Page 135 of Tag

They dapped like middle schoolers, and I barely refrained from rolling my eyes.

Cloe shook her head, voicing my thoughts. “Absolutely ridiculous, both of you.”

I chuckled, grateful the spotlight had shifted to something else. Rook nudged me gently. A quiet ask in his eyes. You okay?I nodded, offering a small, tired smile. He didn’t press. That wasn’t Rook’s way. He simply held out his arm, always the sweetest soul when it came to us girls, and I took it.

Cloe and I had claimed one of the quieter spots in the library, a small alcove nestled between towering bookcases. It offered just enough isolation to feel like you were in your own private bubble. She was deep into her work, MacBook open, fingers tapping steadily across the keyboard. Her notebook was flipped to a half-filled page, and she barely glanced up when I stood.

“You okay if I go grab what I need?” I asked, keeping my voice low.

She gave a nod, still typing, not missing a beat.

I slipped away quietly, passing by the open room that held chess tables. There was a guy who used to play by his lonesome religiously. I couldn’t remember his name, and come to think of it, I hadn’t seen him in days. I briefly wondered where he’d been as I made my way up to the second floor, mentally repeating the call number I’d scribbled down from Mrs. Addams’ scrawl.

Behavioral Research & Experimental Methods.

I promised myself I would finally track the damn book down, so I didn’t bomb this class. Narrow, old, and slightly warped, the steps felt like they belonged to another era. The air shifted into something cooler as I climbed. It took me a minuteor two before I was able to find the psychology section. I let my fingers glide along worn spines, leather and cloth binding soft beneath my touch.

“You looking for something specific?”

I turned with a slight jump, finding a guy a few feet away. Where had he come from? He was tall, with sandy blond hair swept back effortlessly. A black fitted shirt hugged lean muscle beneath a sleek leather jacket that probably cost a small fortune, and his boots didn’t make a sound as he shifted closer.

No wonder I hadn’t heard him approaching.

I straightened, shuffling the reference card between my fingers. “Something for an assignment.”

His gaze swept over me with curious interest, not quite leering, but too focused to be casual. “You’re Sanjana, right?”

“Depends on who’s asking.”

That made him smile, but I could tell it wasn’t genuine. “I’m asking. I’ve heard a lot about you and your friends.”

His eyes flicked upward toward the domed ceiling like he was recalling something. “I’m partial to the redhead. Cloe, she’s gorgeous in person too.”

I frowned. First of all, Ew. Why was he talking about them like he’d flipped through a show catalog? I looked over him again, and this time the hair on the back of my neck prickled. Huntsman? Maybe. That would be my luck.

“Well, they aren’t partial to anyone, so if that’s why you’re talking to me, I can’t help you.”

“I didn’t mean to offend you.”

I ignored him and put a bit of space between us. That didn’t stop him from following me. I scanned the long aisle without being obvious—no one nearby. No staff. The second floor might as well have been off the grid. It had its own entry and exit point, but getting there from where I was would mean moving in the opposite direction.

“You remember me, right?” he asked almost jovially.

“Refresh my memory?” I prompted, keeping my tone light as I ran through the checklist Roxxi drilled into us for moments like this—ones where you might be approached by some creep, and to stay ready.

She said it could happen anywhere. Grocery stores, gyms, bars, and parking lots. Apparently, we had to add the campus library to the mix.

“I almost bumped into you the other day. Your boyfriend moved you out of the way.”

The guy in the hoodie? That was the day Kellan and I got our first Hunt notification. The realization didn’t inspire any warm and fuzzy feelings toward this dude. I wasn’t sure if he was a Huntsman or some other player in the upcoming game. Hunters were supposed to be masked and stay anonymous, but thanks to Ari, Cloe, and doing some reading of my own, I had learned there were exceptions. Sleeper cells of sorts to help Huntsmen out. What they got out of it was a mystery still.

“I think I do remember now.” I smiled just enough to sell it.

“Good. I would hate it if you forgot me.”

Now that was an odd thing to say. We hadn’t ever spoken a word to each other before today. I needed to get the hell away from this guy.

“If you tell me what you’re looking for, I can help.”

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