“Let me guess, you’re prepping the others for the chance Tim literally drags Jackson home?”

“Oh, he will.” She shook her head and led the way out a door and into a covered hallway between buildings. “He’s done it many times over the years whenever Jackson was too stressed to function. But Kessler’s done the same for Tenn, so we’re prepared.”

“I love the way y’all are with each other. It’s nice to be part of it.” I smiled and then cursed as a massive bug flew right into my face. Once I swatted it away, I looked around and frowned. “Ya know, maybe the school should have indoor hallways, or underground hallways, while this war escalates. That could’ve been a demon.”

Constance’s jaw dropped. She stared at the open air around us for a moment, then started texting on her phone. “Lennox can probably have the halls enclosed before dark tonight. Great thinking, Frankie.”

“Thanks.” I caught back up to her and we resumed walking. “Let’s hope I can be as effective with these potions.”

“Try not to burden yourself too much just yet. We all know you’re not a Cup and are new to our world. You’re already a rock star at what you do, so just give yourself the break we’re all giving you, okay?”

I nodded as that panic bubble in my gut started floating its way up to my throat.

She waved her hand and the door to the next building opened. “I’m serious, Frankie. We’re all in this with you. This is not a task that rests solely on your shoulders. So, let’s just see what Professor Rigdon says and go from there. Okay?”

“Okay.” I took a deep breath, then let it out as we stopped at a set of double doors made of a rich mahogany wood. “No big deal.”

The doors opened inward, golden sunlight streaming in through the opening until there was a full wall of light in front of me. I blinked and followed Constance inside, then stopped short. I had no idea what I was expecting, but this room was not it. The far wall was made entirely of glass and was two-stories tall. The two walls on the side were lined with books, the thick hardcover kind that were definitely heavy and old. There were two sliding ladders so people could actually reach the books. In the middle of the room were comfy couches and chairs with students quietly reading. Behind me the wall with the door had several balconies of desks, like a lecture hall in those movies about colleges—I’d never been in a college, so I wasn’t sure if those were real or not. The plants hanging from every corner and ledge were definitely real though.