“When it’s ripe.”
Morgen smiled, showing me every one of her blindingly white teeth. Her lips cracked with brown bark. The monster living under her skin hovered close to the surface.
“And what of the Adler Michelson?” Morgen asked a second time.
“Place him." I looked at my sleeping lover. Would he want that? "Spy or not, keep him close."
Morgen narrowed her eyes. “You’re aware of the situation with the Lawson family? Their oldest is here, going through our training. The first time one of their own emerged from their family compound.”
I grunted. “The connection to the Adler Michelsons?”
“Nonexistent. I don’t believe the Lawsons have allies anywhere, as you are well aware.” Morgen leaned against the doorframe. “The Lawson, Cayden, and our mystery woman, Quinn, were both in my imagination testing today. They sat together for the full four hours.”
I frowned. “How?”
“I’m assuming they both bent their knees and lowered themselves down.” Morgen laughed.
I didn’t respond. Morgen was the last person who should know I had feelings for Quinn. I took a deep breath. My feelings aside, one thing about Quinn was crystal clear: she knew nothing about this world. One of my men reported her defending Everly, saying, ‘She shouldn’t have your magic forced into her.’
Someone had hurt her. Then my introduction had only added more. She stepped away from my touch, so different from the trust in the sauna. I clung to my lover’s unconscious ankle, where he’d gripped Quinn to save her life. I needed him. I wasn’t good at this.
Morgen pushed off the door frame. “Whatever guilt’s eating you alive, I suggest you face it. Alexander bound his life to Quinn. As his loyal dog, yours as well.” The pink-haired chancellor narrowed her eyes, and her resting bitch face slipped back into place. “Would he let you put a child in her stomach as well?”
I rushed to my feet. “Get out! You know that’s not why he acted.”
“Do I?” Morgen laughed again. “He’s a mentalist, and she’s power. Old power.” Her eyes flashed. “Their children would be gods.”
“Get out.” Power edged my voice. The shadows in the room leaned toward Morgen. In response, she grew taller and thinner. Her skin cracked and grew into textured bark. One knotted fist burst out of her black robes. Her claws dripped pink power as they sank into a shadow. She squeezed, and the pot it clung to shattered.
“We made a deal to escape those tunnels.” Morgen hissed. “But do not forget, a deal is only as good as the people who made it. Do not threaten me because of your own insecurity.”
She shrank back down, her skin once again pale and smooth, and exited, slamming the door behind her.
Anger shook me. Morgen’s words struck too deep. I trusted my lover. His intentions were only to save a dying woman… except she was everything Morgen had outlined and more.
“I need to understand.” The words slipped out before I could pull them back, a crack in my faith. The first chip in what I thought unshakeable.
But my lover didn’t stir. His chest rose and fell as time knitted his magic and mind back together.
Chapter 13
Quinn
Ihurt.Myinsidesburned and boiled as if they were ready to burst. I hadn’t slept in three days.
“We can go back to the doctor,” my dad said.
“So, they can tell me I’m fine?” I shook my head. “This is all in my head. We both know that. It’s Miss Q.”
My dad couldn’t look at me. Streaks of white peppered his dark-brown hair, and his shirt hung off his narrow frame. To my knowledge, he’d never dated, never lived beyond me. We couldn’t keep going like this.
“It’s going to be bad this time, Dad.” I clenched my hands together. “I need to go somewhere where I can’t cause too much damage. I need to let her out.”
“I wanted you to have a normal life.” My dad still didn’t look at me. “You got to have that Lemon Drop last month, and it was fine.”
“But it’s not fine right now.” I stepped up to my dad and kneeled. “Will you drop me off in theforest?”
My dad finally met my gaze. “If you think it will help.”
