Chapter 21 #3
There was no way Xan’s words in the Alun were true. He’d only kissed me to force a teleport. I couldn’t think it was anything else. Xan and Ezra were perfect together.
“Cloak, please, Rowan,” I said softly.
Rowan covered me once more, and I let my magic seep into my body, warming me before the cooling water could weaken my immune system, if that was even a thing in this magical dystopian future.
If I woke up from surgery, I was writing a fucking novel.
Xan took a step back and put his hands up. “Of course, Quinn. I will get you a new schedule that includes tutoring with me, training with Rowan, and your lectures.” He took a deep breath.
“And my work-studies, I don’t want to be in your debt,” I said before he could keep talking.
Xan pursed his lips. “Consider your training payment enough for whatever you need. I never should have made you work in the first place. You’re a guest, both in this time and in my castle.
” He patted his heart. “I should’ve asked you what you wanted instead of diving headfirst into your training. I obviously overstepped my bounds.”
Guilt flooded my stomach. I mean, no, he hadn’t asked me outright, but I hadn’t asked for anything different than what Xan offered. He didn’t need to take all the blame for this.
“You did.” Rowan stepped forward before I could say anything. “And Quinn needs balance, sir.”
Xan bowed his head. “Of course, your advice is always solid, Rowan.” He looked up and met my gaze. “Think about what you felt, Quinn. Try to remember exactly what was on your mind before you teleported so you can do it again, but with control. We’ll continue this conversation tomorrow.”
Not tonight. My heart and clit both fell a little.
Despite everything, a little smirk pulled at Xan’s lips, feeling my disappointment through the tether.
We shared a heated moment before he reached for Ezra and put his hand over his lover’s sword arm.
I didn’t see his lips move, but Ezra’s gaze finally pulled away from me, and he released his weapon.
“I’ll see you tonight for PT,” Ezra growled. “Don’t be late.”
I grinned. “I’ll come eventually, I’m sure.”
Rowan choked, Xan laughed awkwardly, and Ezra narrowed his eyes, trying to figure out if I meant what I’d said. My face heated, and I immediately regretted opening my mouth. I was a crutch, one Xan and Ezra had to stop using, even if I’d been enjoying it.
The Architect and his second left the room. The space felt like it tripled in size. I pulled Rowan’s cloak further around me and sat on the only chair I could find. My mind spun with everything that just happened.
Finally, I looked up at Rowan and Cayden. My face heated. Rowan had literally lifted me by my over-stimulated core and made me scream while my best friend watched. But the reason I’d been so turned on was the two men who had just exited the room.
Did I want to talk about it?
I laced my fingers together in front of me.
No. I didn’t. I didn’t know what I’d even say.
I looked up and steered us in a different direction. “Why are you two in the same room and seemingly working together?”
Rowan grinned, and Cayden scowled, which eased my heart. If they’d both had the same reaction, I might go back to believing all of this wasn’t real.
“Ah.” Rowan crossed his beefy arms and leaned against the table. “We were planning a rescue mission... for you.”
My heart warmed. “Really?”
A dopey grin immediately filled Rowan’s face because he felt my emotions before I expressed them. Shit. The tether. Cayden was going to kill him. If I brought it up now, what bonding these two had done would go down the drain. Despite my confusion, seeing my two friends work together made me happy.
Cayden dropped onto the chair arm next to me, and I elbowed him.
“We were working together,” he begrudgingly admitted.
I flushed. Guilt pinched. They’d teamed up to save me while I was busy lusting after the unattainable.
I was a shit friend.
Don’t do that.
I found Cayden’s hand and twined our fingers together before meeting Rowan’s gaze. He felt everything. He knew I’d spent the last three days enjoying myself. Yet, he was here. He hadn’t run back to Angela. He wasn’t demanding explanations.
A grin tugged at my lips. He liked me, shit friend or not.
“I don’t need a rescue plan, I don’t think.
” I bit my lower lip. “The Architect said I could leave any time. But then he promised to help me control my magic, and I want that. I didn’t ask for a different arrangement; I just went with it.
” I wrinkled my nose. “And if I hadn’t teleported, honestly, I’d still be in the Alun channeling magic. It was the most progress I’d made.”
Cayden’s fingers tensed in mine, but he needed to understand.
“But.” I pressed the pendant into my chest. “Everything comes with strings, right…?”
The two men watched me flip-flop back and forth. I’m sure Rowan was getting whiplash through the tether. Served him right. Words were going to be had. Lots of them. But later.
I blew out a breath. “Maybe an escape plan wouldn’t hurt. Xan said knowledge is power, right? Then give me some.”
Cayden still hadn’t said a word, but he pulled one of his spare tunics and a sweater vest out of his void.
I guess Rowan’s cloak wasn’t that practical long-term.
As if understanding, Rowan gestured, and the water filling my clothing steamed up and vanished.
I pulled Cayden’s shirt on, abruptly embarrassed by my choice of undergarments.
I’d let Ezra and Xan turn me on, and then Rowan literally put me on display for my friend and finished what his bosses started.
I peeked at Cayden again, who hadn’t felt my emotions for the last three days. His forest-green gaze was elsewhere, still processing. I suddenly wished I knew what was on his mind, but like always, he was a closed book.
“The Western Defenses are impregnable due to the cliff face.” Rowan pointed to the map on the table, smoothing out a wrinkle my ass had made. “But the apartments only have one set of guards who have holes in their shift changes. Cayden actually pointed out a lot of holes in our security.”
I let out a breath and focused on the maps.
Cayden came to my side and wrapped his arm around my waist.
“I was worried,” Cayden whispered in my ear.
“I know. I’m sorry, Cay,” I whispered back. “Are you going to be okay?”
Cayden rubbed his wrist. A glimpse of a white tattoo, with bits of what looked like burn marks, caught my attention.
Cayden kissed the side of my head. “I’m fine now that you’re here.”
“I don’t need a front-row seat,” Rowan grumbled.
I stepped closer to Rowan, bringing Cayden with me. “Sorry, I’ll focus this time.”
Surrounded by a different set of mages, I studied the blueprints of the home I hoped to never need to escape.