Chapter 8
Rowan
Isteppedintothetraining yard, which occupied half of the coliseum floor. The leather of my freshly shined blacks gleamed in the rays of the sun, moments from being swallowed by foreboding clouds. My Majekah stirred, grinding and churning unhappily. A spike of raw power shot forward, looking for something, only to bounce off my will and return to the flow. For days, my magic and Majekah had done this.
The last time I’d had this little control, I’d been a teenager with raging hormones. Puberty was a bitch we all had to ride out.
But I was long past that stage in my life. This time, I was a general, contracted to a woman who would give me everything I needed. I had goals and the means to achieve them. There was no reason for my magic to be acting up.
“Blacks today,” Joe, my closest friend and fellow enforcer, said. “Angela’s going to be pissed.”
I grunted, not slowing. “I’m working today.”
Joe shrugged. “You wear whatever she tells you to, working or not.”
“She’s a Moore, Joe. Rich, hot, already popped out a couple kids.” I turned to my beefy friend, his blacks straining to contain his stomach. “What the hell else am I supposed to want?”
He shrugged. “Maybe not when you say it like that.” He slapped his stomach. “But life isn’t about doing better. It’s about enjoying the moment, and I feel your favorite food has yet to be found.”
I snorted. “Maybe a little less enjoyment would speed you up in the yard.”
“Maybe.” He grinned. “But I wouldn’t have challenges if I were both fast and strong, now would I?”
I chuckled, remembering the last time I hadn’t gotten out of his swing. We were both fortunate my sword shattered under his strength and not my wrists.
Commander Ezra stood in the center of the coliseum with his arms crossed over his chest. A black dot amongst a sea of trainee uniforms accented with color. Laughter and shouts of excitement came from the group of about thirty.
We’d put a damper on that. I spotted my handful of enforcers, dressed as trainees, mingling, ready to give out a life lesson.
My Majekah surged, shoving me right, hammering at my control. I shoved it back, jaw tight. Every instinct I had demanded I angle right, but I refused to be herded.
The slightly damp dirt covering the compacted ground scuffed under our boots. Dummies, targets, and chalk circles all stood still and unused. A pile of weapons sat at the door. We disarmed the trainees to make sure no one got badly hurt today.
This was a lesson, not a battle.
My magic still pressured me toward a small group standing at the back. I kept my feet moving forward, though I couldn’t stop myselffrom looking. I recognized Everly Grierson and her twin brother on sight. The Grierson family name carried a lot of weight in Edinburgh, though their values stood against ours. Seeing one of their daughters here was surprising.
Standing very close to Everly was Quinn. Guilt ate at my stomach. I’d heard all kinds of rumors being passed around about the man. Too many Angela started, and the last two days had only added to it. He’d made friends with a Lawson, destroyed twenty people’s stamina placement, and been hauled off for disciplinary action. And the most recent rumor, which looked to be true, Everly was sinking her claws into him, the heiress of a slave fortune.
The guy was lost and being tossed about like a doll. It wasn’t right. But our chance encounter was the reason he drew Angela’s ire. I wouldn’t make it any worse by drawing further attention to him.
Quinn smiled after Everly whispered something in his ear. They looked genuine. Maybe. I didn’t know Everly, and I didn’t trust her. But at least Quinn wasn’t eating alone. With her friendship, the guy wasn’t being socially shunned anymore.
Relief didn’t last. Something sharp twisted in my chest instead. I’d first spotted Quinn through the fog, small frame, slight build, and my teasing had turned flirtier than I’d usually risk with a man. After we talked, I let the mood linger because… I liked it. Hell, when he climbed onto my lap, it was the funniest thing I’d seen in years, and Angela’s shock had been priceless. Maybe I’d liked that a little too much.
Everly leaned down and said something else, and Quinn reached up, caressing Everly’s arm. Despite their foot-and-a-half height difference, Everly seemed quite into Quinn. The Grierson was a catch, identical to Angela; she could change a man’s entire fortune. I should be happy for Quinn, but unexpected disappointment soured the moment. I looked away.
Joe and I pulled up next to our commander. I took my place at his left, slightly back, noting the state of his also unusually clean and pressed blacks.
“Have something to say?” Commander Ezra growled, always hyper-aware of everything around him.
I shook my head. To my knowledge, the Architect, the head of our family and Commander Ezra’s lover, still lay unconscious. If Commander Ezra wanted to look sharp for a new face, that was his grave to dig.
My nerves fluttered, and my magic continued to pull me toward the Griersons. The new trainees had no idea what was coming, but I did. I’d been a part of this countless times. Why did I feel so much reluctance today?
I flicked my gaze to Commander Ezra and found him also looking toward the Grierson twins. The time for the test came and went, and we still stood waiting. My commander shook himself.
With a familiar sharp jerk of his chin, he signaled for me to begin.
