Before he could argue, I pushed out of his arms, and my back hit the magic surrounding us. It burst into a shower of sparkles, revealing Rowan, with his hand out as if he’d been pushing on the bubble, and Willow, who might as well have popcorn in her hands at this point.
I turned back to the table as if nothing had happened and put the little dress back into my pocket-void. “The dress is literally off the table.”
Willow raised an eyebrow. “The condition of your garments is truly remarkable. Has your family not produced enough women to wear them regularly?”
“Um. Yes,” I answered. It was close enough.
Cayden squared his shoulders and let out a haughty breath. “Willow can’t afford what these are worth. I suggest we go to The Mile.”
“What?” I exclaimed.
Cayden looked at Rowan and jerked his head. For the first time, the two exchanged a look that wasn’t negative. Rowan gently guided me to the far side of the room.
I scowled. “You have no idea what I went through to get here and sell those.”
Rowan covered my lips with his finger. “I know more than I want to.”
He’d found my broken body. I dropped my gaze.
“The Lawsons are good negotiators. Their righteousness makes them stubborn as hell and difficult to argue with.” He reached toward me, as if he wanted to rest a hand on my arm, but pulled back. “He’ll get a better price than either of us.”
The last of my frustration dropped. I would have taken Willow’s first offer, and Cayden was difficult to argue with. I snorted. “You’re probably right.”
“That’s outrageous,” Willow exclaimed from across the room.
“Your initial offer was insulting. However, I’m willing…” Cayden said calmly.
Their ‘negotiations’ faded into the background. I ran my hands over a leather ensemble floating next to me.
Rowan took an unhappy breath. “Is what Cayden said about Ezra isolating you true?”
I met Rowan’s gaze. “It’s his honest observations.”
Rowan growled. “I know you hate talking about yourself. I can only imagine how hard it must have been to ask me for help. But Quinn, I am here for you. Tell me what Cayden said isn’t true.”
“I don’t know.” I threw my hands up in the air. “All I know: Ezra’s keeping me busy with everything he wants me to do, and until the Architect wakes, that’s all I’m going to get.” I dropped my gaze. “I’m not getting help with my magic. I don’t have any control or choices.”I don’t know if this is real, I wanted to add, but didn’t.
“You’re leaving something out,” Rowan stated. “Quinn, I can’t help you if I don’t know what’s going on.”
I furrowed my eyebrows. “They’re fears.” I locked my fingers together. “He’ll wake up any day and I’ll know.” I wasn’t sure if I was talking about the Architect or myself.
Rowan cupped my cheek. “No matter what happens, I’m on your side. I trust Commander Ezra, though I don’t always agree with his methods. I don’t know the Architect well, but I believe in what he’s building.” Rowan dropped his hand from my cheek and squeezed both of my wrists. “If you truly feel unsafe, I’ll take you to my family. You can decompress. We would be honored to host.”
My breath caught in my throat. “What about Angela? And everything you’ve worked for?”
“I am one of seven,” Rowan said bitterly. “My contract stipulates one-on-one time, which she has yet to grant me. I can disappear for a while to help out a friend.”
A friend. Always just a friend. But it was still a lot for him to offer. I didn’t need to be so bitter. “Thank you, Rowan. I hope I don’t need that.”
Rowan grunted. “Me too, because if you do, I need to look at who I’ve dedicated myself to a second time.”
“Angela is quite the catch, isn’t she?” I poked him in the side. “You don’t regret that at all.”
Rowan frowned. “I was talking about the Architect. But you’re not wrong.” He put his big hand on top of my head and messed my hair. “Careful, squirt. Poking the bear is never a good idea.”
I put a hand on my hip, grinned, and poked him again.
The drizzling rain should have made the ride home miserable. It seemed to have cleared everyone else from the steep, cobbled street leading up to The Mile. But, I’d poked the bear, maybe, or I’d poked myself?
