume any of the teams have had it easy.”

“At least they don’t have a freezing snowstorm on top of whatever obstacles they’re facing. Bale said we were the only team in the Frostlands.”

I throw a hand out to exaggerate, and Draven chuckles.

“Tell me why you’re here, Freckles.”

I know exactly what he means, but I can’t resist. “Because a storm forced me into whatever this is with a broody vampire prince.”

His chest springs under my ear in something that is almost a laugh. “You’re going to have to cut the prince part out of your vocabulary when we get back.”

I tilt my head up to look at him. “Oh, so now you want me to keep your secrets?”

“Why did you come to Ashwell?” he asks, not bothering to acknowledge the question. “How did you apply?”

I consider lying but have nothing left to protect that I have not already handed him.

“I didn’t apply.”

His head turns enough that I know he heard exactly what I meant. I tell him about the parchment that found me in my father’s office. About the line at the bottom in handwriting I didn’t recognize. About the silver fire that ate the page when I asked who wrote it, and the fae who threaded me out of Ironfen with one hand on my shoulder and not a single answer. I tell him about the mirror, what it said about my blood walking these halls before me, and about every empty record I have searched in the library since.

He is so still while I talk that I almost forget he’s breathing.

“If you keep my secret about my identity,” he says, “maybe I’ll help you.”

My interest sharpens. “You’ll help me find the mirror? How?”

“I have my ways. Is it a deal, Rose?”

He must want this hidden more than I realized, though I can’t for the life of me work out why.

“It’s a deal.”

“You need to be careful with the headmaster. He wouldn’t keep the mirror in his office. It’s too well traveled. He will keep it in his private quarters, and I can tell you where they are.”

“Generous of you. The academy is large, but it doesn’t exactly take a genius to find the staff housing. I would have managed.”

“You would have wasted time and likely gotten caught. I will save you the trouble and tell you which one is his. And I will distract him so you can get inside.”

I turn fully toward him.

“When? How?”

“I already know the right time. You will have to be patient.”

I cross my arms. “Enlighten me.”

“The end-of-year ball. All students. All faculty. The breath year graduates. The headmaster will be there, and I’ll keep him distracted while you get the answers you seek. Then we are even.”

I hadn’t realized we were keeping a tally.

“Alright,” I say slowly, “you help me with this, and I take your secret to the grave.”

I tilt my head up to look at him, expecting him to be staring at the wall.