“I know how that sounds. Relax.” He poked her in the arm. “Ultimatums are gross. I don’t want to be with someone who thinks like that, so I chose myself. I wanted to be here, and I am.”

“And you’re okay?” she asked. “I mean, you two were together for so long and you didn’t even mention it. That seems like the kind of thing you should’ve told me so I can, you know, support you. Emotionally. Like you do for me when I’m having a hard time.”

“You’re sweet.” Alex’s bottom lip poked out while he looked away, thinking. “But I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”

Luna nodded, deciding to distract him. “Where do you think the envelope is? Maybe you should check the second floor? We’ll cover more ground if we split up.”

“In movies, splitting up is always a terrible idea.”

“Horror movies. We’re not in a horror movie.”

“And how do you know that?” Alex walked backward, giving her a questioning look softened by his know-it-all smile. He made it halfway up the stairs when he called, “Found it.”

“Really?” Luna ran to him, plucking the offered envelope from his hands.

“It was just sitting there. On the seventh step.”

“Hmm. That was easy.” Too easy, she thought as she opened it.

Dreams are never out of reach as long as you climb

Upward and onward, with a pinch of luck on your side.

To unlock the moon codex, you must find the snowy owl key.

Hidden in a single black book in an endless sea of green

Press BEGIN when you are ready.

Alex said, “We could’ve slept in. We could’ve went back to sleep right after breakfast.”

Luna giggled at how seriously annoyed he looked. “No, we couldn’t have. We didn’t know this was going to happen. We always have to try even if it leads nowhere.”

“Saying that doesn’t make me less cranky.”

“I appreciate you,” Luna said. “You’re my favorite person who’s my age.”

“That qualifier. Hmph.”

“You’re my favorite person who’s not Tasha and not Jewel.”

“Third?! You know, you’re really bad at this,” he said. “And now you’re laughing?”

Luna’s giggles turned into snorting cackles. “I promise I will make it up to you once we win and are rich beyond all reason.” She laughed, holding her tablet up, finger hovering over the button. “Ready?”

Alex nodded.

The moment Luna pressed BEGIN, a great rumble began to shake the library. Alex grabbed her immediately, holding her to him with one arm and securing them to the banister with the other. With a sharp clack, thin strips of floor snapped downward in looping, circular patterns.