Chapter 5 Cayden #2
When the tremors changed the world, wealth became what you physically owned and could keep hold of through force.
Harrogate boasted two military bases, a joint American-British one, and a Royal Air Force training facility.
Though the world no longer functioned as it once had, the strongholds created there were nothing to scoff at.
Seth was ensuring I understood his role in our little trio. He might not have my name or my sheer magical strength, but he wasn’t someone I wanted to make an enemy of either.
“I’m Quinn, Quinn Question,” the runt between us said, stepping back a little and holding out a small, slim hand.
My eye twitched. No one shook hands or was stupid enough to seek out a stranger's touch. Any prolonged skin contact gave away a person’s magic and potential. But this tiny, hooded runt had nothing between his ears.
Seth leaned forward, eager to gain an advantage, and shook. “It’s nice to…” Seth trailed off, jerking his hand back.
He took a few calming breaths before stepping forward and placing his hands on either side of the man’s hood. It slid back, revealing the runt’s small head and dark-red hair, up in a high ponytail.
“Where’s your brother?” Seth asked, looking around.
I studied the side of Quinn’s face. Seth must already know him. Maybe the poor runt was disabled.
Quinn put his hands on his hips. “I don’t have a brother; I’m here alone.” He flipped his hood back up.
“Now that you’re all friends,” Winston called out, drawing our attention. “To your Wundarboards!”
Seth guided Quinn out of the center and under a large yew tree, mostly out of view.
He jerked his head at me to retrieve a board.
I narrowed my eyes, shocked he’d dare give me orders, but his attention was already on his friend.
I begrudgingly stepped forward and retrieved our toy.
As I set it up in Seth’s chosen spot, he tried to place Quinn in front of him.
The man shifted uncomfortably and stepped away from Seth.
I frowned.
Winston walked between groups, handing out lists of tasks glowing with his lemon-yellow magic. He came to us last and handed the list to Quinn.
“Complete all the tasks and come see me,” Winston said, addressing the group.
He lowered his voice, his gaze fixing on Quinn.
“Despite Miss Hope’s... well, hope,” he added with a smirk.
He placed his hands on his stomach and chuckled.
“You won’t be able to hide for long. That’s not why you’re here.
You only need to keep up your male persona until you make some friends. ”
My stomach dropped. The runt was a woman.
Winston prodded Seth, who inclined his head. “Seth would make a good friend.”
I glanced at Quinn, who studied Seth with narrowed eyes.
The sound of cracking bone right next to my ear made me jerk back. Two massive canines descended from Winston’s mouth, dripping with yellow power. Monster. The rumors were true. The Architect had monsters in his ranks. Fear, that I refused to acknowledge, made my blood run cold.
Winston focused on me. “We’re keeping an eye on you, Lawson.”
A deep growl accompanied his words. Just as fast, his teeth returned to normal. He chuckled as if he hadn’t twisted the natural order of the world and glided to the next group of students with a smile on his face.
I was very good at controlling my emotions, and right now, I was glad of it. Never let your fear show. This wasn’t my compound, and these people were not my family.
Monsters.
I walked alongside immortals from BT, so horribly twisted by the birth of magic they lost their humanity.
I let fear shake my body once before I controlled it. No one else had the same reaction, since no one else received the same one-on-one treatment I did. Maybe I was missing something.
I cracked my knuckles and turned to my current, much less terrifying, fate.
Quinn.
The woman had her hood all the way down now. Her long, slender neck rose out of the thick material of her sweater. Wisps of red hair frizzed all around her diamond-shaped face. A spattering of freckles covered her sunken cheeks.
I sucked in a breath. Her eyes were green and dull. I’d never seen anyone whose pupils didn’t burn with the inner flame of their magic.
“You have no family?” Seth asked, finding his tongue before I did.
I suddenly hated him with every fiber of my being.
Quinn sighed. “That pit fighter doesn’t seem to have family, either. It’s not a big deal.”
Seth clenched his fists. “That pit fighter’s all brawn and can’t have kids. She might as well be a man.”
Quinn crossed her arms over her chest and flattened her lips into a line.
Seth looked at me for help, but I’d seen that look on my sisters’ faces. Mister ‘approved friend’ could dig his own hole.
“Look, you know the numbers,” Seth continued. “Women only make up thirty percent of the population, and of those, only about fifteen percent are still fertile.” He gave Quinn a hard look. “I’m sure you can figure out why you and the pit fighter are not the same.”
Quinn pursed her lips. “I must have forgotten the numbers, but I’m not more valuable—”
I couldn’t keep my mouth shut anymore. “Forgotten? Like you forgot what AT meant?”
Quinn cocked her head to one side. A sly smile slipped onto her face. “I’d been drinking.” She batted her eyes. “Sweet of you to remember me.”
I grunted and balled my fists. I did remember her. Clearly.
The sound of other groups drifted between us. Someone laughed, and another let out a frustrated whine. She really was lovely with her hood down. I squashed the thought the moment I had it.
“Let’s get this done.” I looked at the other groups, and every single one was already influencing their child’s toy.
Quinn nodded and poked the board with our list, which momentarily dissolved before reforming. She touched the reformed corner. “What’s this made of?”
I gritted my teeth. “Magic. Solidified thoughts. It’s called scrawl. Do you not know how to read either?”
Quinn batted her eyes again, twirling a bit of hair around one finger.
I threw my hands into the air.
She was hopeless.
Despite our slow start, we’d gotten most of the way through Winston’s checklist. To Quinn’s delight, little check marks appeared after each completed task. We’d moved on from the skills only using magic to those requiring Majekah.
I finished drawing my rune and couldn’t help but look back at Quinn, standing between Seth and me, as the board glittered with color. Her saucer eyes sparkled with it, and she let out a little squeal.
My heart fluttered, and an uncomfortable warmth filled my chest. My runes had never elicited a squeal of excitement before. They were tools best wielded by those with a level head, devoid of emotions. A smile tugged at the corners of my mouth, and I turned it into a frown.
“If you think that’s impressive, what’s next on the list?” Seth asked, rolling up his sleeves to reveal corded forearms covered with thick, wavy tattoos.
Quinn openly studied the markings with too much curiosity. I had to stop myself from growling and moving between the two. Instead, I tucked my hands into my pockets and cursed myself for the urge.
“Next, we need to stick each of the four elements to the board,” Quinn read.
I would not admit how adorable her puzzled face was, all squished up and cocked to one side. This should be simple. Not something to puzzle over. I focused on her stupidity and fought to regain control of my thoughts.
Seth stepped to the board. Cyan-blue power whizzed forward in ribbons, matching his tattoos, and sank into the smooth white surface. The elements around us responded, flying forward and making Quinn dodge until her back bumped into Seth in the most contrived setup I’d ever witnessed.
It was the biggest waste of Majekah I’d ever seen, and Quinn was in awe, her hands clutched to her chest in rapt attention. My jaw clicked. I looked pointedly at Seth’s hovering arm before letting my power spark behind my eyes.
For a moment, I swore he’d challenge me, and I relished the idea of kicking the snot out of him in front of Quinn. But he didn’t. Instead, he stepped out of her personal space. My rage eased.
“Parlor tricks,” I snapped. “The task was simple, and you wasted power and time.”
“You can waste magic er power?” Quinn asked.
“Yes,” I answered. “It’s energy, and Seth’s body can only channel so much in a day.”
“You’re limited as well, Lawson.” Seth widened his stance.
I rolled up my sleeves, not because I wanted Quinn to notice my white tattoos and fit arms, definitely not that, but more than ready to beat the snot out of the Silver. Powerful family or not.
“So, like, you run out of power?” Quinn asked. “Like a battery?”
Her stupidity stopped the fight, and we both turned to study her.
“What is wrong with you?” I jerked my hand. “You must have experienced the strain.”
Quinn put her hands up. “Ah, sorry, yeah. Totally. I meant to say: like a battery! It was an error of inflection.” She gave me another stupid grin and twirled her hair.
I shook my head incredulously, and she giggled.
“I’ll finish this up real quick.” I took the board from Seth, avoiding looking at Quinn. When I couldn’t see her, my thoughts were clearer.
My family’s runic language flowed out of me. I didn’t want to give Seth a free pass, but I doubted he’d struggle with the placement. The sooner we were done, the sooner I could get away from Quinn and the odd response I had to her presence.
“How are you doing that?” Quinn’s voice came from my side.
I almost jumped in surprise and looked over to find her standing close to me, her face inches away from my arm. My skin prickled.
“He creates a quill out of his Majekah and channels energy through it into his runes, most likely,” Seth explained incorrectly.
I snorted, but wasn’t willing to give up my control of the board.
“But you touched yourself when you did yours,” Quinn pointed out.