Crave

Grace thinks the tunnels look like a prison or dungeon. She’s uneasy during their walk, though Flint insists it’s safe and she should ignore the old bars and shackles. Grace protests despite Flint’s reassurance that kids use the tunnels daily and that he’ll protect her.

Grace spots Lia, yelling out to her. Lia is taking art as well, so she volunteers to walk Grace. Grace apologizes for freaking out about the tunnels, but Flint laughs that he forgets how creepy they look. Suddenly, the tunnels start shaking, the earth crumbling around them.

Grace panics, but Lia says the tunnels won’t collapse. The three of them run full speed to escape the earthquake, and Lia runs faster than Grace thinks is humanly possible. They reach the door to the academy’s art building as the earthquake ends.

Jaxon is angry with Grace; he was afraid for her safety. Lia jokes that she’s fine too and walks off. Jaxon chastises Flint, though Grace thinks the boy’s jealousy over her is annoying. Jaxon snaps at Grace that he told her to stay away from Flint. Grace argues that she’s tired of Jaxon and Flint fighting, so he needs to “get out of my way before I forget I’m a pacifist and punch you in the face” (217). She whirls on Flint that she’ll attack him too if they don’t leave her alone. Jaxon steps aside, astonished at Grace’s fierceness. She thanks him for his concern, but she needs to get through her first day of classes without trouble.

In her last class, Physical Education, Grace is almost hit in the head by a basketball. Macy gets agitated, trying to find who threw the ball, but Grace pleads with her to let it go. Grace knows that Katmere’s students are mean, unaccepting, and elitist. Macy talks about her upcoming dance class and pep rally. She promises to join Grace for dinner after her dance practice.

Grace returns to their room to do homework, wishing she could do it at the beach or pool like she did in San Diego. She feels trapped by the boarding school’s walls and Alaska’s frigid weather. Grace has multiple texts from Jaxon checking on her during the earthquake. In one of the final messages, he states he’s worried and asks if she’s okay. She feels terrible for not responding and guilty for yelling at him. She texts to ask if he’d like to explore the castle. Jaxon doesn’t respond.

She wanders to the library, adoring the thousands of books. She finds a quiet back corner with a comfy chair. She misses her parents and home deeply. Grace hasn’t truly cried since her parents’ funeral: She releases her grief, hoping no one hears her. Jaxon appears.

Grace is embarrassed that Jaxon saw her crying. She rises to leave, but Jaxon surprises her by asking, “What’s it like to just be able to let go like that?” (225). He admires Grace’s authentic emotions. She can’t explain how she lets go; her personality isn’t made to hide her feelings, unlike Jaxon’s.

Jaxon brings her to his dorm room, and Grace admires his books, crystals, artwork, and drum set, since she used to play. Her drum set was too big to move to Alaska. She notices a rare art sketch on his desk, which he states is the original. Grace is amazed. As they talk, Grace wishes he would come closer. She wants him so badly, but she also fears her emotional vulnerability.

Jaxon says there’s something he wants her to see. He wraps a blanket around her and gives her gloves, then opens the window that leads to his balcony. Jaxon jumps down. Grace hesitates but soon follows him.

Grace climbs out the window with Jaxon’s help. He tightens the blanket around her, telling her he doesn’t need it. Grace can’t believe his cold tolerance. She jokingly asks if he’s an alien, which amuses him. They flirt, with Grace sharing that his scar makes him “sexy as hell” (231). He doesn’t like his scar.

Jaxon explains that the balcony is his favorite place since he can be alone and see over the mountains. Grace enjoys the beautiful view too. A meteor shower starts, which Jaxon expected and thought Grace would enjoy. The glowing meteors leave her breathless. She realizes how tiny she and her problems are in the grand scheme of the universe.

Grace thanks him for his kindness, but he states he doesn’t deserve her compliments. Jaxon doesn’t think he’s nice or worthy of praise. When they go back inside, Jaxon’s gaze shifts to fiery desire.

Grace is unsure how to act. They stay close, almost kissing. She hopes he will lean closer, but Jaxon doesn’t make his romantic move. She tells him he’s made her feel safe for the first time since her parents died.

Grace cups his face. She’s afraid of her craving for him and asks, “Have you ever wanted something so much that you were afraid to take it?” (238). He leans down and kisses her, brushing her lips delicately, then passionately kissing her. Grace has never been kissed like this before, so she gives in, touching and kissing him back.

An earthquake interrupts their intimacy, leaving Grace with weak knees. Jaxon screams for her to leave, but the window shatters before she reaches the door.

Grace wakes up in her bedroom with her neck bandaged. The school nurse, Marise, leans over her, as the sedative wears off. Grace feels fuzzy though she recognizes Macy and Uncle Finn. In panic, she remembers kissing Jaxon, then the earthquake hit. They assure her Jaxon is fine. Flying glass hit Grace’s neck, nicking her artery. She could have bled to death. Grace is horrified but pleads to see Jaxon. Marise insists she needs to rest, threatening to use another sedative that will knock her out for hours if she doesn’t behave.

Macy reassures her that Jaxon is okay; he’s cleaning up the mess from the earthquake and Grace’s blood. Uncle Finn apologizes for her hardships so far; he feels terrible about her altitude sickness, her fall, the earthquakes, and her near-death ordeal. He wanted her to feel at home but worries she’s miserable. Grace responds that she doesn’t hate Alaska or blame him.

When Grace asks about the stitches on her neck, Marise is baffled. She tells her the stitches will heal within a week and dissolve on their own, which Grace finds odd. The outside stitches should have to be removed.

After everyone but Macy leaves, Grace confronts her about Katmere Academy’s oddness. Macy shrugs off her concerns, blaming Grace’s bad luck with the tree branch and earthquakes. She interrogates her about Jaxon, so Grace gives details about their incredible kiss. When someone knocks on the door, Macy assures her she’ll turn them away so Grace can rest. Macy admits it was Jaxon, so Grace races out of bed after him.

Grace rushes after Jaxon, unsteady from blood loss and medicine. She calls after him, and he returns looking concerned, telling her to go back to bed. Grace wants to talk about their kiss, but Jaxon says her getting injured is “the only thing that happened that matters” (253). She’s hurt by his callousness.

He apologizes for not protecting her, though Grace doesn’t understand how he could have prevented an earthquake. Jaxon warns her that now he’s put a target on her back. He explains that she doesn’t understand the dangerous situation. He wants her to forget everything they’ve shared and warns her that they need to stay away from each other. Grace can’t deny their romance. As she leans into him, their bodies touching, grace tries to convince him to change his mind. Jaxon wants to submit to his feelings, but he sprints off.