I pushed him through my office and out my door before sitting down to the pile of reports waiting on my desk. The door clicked shut, leaving me in oppressive silence. I pressed my palms together, the same hands that punished and protected. She deserved better than either.
The Mile was falling into place. The castle was bursting at the seams. We couldn’t take in any more new trainees until we expanded. With my lover awake, our plans were once again moving forward.
Unable to focus, I found myself replaying it last night in my head. My work blurred behind her laughter. I’d promised myself distance, yet every heartbeat redrew her outline. Xan’s hands encircling Quinn’s waist. Her big, trusting eyes as my lover steered the moment before delicately pressingmycake into her mouth. He’d been polite, and their exchange adorably innocent. But in another life, she’d have licked every crumb from his fingers, and more.
If I couldn’t give her peace, maybe someone gentler could. I just prayed he’d keep her safe enough for me to stay away.
Chapter 13
Quinn
Iwoketomysimple, curly red locks framing my face. The energy dancing around me last night returned to still, almost suffocating air. A wave of despair twisted my stomach. My magic was gone. Last night couldn’t have been a dream, right?
Unless all of this was a dream... not the time to regress, Quinn.
With shaking hands, I climbed down the ladder and stuck my finger back in the Hot Wheels bag.
Nothing happened. My throat closed.
Wind brushed my skin… no, it was energy. Magic. I sucked in a shuddering breath as the hair around my face returned to its prismatic sparkle. Relief hit so hard it twisted into a sob.
“What the fuck?” Erick asked from his bed.
Coral light bled into the cauldrons.
I sucked in a breath and turned with my fingers still in the bag and tears streaming down my face. My smile stretched awkwardly.
Erick rolled onto his side and looked down at me. “Your hair’s sparkling.”
I nodded through the tears. “I figured out how to use my magic.”
Erick inclined his head and yawned. “Good for you. So does this mean you’ll stop waking me at four-thirty every morning and set your own damn alarm?”
“Right away, Your Majesty,” I deadpanned.
“I can’t wait till you call me that when I’m deep inside you.” He flopped onto his back and pretended to stroke his dick. “Bringing our son into the world.”
Ew.
“You’re delusional.” My smile slipped, and I willed my next two words to sink into Erick. “Big brother.”
Erick laughed. “Just making sure you don’t forget your options, little sis.”
I scowled and grabbed my uniform for the train. Not two seconds later, Erick’s snores filled the room again. I dropped his TB on the desk, hopefully for the last time, and started my day.
Although I was too afraid of being kicked out of the castle to miss my work-study, I skipped my tag-along and lecture to focus on my magic. Cayden joined me in the library’s map room. We took over the underlit table and spread my childhood across its glowing surface.
By midday, Winston, accompanied by a black-clad enforcer, stopped by and officially let us off the hook. In addition, if we needed any resources, he was in direct contact with the Architect and would get us whatever we needed.
For a second, I considered not working on my magic because the Architect clearly wanted me to find it. But I wasn’t an ornery teenage girl anymore, most of the time, so I stuck with my plan and passed on my thanks despite my skepticism.
Before he left, I pulled Winston to the side. “Did you actually talk to the Architect?”
“I did,” Winston replied, his voice even. “He’s just a man, Quinn. Whatever myth you’ve built around him. Let. It. Go.”
He met my gaze with calm certainty. “He wants to see you succeed. That much, I do believe.”
“Then why haven’t I met him?” I couldn’t keep the fear out of my voice. “He controls my future. I’m waiting for him even to be placed in the family.”
