“What kind of offerings?”

Troy reads silently for a minute. “It doesn’t say specifically. Just that they need to represent the three Olympic kings.”

“That would be Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades.”

Rulers of Olympus, the oceans, and the underworld.

“Oh, look.” Troy points to a spot farther down the page. “It says, see Offerings to the Gods by the same author.”

I have a bad feeling about that. Climbing off the bed, I log on to my computer and pull up the Academy’s online library catalog. It only takes a few seconds to verify my fears.

I slump in my chair.

“Don’t they have it?” Troy asks.

“Oh, they have it all right,” I answer. “It just happens to be another volume locked away in the secret archives.”

“That’s bad.” Troy closes the book and comes to read the computer screen over my shoulder. “How did you get in last time?”

“Mrs. Philipoulos took us in.” And that hadn’t been easy. She had been ready to send us out on our ears until she realized we were looking for Phoebe’s dad’s trial record. She deemed that worthy of bending library rules.

Highly doubtful she’d do the same for a book about making offerings to the gods. Especially if I’m the one doing the asking.

“Well, we need to get inside,” Troy says. “Any ideas?”

“Not unless you know someone who works as a library aid.”

Troy is silent, and I look up to find his cheeks bright pink.

“Actually . . .”

“Spill.”

“Look, I don’t even know if she’ll help.”

She? “Who is she?”

Troy shakes his dark-blond head. “Let me ask her. It’ll be better if you don’t get involved.”

I scowl at him—a trick that usually works—but he ignores me as he pushes to his feet.

“Meet me in the upper level of the library in an hour.” He hands me the book. “Either I’ll have it or we’ll figure out a Plan B.”

I watch, confused, as Troy leaves my room. Other than hiding his dream of becoming a musician from his parents, he’s usually rubbish at keeping secrets. That he’s keeping this one from me—and that it involves a girl who makes him blush—only makes me more intrigued.

But if this girl can get the book that will help me make things right, I’ll let him keep his secret. For now.

3

The library makes me uncomfortable. All that gold and marble and the smell of musty, old books. I’d rather be pretty much anywhere.