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 morevaluable—”
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.
