I’d let Ezra and Xan turn me on, and then Rowan literally put me on display for my friend and finished what his bosses started.
I peeked at Cayden again, who hadn’t felt my emotions for the last three days. His forest-green gaze was elsewhere, still processing. I suddenly wished I knew what was on his mind, but like always, he was a closed book.
“The Western Defenses are impregnable due to the cliff face.” Rowan pointed to the map on the table, smoothing out a wrinkle my ass had made. “But the apartments only have one set of guards who have holes in their shift changes. Cayden actually pointed out a lot of holes in our security.”
I let out a breath and focused on the maps.
Cayden came to my side and wrapped his arm around my waist.
“I was worried,” Cayden whispered in my ear.
“I know. I’m sorry, Cay,” I whispered back. “Are you going to be okay?”
Cayden rubbed his wrist. A glimpse of a white tattoo, with bits of what looked like burn marks, caught my attention.
Cayden kissed the side of my head. “I’m fine now that you’re here.”
“I don’t need a front-row seat,” Rowan grumbled.
I stepped closer to Rowan, bringing Cayden with me. “Sorry, I’ll focus this time.”
Surrounded by a different set of mages, I studied the blueprints of the home I hoped to never need to escape.
Chapter 22
Rowan
Afterspendingtheafternoonplanning and the evening eating with her friends, Cayden and I escorted Quinn to her PT with Ezra.
Quinn stopped in front of the door and turned. “Guys, chill. I’m fine, really.”
“You’re not.” Cayden reached over and laced their fingers together.
I hadn’t spent time with them before, and the amount they touched was... surprising. If I didn’t know better, I’d think they’d been in a contract for months. They swore they were just friends. But the way Cayden looked at her? Bullshit. I wanted to know why.
“You spent three days trapped in their apartment.” Cayden pulled her close. “I’ve been reading, and even if the Architect wasn’t a mentalist, Stockholm syndrome is real, Quinn.”
Quinn groaned. “Didn’t you hear anything I said during dinner? I wasn’t trapped. They didn’t abuse me.”
No, but they’d done something,I wanted to say, but letting Quinn know I peeped on her every emotion wasn’t the right way to come clean… but what fucking was?
“They were polite and very focused on education.” Her cheeks heated, and her gaze darted to me before focusing back on Cayden. “Talk to Rowan; he’ll tell you all about it.” Quinn pulled her hand out of Cayden’s grasp.
My eyes flew wide. Fuck. What the hell was I supposed to say? I felt everything, but she couldn’t know that.
“He’s loyal to your captors,” Cayden hissed.
Quinn’s gaze softened. She leaned forward and placed a kiss on the underside of Cayden’s neck. “Not so loyal that he didn’t help you.”
The door to the gym opened. My commander’s plum-purple gaze took in the three of us.
A few weeks ago, we’d chatted about possibly lifting weights as a group.
Ezra put his hand on Quinn’s shoulder and guided her toward him, glaring at both of us.
Yeah, that wasn’t going to be happening any time soon.
“I’ll see you for training tomorrow.” Quinn smiled at me. “And breakfast? At the library?” Quinn said, turning to Cayden. “No more train duty!” She all but jumped with joy.
