My thoughts were cut short by the sound of footsteps coming down the path to our left. Both Elliot and I snapped our heads in that direction and froze. Then, as though we’d choreographed it, we both lunged for the letter. Our hands collided, both scrabbling for it in our panic to get it hidden, and it fell into the bubbling water of the fountain and vanished. I blinked at the spot where it had disappeared. What had just happened? I’d never seen paper dissolve like smoke before.

Before I could say anything, Elliot had my arm in a vise grip. I looked up at him, still baffled, and he held a finger to his lips and silently slipped over the edge of the fountain and into the water, dragging me behind him. I let out a low hiss as I descended into the thigh-deep water. The sound of the footsteps got louder and Elliot let go of my arm so he could duck behind one of the large statues in the fountain. His hand snaked out a second later, and he pulled me behind the biggest statue and into a small hidden alcove. A metal electrical plate made it obvious that this was some kind of service area for the fountain, and I crouched down in the icy water next to Elliot, barely feeling the cold as adrenaline shot through my system. From our hiding spot, I could see out through the tangle of statue legs to the spot where we’d just been sitting. A moment later a security officer came around the corner. I’d thought the danger of the Cocoon had been real before, but now that I was on the verge of getting caught, it all seemed to hit home just that much harder. Thankfully the guard appeared to be doing a routine check of the grounds. He scanned the fountain without showing much real interest before strolling around the perimeter. A moment later he headed off down the path that led back toward the Academy dorms.

“That was close,” Elliot whispered. His hot breath tickled my ear uncomfortably, and I hunched my shoulders up and turned to look at him.

“You couldn’t think of a better place to hide than in the fountain?” I asked, a shiver running through me now that the terror of the situation was starting to fade.

“What are you complaining about?” he whispered back. “Your grand plan appeared to be waiting until you got caught with a Cocoon. I’d say my idea was better.”

“Fair point,” I admitted. “I didn’t even know this was back here.”

“Neither did I, until a certain princess gave me a solid shove for no good reason.”

“Don’t call me princess,” I said. “And you’re welcome. If I hadn’t shoved you in, you’d never have found this spot.”

“No,” he contradicted me. “You’re welcome. I just saved your neck.”