“You did.” Rowan stepped forward before I could say anything. “And Quinn needs balance, sir.”
Xan bowed his head. “Of course, your advice is always solid, Rowan.” He looked up and met my gaze. “Think about what you felt, Quinn. Try to remember exactly what was on your mind before you teleported so you can do it again, but with control. We’ll continue this conversation tomorrow.”
Not tonight. My heart and clit both fell a little.
Despite everything, a little smirk pulled at Xan’s lips, feeling my disappointment through the tether. We shared a heated moment before he reached for Ezra and put his hand over his lover’s sword arm. I didn’t see his lips move, but Ezra’s gaze finally pulled away from me, and he released his weapon.
“I’ll see you tonight for PT,” Ezra growled. “Don’t be late.”
I grinned. “I’ll come eventually, I’m sure.”
Rowan choked, Xan laughed awkwardly, and Ezra narrowed his eyes, trying to figure out if I meant what I’d said. My face heated, and I immediately regretted opening my mouth. I was a crutch, one Xan and Ezra had to stop using, even if I’d been enjoying it.
The Architect and his second left the room. The space felt like it tripled in size. I pulled Rowan’s cloak further around me and sat on the only chair I could find. My mind spun with everything that just happened.
Finally, I looked up at Rowan and Cayden. My face heated. Rowan had literally lifted me by my over-stimulated core and made me scream while my best friend watched. But the reason I’d been so turned on was the two men who had just exited the room.
Did I want to talk about it?
I laced my fingers together in front of me.
No. I didn’t. I didn’t know what I’d even say.
I looked up and steered us in a different direction. “Why are you two in the same room and seemingly working together?”
Rowan grinned, and Cayden scowled, which eased my heart. If they’d both had the same reaction, I might go back to believing all of this wasn’t real.
“Ah.” Rowan crossed his beefy arms and leaned against the table. “We were planning a rescue mission... for you.”
My heart warmed. “Really?”
A dopey grin immediately filled Rowan’s face because he felt my emotions before I expressed them. Shit. The tether. Cayden was going to kill him. If I brought it up now, what bonding these two had done would go down the drain. Despite my confusion, seeing my two friends work together made me happy.
Cayden dropped onto the chair arm next to me, and I elbowed him.
“We were working together,” he begrudgingly admitted.
I flushed. Guilt pinched. They’d teamed up to save me while I was busy lusting after the unattainable.
I was a shit friend.
Don’t do that.
I found Cayden’s hand and twined our fingers together before meeting Rowan’s gaze. He felt everything. He knew I’d spent the last three days enjoying myself. Yet, he was here. He hadn’t run back to Angela. He wasn’t demanding explanations.
A grin tugged at my lips. He liked me, shit friend or not.
“I don’t need a rescue plan, I don’t think.” I bit my lower lip. “The Architect said I could leave any time. But then he promised to help me control my magic, and I want that. I didn’t ask for a different arrangement; I just went with it.” I wrinkled my nose. “And if I hadn’t teleported, honestly, I’d still be in the Alun channeling magic. It was the most progress I’d made.”
Cayden’s fingers tensed in mine, but he needed to understand.
“But.” I pressed the pendant into my chest. “Everything comes with strings, right…?”
The two men watched me flip-flop back and forth. I’m sure Rowan was getting whiplash through the tether. Served him right. Words were going to be had. Lots of them. But later.
I blew out a breath. “Maybe an escape plan wouldn’t hurt. Xan said knowledge is power, right? Then give me some.”
Cayden still hadn’t said a word, but he pulled one of his spare tunics and a sweater vest out of his void. I guess Rowan’s cloak wasn’t that practical long-term. As if understanding, Rowan gestured, and the water filling my clothing steamed up and vanished. I pulled Cayden’s shirt on, abruptly embarrassed by my choice of undergarments.
