A spot of olive oil magic shimmered on his palm. I swallowed hard, remembering his demonstration when we first met. I couldn’t let him touch me.
His gaze followed mine, and he pushed his hand closer to me. “It will just help with the pain, I promise.”
He’d used his magic on his sister; there was no reason he’d hold back for me. I didn’t trust him, and even if I did, I didn’t trust myself. I hadn’t touched anyone with my Majekah since the park ranger.
I got to my own feet.
Brody’s face darkened, and he curled his fist. “You’re spending all your time with those guys. They don’t have your best interests at heart. You’re not precious to them, like you are to me.”
I took a step away from Brody, then another. “You’re stalking me, Brody. This isn’t okay.”
“I’m your protector,” he stressed. “What if I’m not watching you next time?”
I took two more steps. “I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
“My sister wasn’t.” Brody balled his hand and thumped his chest. “I followed her to that house. She said he made her happy, but he didn’t. I knew it even if she wouldn’t admit it.” He rubbed his chest, a desperate note bleeding into his anger. “My big sister doted on me. She loved me. She wasn’t fertile. She had no reason to leave the family. But that man convinced her to. She left me and everything she loved. I had to save her, just like I have to save you.”
I bit my lips together to keep from asking if Brody was listening to his own story. It sure as hell sounded like his sister had found someone who brought her joy, and her brother had lost his mind instead of being happy for her. But I wouldn’t ask. The more interest I showed, the more I’d feed his delusion.
I took two more steps. He didn’t follow, so I turned, hopeful someone had walked into the Square, but it remained empty.
“You’re not going to thank me?” Brody trotted to my side.
I started walking for real, and he matched my pace.
Fear cinched tight behind my ribs.
“Thank you,” I said, trying to keep him happy.
Brody beamed and relaxed his shoulders. “You’re welcome.”
I increased my pace. So did Brody.
Wicked Wich was right on the corner. People had to be there. I rushed to the front of the building, but there was no movement, and the door was shut. What had I missed? Left would take me to the library, and right to The Rooster. I was sure to find people at The Rooster. Or not. What if it was just Matt or dark like Wicked Wich?
I took a sharp left toward the library. Brody turned as well.
The staff there weren’t holding my TB hostage. Halfway to the library, I still hadn’t seen another soul. “Where is everyone?”
“If you’d let me help you, you would know,” Brody said casually.
Unease twisted my stomach, and my walk virtually became a run. Brody matched my pace and reached for my hand. I veered off, suddenly not caring if it upset him, and raced for my dorm. As my door came into view, his steps slowed.
“It’s okay to be scared, Quinn,” Brody called. “I can wait. We’ll be together. Your fear’s pulling us closer; I can feel it. I love you, Quinn.”
Magic seeped into my legs, and I once again found myself running like a cartoon character. I hit my building hard and almost tore the magic scanner off its hinges. The stairs up to my tower went by in a blur. Suddenly, I stood on my landing, panting.
The sounds of cursing and people shuffling came from above. I gave myself a full minute to memorize the sensation in my legs, catch my breath, and let Erick’s newest girl throw some clothing on, before heading up.
To my surprise, Erick did not have a woman pinned to our couch. Instead, he lounged on it with two other men. A clear bottle of liquid sat on a side table, with a third of it already gone.
“Ah, Quinn, my sister, care for a drink?” Erick gave me a sleazy grin. “I have some friends who would love to meet you.”
These weren’t his usual dalliances. A puffy red mark covered the upper left of a massive bald man’s head. The other held a full cup in his manicured fingers. A droopy brown cloak covered his face. I swear a single familiar forest-green eye looked at me curiously.
When he saw me looking, he motioned forward with his cup as if offering it to me. I groaned, not wanting to deal with this.
Erick sat up and studied me. “Didn’t you have a tag-along this afternoon? Why does it look like you were running?”
