Chapter 5 Quinn #2
“But”—she cupped her cheek with her tree hand—“I can still use magic. When I finally found my way back to my human shape, my hair and eyes matched. I was as magical as anyone else because of the wood shaping my soul. Your soul has already been carved, Quinn. You just need to find your tree.”
“Like a wand?” I said stupidly.
Morgen sighed. “Ollivander’s isn’t real, you ridiculous girl. This isn’t some fantasy novel.”
My jaw dropped. “Did you just make a Harry Potter reference?”
Chancellor Morgen pursed her lips. “If you must boil my entire life story down to you needing a magic wand, then maybe you deserve your fate as Adler Michelson’s plaything.” She cackled. “Now get out and don’t come back.”
I straightened and turned to flee. Only two furious men blocked my way. They each gripped a bicep, and I found my feet barely touching the ground while Chancellor Morgen’s gaze burned holes in my backside.
We swiftly exited the greenhouse, and cool daylight instantly chilled me.
My thoughts churned. I needed a tree soul, or maybe something like the Arc Reactor in Iron Man’s chest. Something from this time, maybe?
That wasn’t a wand, apparently. My comparison to software that was too outdated to run on Windows Dystopian FutureTM fit with Chancellor Morgen’s story.
Which meant I needed something that would connect the past and the present.
But why did she tell me what she did? Did she want me to spend the next year touching everything to see what happened?
I can picture her watching from afar with a glass of wine, or maybe fertilizer, whatever she drank, and cackling.
“There are going to be some changes in your life,” Rowan said quietly, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“Hope will change your living arrangements,” Cayden stated. “I don’t have a roommate; you can join me.”
“No.” Rowan sliced through the air with his hand. “That isn’t an option either.”
The two paused to glare at each other, which let me wiggle out of their grips. When they started walking again, I followed along, only half paying attention.
“Quinn!” Brody’s excited voice grated on my nerves and finally snapped me out of my musing. “I knew you’d come back.” He gazed up at me. “What can I help you with?”
Cayden stepped between me and Brody, while Rowan scowled at the kid. The color drained from his face, but he held his ground. We were, literally, in his department now.
We quickly realized that Hope wasn’t there, and Brody wasn’t authorized to do anything, not that any of us wanted his help. Once again, Rowan and Cayden grabbed my arms as if they could physically stop me from going back to my dorm.
Brody watched us, his worried face focused on the indentations their fingers made on my biceps. I was wearing two long-sleeved undershirts, and even though their grip looked painful, I barely felt it through the padding. I pushed them both away, though they were slow to let me go.
Once free, I slid my hands into my pockets. We came to a stop next to the library doors.
Erick wasn’t that bad, and I didn’t want to spend all my time moving. I needed to work magic before the Architect came for me.
I snorted. At this point, if this wasn’t real, Miss Q had so thoroughly won, she was taking victory laps.
“Erick’s a perfect gentleman,” I argued.
“He sees me as a little sister.” Who he wouldn’t mind knocking up, but I didn’t say that part.
“And he helps me with little things that will add up eventually, but not now. I just want my independence. Not a new roommate or hiding under either of your skirts, er, kilts.” I leaned into Rowan.
“There’s a reason Hope put us in a room together, right? We need to trust the family and all?”
Rowan groaned and ran his hand down his face. “Chancellor Morgen was not wrong. You are getting a lot better at all of this.”
Rowan tugged me to his side.
Cayden pursed his lips as if expecting me to pull away, but unlike him, Rowan wanted to kiss me. My heart beat a little faster as I molded myself to the built mage.
“I need to focus on my independence,” I said a second time while Cayden tried to burn Rowan with just his gaze.
“My training block with Rowan is almost over. I have a tag-along at the library, and then I’ll stay put for a bit and think.
If I can’t get my magic working before the Architect comes for me, we’ll look for a new dorm arrangement, and I won’t fight it. ”
Rowan nodded. “Fair, though bring your laundry to me.”
Cayden slipped his hand into mine and tugged me away from Rowan and into him.
Despite what I’d just told myself, old habits died hard. Like I always did, I snuggled into my best friend.
Cayden squeezed me. “I’ll bring you dinner, and we can brainstorm.”
Rowan frowned at Cayden, but nodded. “I have a shift on the portcullis this evening, and I don’t want her alone.” He let out a resigned sigh that twisted into a smile. “And I have a new situation that needs addressing.”
He scratched at the stubble on his chin and gave me an uneasy smile.
Ending his contract would change everything.
I doubted he’d planned on almost kissing me in the rain and then breaking things off with Angela right after.
Rowan didn’t seem like the spur-of-the-moment type.
A strange mix of guilt and excitement twisted in my stomach, and I caught myself chewing my bottom lip.
Rowan turned to Cayden. “I don’t trust you, but Quinn does.
Keep her safe.” His attention shifted to me, and his gaze softened.
“I want to help. Independence is good.” A blob of water formed between us.
“Power came naturally to me. I’ve never tried to teach it, but I’ll do what I can.
My brother might have more books…” He wrinkled his nose.
“Fuck. I’m going home to face my dad. Angus, negotiated my contract.
” Cayden stiffened at my side, while Rowan winced.
“But he’s a merchant through and through; he’ll bring us out on top still. Somehow.”
“Making changes to your contract?” Cayden asked too mildly. A slight flush filled Rowan’s cheeks, and he looked at me. I swear I could feel Cayden’s silent growl through all my layers.
Instead of letting things escalate, I literally bounced between them. “Magic. My magic. Thank you both so much for helping me! I need this so much.”
Cayden immediately pulled me back, while Rowan beamed at me. He stepped forward, either not seeing or ignoring every warning sign my possessive best friend was giving, and cupped my cheek.
Cayden lifted his free hand, which glowed with his forest-green magic. Before he could act, I laced our fingers together and squeezed, forcing him to still.
“You don’t want to talk about it, but I know you’re different,” Rowan said, his face inches from mine. “I’m here for you always, Quinn. You can’t scare me away, even if you have to merge with a tree for fifty years.”
My gaze blurred, and a tear fell down my cheek. Rowan leaned down and kissed it away. “I’ll see you soon, Q-tip.”
My insides bubbled. I had a nickname. The first one that wasn’t me referring to myself.
Cayden’s arm pulled me closer, and we both watched the big elemental mage stride away. I finally released my death grip on Cayden’s fingers.
“I’m not getting you to myself anymore, am I?” Cayden asked.
“If you didn’t want to share, you shoulda kissed me.
” My nerves spiked, but admitting that I wanted him made my confidence soar.
.. but not high enough to handle another rejection.
I cocked my head to the side and changed the subject fast. “What’s a Q-tip?
” I knew what one was in my world, but they were definitely made of plastic in a factory.
Cayden sighed. “As usual, your questions dazzle my intellectual mind.”
I stuck my tongue out at him.
“It’s a small stick with wool on each end,” he answered.
“They are used for cleaning delicate and hard-to-get-to spots.” Cayden brushed his lips against the side of my head, and my stomach fluttered with butterflies.
“His nickname for you is literally a cleaning supply. It’s not flattering.
If you really want one, I’ll find one that does you justice. ”
My chest did that stupid flutter thing again. I was going to die buried in kilts and compliments.