Chapter 10
Rowan
“Quinn’s got five minutes, and then I’m gonna…
” Brit’s voice cut through the crowd and vanished into the blanket of noise.
I twisted around, searching the Happy Rooster for Quinn.
Everly, Hero, and the pit fighter sat at a table at the window, obscured by both the haze of the burnt-orange lighting and the pack of bodies staying out of the rain.
My magic didn’t pull toward their table. I hadn’t realized the twins were in here.
Not that I needed more confirmation than the shit show this morning. Fuck me. My magic wasn’t pulling toward a place. It was him. When Quinn ran, the compulsion to follow had overwhelmed me.
I gulped my ale. The bitter hops helped cut through the solid rock of tension knotting my gut. I didn’t want this. Didn’t need another complication. My future was set—Angela, power, done. So why the hell couldn’t I look away?
“Rowan,” Joe barked, sitting across from me.
I jumped, so engrossed in my thoughts, I forgot he was here. Joe let out a roaring belly laugh, hitting the table with his meaty fist. I grunted and took another gulp of ale.
My magic and Majekah jumped toward the door, hitting my shield of will before it could leave my body. A mop of soggy dark-red hair disappeared amongst all the bodies before popping back up at Everly’s booth by the window.
Quinn removed his leather jacket, setting it aside. A cotton T-shirt instead of his uniform covered his chest. He slid next to the pit fighter and vanished from my view. I finished my ale in a single gulp.
“Another round?” Joe asked.
“Yup.” I handed him my mug.
The bench we sat on groaned as my large friend stood and pushed his way to the bar. The table that blocked my view of Everly still sat empty. Before I could think about it too much, I switched seats, catching Joe’s eye as he waited for our refills. My friend’s face lit up, seeing us closer to Brit.
I stilled so I could feel the air currents and subtly shifted them, leaving Quinn’s table to float on the top of the rumble of patrons.
“I can’t, Brit, really,” Quinn said.
“I said I’d buy you a drink. Who turns down a brew?” Brit demanded.
“Welp,” Quinn responded. “I had an unexpected run. I utterly failed the physical placement. Then, my nap got interrupted. So, I do? I’m beat.”
“Aww, poor thing,” Everly crooned. “Like a toddler, just learning to walk. Here.” The Grierson twin did something I couldn’t see. “You must eat my second pie and the third I ordered. You need some meat on your bones. Oh, and split a dessert with me. How romantic!”
“Sister, how’s this something you want?” Hero said harshly. “He abandoned you.”
I turned my head to see Everly scowl at her brother. “He’s a baby bird, brother.” Her voice took on a whiny edge. “If I want a baby bird as my suitor, I can have one!”
Joe thunked a fresh tankard in front of me, breaking my concentration. The air current returned to normal.
“Did you learn anything?” Joe asked, jerking his head toward the table we both knew I was eavesdropping on.
I sighed. “Not really.”
“Too bad.” Joe clapped me on the shoulder. “Help me brainstorm how to impress Brit. I want her as mine.”
I put my hands up. “Talk to her?”
Joe shook his head. “Too risky. You’ve heard me talk.”
“Fair enough.” I grinned. “Challenge her to a fight?”
“She’d pin me to the ground in seconds,” Joe countered.
I snorted. “Isn’t that where you want to be?”
Joe let out a roaring laugh, catching the attention of several tables around us, and I forced myself not to turn and see if Quinn noticed me.
“What do you want, Lawson?” Everly’s high, demanding voice cut through the crowd.
I looked at Joe, both of our hands going to our weapons. Although we weren’t on duty, we’d not changed out of our blacks yet. The roar of the Happy Rooster quieted enough to let me know everyone strained to hear the clash of two family titans.
Maybe in his mid-twenties, the new arrival’s forest-green hair came down just past his ears and was slicked back from his face.
He held his shoulders back. His hands rested in the pockets of his perfectly tailored black slacks.
His staggered stance showed his training, ready to dodge if anyone swung for him.
“Nothing from you, Grierson.” The man turned to Quinn, only to narrow his eyes. A shadow fell over his face. “Did someone hit you?”
He reached forward and tilted Quinn’s head up. The purpling bruise from this morning caught the light, and my magic burst inside me like a bubbling bog.
Quinn batted his arm away. “I fell. I’m fine, Cayden. And why would you care?”
The Lawson’s lips tightened.
Quinn shook his head. “Do you want to join us?”
Someone actually gasped.
“Quinn, darling.” Everly let out a strained laugh.
The Lawson cocked his head to the side. “You really don’t understand family politics, do you?”
Quinn popped his lips. “Nope. But for some reason, you’re all here and these”—he motioned to the rest of the table—“are my new friends. And you can join us, or you can say your bit and shove off.”
A not-so-kind smile pulled at the Lawson’s lips. “I’m buying a round. And if they don’t piss me off, you can stay with them. If they do, you can come to my table.”
My heart jolted. Quinn had made himself the perfect pawn between two rival families. Joe gave me a knowing look, and I silently cursed while telling myself I didn’t care.
“Ha, no,” Quinn barked.
The Happy Rooster went silent. Only the sound of rain pounding against the tin roof filled the space.
“I’m so fucking done with all of this today.” Quinn climbed onto the table. “A round for everyone, on me.”
Joe stood and cheered along with half the pub. The rest looked ready to pass out in shock.
Quinn turned back to the Lawson. “You can either stay here until you piss me off, or y’all can explain to me exactly what’s going on. I’m not choosing sides.”
My jaw fucking dropped. Quinn had no idea how dangerous this was, and yet the room lit up around him.
“And here I thought you were a brainless twat.” The Lawson grinned and motioned for Quinn to scoot closer to Brit. The small man did, and the Lawson made himself a spot at his side.
My magic fumed.
Music I didn’t remember playing burst to life. The staff poured out of the bar with jugs for refills. People resumed their conversations with enthusiasm. The room buzzed with energy I’d not felt in a long while.
I peeked back at Quinn, finding the Lawson with a petite wine glass in his hands, sitting with a rival family, his shoulder pressed to Quinn’s. Something hot and unfriendly took root in my chest.
“Rowan, what crawled up your butt and died?” Joe punched my shoulder. “It’s looking like a party. Stop moping. Brit might dance with you too… or maybe someone else you have your eye on, eh?”
The music rose in volume.
I glared at my friend. Angela left the castle this morning to join one of her other suitors, and Joe knew it. I was loyal. Joe wanted to get a rise out of me.
My gaze landed on Quinn again. The man laughed, taking both Everly and the Lawson’s hands. The two didn’t look happy, but they shook. Quinn accepted a plate of food from each. Looking rather smug and dug in.
I focused on my beer, all too aware of my exclusion from Angela’s social plans. Angela had her games, and I hated most of them, but at least I was on the field instead of sitting on the sidelines, watching.