I turned to find myself face-to-face with the pit fighter.
She cocked her head to the side. “So, myman, we meet again.”
I looked at Everly, who nodded and mouthed, ‘She knows.’
I shook my head, a smile creeping onto my face.
“Who’s your friend?” Brit asked, jabbing her thumb at my back. Rowan still hovered.
I slipped between Everly and Brit. “Rowan, he’s one of Ezra’s officers, who doesn’t need to take the placement.”
“Ah, yes, right.” Rowan cleared his throat. “I’ll see you around.”
Rowan studied me for another second before trotting off.
I wrinkled my nose.
“Ezra? As in Commander Ezra of this entire place?” Brit asked incredulously. She pointed at Ezra, who was already barking orders at trainees at the front, to be sure.
I sighed. Commander. Of course, the man I’d demanded to take off his shirt three times now wasn’t some guy. Miss Q wouldn’t have it any other way.
Chapter 10
Rowan
“Quinn’sgotfiveminutes,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.”
