My officers had already gathered for our morning briefing. I joined them around the tall, round table, with the replica of our castle resting in the center. At my touch, the table’s underlighting came to life, adding purple to the haze in the windowless space.
As always, Abernathy, my information officer, began with updates. The rest of my five shifted uneasily. Rowan literally vibrated with his unhappiness, which made Lark, my logistics officer, look uneasily between the two of us. After a few minutes, I had to address the unspoken.
I held up my hand, and Abernathy stopped talking mid-word. “Report on our activities at The Pit.”
“Four of our own exited our walls…” Abernathy began.
While he spoke, I observed my five, taking special note of Rowan.
The youngest of my generals paled. At the mention of body snatchers, flickers of elemental power escaped him. The others edged away.
Abernathy finished up his thoughts. “The Westwaters have made no contact, but they do not use or endorse slavery. I do think it’s safe to assume we crossed no lines in retrieving one of our own, but that’s not my department.”
I only half listened; still studying Rowan.
My officer had tethered Quinn weeks ago. He claimed he hadn’t meant to, but then he ended his contract with Angela Moore. The fallout made him political poison, and our family could hardly afford to lose more allies.
“We should acknowledge the breach with the Westwaters and send a gift,” Valentino, my relations officer, said. He turned to Rowan. “I would appreciate your experience here on what would be suitable.”
Rowan focused, steadied, and spoke, listing off various appropriate gifts. I gave Valentino the barest nods to keep them moving forward.I handpicked each of my officers for a reason. Our family was a force to be reckoned with beyond my lover’s skills as a mentalist.
The two settled on a bottle of scotch. With that loose end tied, the briefing moved on, and inevitably, so did my focus.
“Quinn Question stumbled into our family,” I said evenly. “If it weren’t for the Architect, her final breaths would’ve been taken under our coliseum. Her ancestry’s unknown, and her magic’s incredible but unstable.” I looked at each of my officers. “We want Quinn to stay in our family, but ultimately, the choice is hers.” My gaze settled on Rowan, and I chose my words very carefully. “She has chosen to study under the Architect for the time being.”
Rowan’s jaw clenched.
“If anyone has questions, bring them to me.” I turned to my logistics officer. “Lark, I need a detailed report on Hope’s office and our food situation. I understand we are stretched, but new information has come to my attention, and I need to confirm that every trainee inside our walls has access to food.”
Lark blinked in surprise but nodded.
I added Quinn’s description of the charcoal-gray-haired body snatcher to our list of wanted and ended our meeting.
My officers filed out, though Valentino lingered, seeing Rowan still standing at the table. I shook my head, and my relations officer let out a relieved breath before darting down the hall.
Unlike my other officers, Rowan didn’t have a title. His elemental power and level-headed, straightforward mind earned him a position in my five. However, nothing about his response to Quinn had been straightforward or level-headed.
“I need to see Quinn,” Rowan stated.
Bags hung under his eyes like he hadn’t slept, and his elemental magic winked in and out of existence.
“She’s in the care of the Architect.” I kept my voice even. “As you well know.”
Shame rolled across Rowan’s face before he clenched his jaw and straightened his shoulders. “Does she know her friend, Xan, is the Architect? A mentalist?”
I narrowed my eyes, waiting to see if the same judgment spilled out of Rowan’s lips as the rest of the world.
Rowan’s posture sagged. “I just need to see her.” He lowered his voice. “I was there. I didn’t realize she was too until it was too late.”
Red washed my vision. He’d been at the pit fight, without her. If not for the table, I’d have decked him. The tether should’ve screamed her location, her emotions. Even if he didn’t like her, which I doubted, he should’ve been there.
My shadow leaned, reaching for his throat.
Quinn was safe. She’d woken up in my bed. She now sat with my lover, exploring her magic.
“You chose your path,” I said. “Don’t look to me to fix it.”
Rowan snarled. “I’m not asking you to. She’s in the Architect’s apartments, your fucking home. Buried in the cliff. Impenetrable.” Rowan flexed and brought his arm up. “None of her friends have heard from or seen her. It looks bad. I’m asking her captor’s permission to see her.”
