I bit my lips together. I was still angry, but maybe he was doing more than I saw. I retook my seat.
“I am alive today because I live by my rules,” the Architect reiterated. “Every time I break them, I take a step closer to a cliff. And once at its edge, I will fall, and the world will shoot me on the way down to make sure I never breathe again.” His lips tightened. “We will find Quinn without destroying everything I’ve created.”
His words echoed in his office. His confidence, stubborn and unshaken, made mine steady.
Ezra placed a box in the middle of the table. “This was delivered to us.” He opened it.
Brit’s TB rolled out, followed by Quinn’s white shoes, blood drying on the left one, clouding the little jewels she and Everly had glued there. One jewel was missing. My stomach clenched. I knew exactly when she’d lost it, knew the sound it had made when it hit the floor, and why I hadn’t been there to stop it.
“You gave my pub to a whore, so I sold your whore to a… well, I guess you’ll never find out.” Rowan read off a light-purple scrawl.
The rage I’d walked in here with returned with a vengeance. The man who took her TB, Matt. Body snatchers. My family really had nothing to do with this.
This wasn’t even about Quinn.
“Horax,” Rowan spat. “I thought we banished him.”
The blood drained out of the Architect’s face. “I did.”
“Did you?” I launched out of my seat. I’d never hated a piece of furniture more. This slab of wood was the only thing between me and the satisfying crunch of breaking the mentalist’s perfect face. “Because, based on what everyone says, within these walls, you are a god. If you commanded it, every person in this castle would dance to your tune. That fucking bartender’s magic is all over The Great Hall. He hated Quinn. He was on your list of suspects who could have changed her schedule!”
‘Cayden, stop.’Rowan’s command cut into my anger.
I suddenly noticed Ezra’s grip on his sword and the set of his legs, ready to cut me down. Rowan stood and came to my back, dropping his massive hands onto my shoulders. I didn’t shrug him off this time. I trained my gaze back on the Architect. The man hadn’t moved; in fact, he was almost too still with his gaze focused on his desk.
“I failed.” The Architect’s voice nearly broke on the last word. “I thought I could keep her safe. I wanted to give Matt the chance to do better and not ruin his life because someone else had led him down the wrong path. I made the wrong call.” He looked up and glanced at Rowan before settling his gaze on me. “I will find her, but I need your help.”
Rowan’s grip on my shoulder tightened.
Ezra didn’t take his hand off his sword hilt.
“The three of us share a link to Quinn.” Xan stood and put his hand over Ezra’s sword arm, though his gaze didn’t leave mine. “Join me in the Alun.”
His words could have been a question or a command.
The Alun. Quinn had said something about her training being in the small room that absorbed magic. I hadn’t thought much of it. “The Alun?”
“You’ll like this, rune-master.” The Architect flipped his palm upward. “I think it’s something I should have introduced you to a long time ago.”
Curiosity stirred despite the anger. I kept my scowl fixed on the man who’d failed Quinn. “For Quinn, I’m at your disposal, Architect.”
He jerked in surprise. “I thought that would be harder.”
My scowl deepened, but Rowan clapped me on the shoulder. “We’re both in.”
I met the Architect’s gaze, letting him see the vow carved into me. We will find her, or I’ll burn through anyone who stands in our way.
Chapter 37
Quinn
Iwokeinagray box. Dizzying patterns smothered the walls and ceiling. Overhead, a chandelier dripped green mist.
There was no sign of Brit. Before I could dwell on it, I had to figure out the here and now. I pulled the sheets off myself and found a long dressing gown covering my clean body from neck to foot. A shiver ran through me. I forced myself to breathe.
Our Prophet waits.
This had to be Cayden’s family, and that terrified me.
