I growled but kept my feet planted.
The dragon zoomed by once again. A small mountain of raw materials loomed over us, a virtual treasure trove of riches we would use to rebuild. The chaos Quinn’s magic created practically filled the courtyard.
My lover rocked on his heels, already weighing the pros and cons with that calculating stare. Our next move was crucial. It couldn’t revolve around Quinn, no matter how much I wanted it to.
I took a final deep breath and forced my thoughts away from Quinn, though I didn’t take my eyes off her.
Our castle had been invaded. The leader of that invasion, who we couldn’t touch, stood with Xan still lightly gripping his neck while the dead lay stacked outside our gates. For better or worse,my lover had spared four people who could attest to his use of his mentalist abilities. Outside our walls, our enemies were circling while our allies waited to see if they’d joined the wrong side.
Cayden leaned in close, Rowan’s arm circling Quinn’s shoulders. My jaw ached from grinding my teeth as I forced my gaze away.
Two enforcers took Erick out of my lover’s grip, though they kept him standing at our side.
‘I need to catch you up,’Xan said in my head.
I shuffled closer to him and lent him physical support while he closed his eyes. TB messages and orders sliced into my thoughts, sharp and effortless. I forced myself to breathe as Xan’s communication network added to my knowledge.
When he next opened his eyes, we had the same information.
Xan let go of me. “Brit, I need you to run The Mile. My position is weakened, and everyone knows it. My enforcers will bolster with your reassurance.”
Brit’s face pinched. “Quinn won’t be vanishing into your flat anytime soon, right?”
“Babycakes, this is the Architect, you can’t—” Joe started.
Brit slapped his stomach to cut him off.
“It was a miscalculation on my part,” Xan admitted. “Quinn’s not my prisoner.” He gestured to Cayden and Rowan. “I think my physical position here makes that clear enough.”
Brit inclined her head but hesitated. “She’s special, Architect. At your party, Horax nabbed her right under your nose. It can’t happen again.” Brit put her hand over her abdomen. “It’s more than just what happened today.” She swallowed. “I’m cycling… because of Quinn.”
My spine locked. “Quinn?”
Brit nodded, her eyes flicking to check who else was listening.
I clenched my fists. Quinn was already a diamond; we didn’t want her to shine any brighter.
Brit scowled at whatever she saw on my face. A second realization hit me. Brit wasn’t mine. Xan might have recruited her, but somewhere along the way, her loyalty shifted. She belonged to Quinn.
Xan smoothed over his shock with practiced ease. “Congratulations. And you’re right.” His smile fell. “These last few weeks have shoved my failings in my face.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I should not have isolated Quinn. I was blinded by, well, her.” Pain etched his face. “I don’t know how I’ll fix it, but I will, I promise you.”
Brit nodded. “I believe when I see.”
My lover gritted his teeth. “You will see. You should’ve seen it from day one.”
Brit pursed her lips. “Then my orders are to run The Mile?”
“Yes,” Xan said. “Unless you’d prefer to stay at Quinn’s side.”
Brit shook her head. “That trio be dead on their feet. They’ll sleep the moment they touch a bed.”
I couldn’t argue with that.
“Take two horses from the stable and go,” Xan simply ordered.
Brit inclined her head. “I’m going.”
Joe made a strangled sound. “Cupcake, in your condition…”
