Sebastian’s frown is mirrored by my own. Maeve isn’t normally one to sleep late. Usually, she rises before both of us. But maybe she’s meeting with a librarian or even Euna herself about whatever she found yesterday.

I brighten at the thought. “She must be meeting someone first.”

Sebastian looks a little relieved. “Yes, that does make sense.”

The weight off our shoulders, we return to our little table nearby and the books we’d been examining the night before.

Today is particularly difficult because all I can think about is when Maeve will appear. The hours tick by, and still no sign of her. By lunchtime, I’ve begun to worry. No one we’ve asked has seen Maeve today either. Knocks on her door don’t draw her from her room, and the lock doesn’t want to budge. Maeve has made it clear that she doesn’t want me to use my talent to eavesdrop on her thoughts, so I resist checking, even though an unpleasant feeling gnaws on the tips of my toes. Where could she be?

I know—I know—she wouldn’t abandon us. I’ve been inside her head accidentally before. I’ve seen how much she cares for us.

Finally, I can’t stand it any longer. My nails have been gnawed to the quick. I push myself off my chair, startling Sebastian.

“We have to do something. I can’t just sit here.”

“Maybe we can ask Rachel for help.” Sebastian points to the book binder who just walked through our level of the library.

I practically leap in her direction. “Rachel!” I yell, and she turns around to see me barreling toward her. Her first response is to laugh, but her face falters when she sees my expression.

“Simone, what is it? What’s wrong?”

“It’s Maeve. I’m worried. We haven’t seen her all day, and she isn’t answering when we knock at her door. No one else has seen her either.”

Rachel considers for a moment. “You know, I don’t think I’ve seen her since last night. Quite late too. She said she was going out for a walk.”

I frown. “A walk? But when?” When I saw her last, she was headed to bed.

“Oh, well after midnight. She was doing some late research and needed to clear her head.”

I grab Rachel’s arm, fear racing through every limb. “Something’s happened. Can you help us find her?”

“Of course. But don’t worry, I’m sure she’s fine.” She brushes my hair back from my face and ushers Sebastian and me into the hall. “She’s probably still sleeping, but it wouldn’t hurt to check.” Despite Rachel’s words, there’s an undercurrent of something in her thoughts that makes me uneasy.

How odd… No one’s seen Maeve, just like Ida… There must be a reasonable explanation…

I stop short and stare at Rachel. “What do you mean, just like Ida?”

“Simone! You shouldn’t do that,” she admonishes me, and I lower my eyes to the floor. She’s right. I should have been paying better attention. Rachel sighs. “But now that you know, yes, no one has seen Ida today either. Which isn’t like her at all. I was actually looking for her in the library when you found me.”