Rowan stepped to Cayden’s side. He pulled the bottle of wine away from him and took a sip himself. As if on cue, everyone moved.
“Architect.” Jefferson, Ezra’s squat but built head enforcer, stepped forward. “You need more people with you. At least take Ezra.”
Ezra hadn’t left Quinn’s side. He’d been in her shadow when she dumped her power into Cayden, but a piece of him hadn’t come out. They were both healed physically. However, Ezra was hearing things. Beeping. Some song on repeat. The indistinct sound of Quinn’s voice and the lower rumble of another male.
My failure to remove her collar made my soul hurt.
“He’s indisposed.” I looked at each of Ezra’s five. “And not to be disturbed. These two will be enough.”
I left no room for argument. If Ezra knew what I was doing, it would only tear his loyalty. Both of us wanted him at Quinn’s side.
“You’ll move in the moment the shield comes down and hold the doors.” I addressed my men as they double-checked their weapons and pushed scrawl into their TBs. “Our only goal is retaking the Alun. If the trio finds a door, their lives are forfeit.” I turned to the Grierson twins. “Everly, I need you to organize the remaining trainees.”
Everly jerked back as if shocked I said her name.
I bit my lips together. The goal of my family was equality. How poorly was I doing if a woman was surprised I even addressed her?
“Hero—” Everly started.
“Hero makes a fine bodyguard,” I cut her off. “But you’ve spent your time here making friends and standing up for what you believe in. Your peers look up to you. The stunt you pulled at my trainee welcoming party literally stopped my second-in-command in his tracks.” I turned and faced Everly. “If you do not want this, I will find someone else. But they will not be loved by the less fortunate while carrying the respect of the families.”
I gave her a moment to digest what I said before pulling out my trump card. “Your blood-red magic is also flashy and easy to spot, especially when doubled by your twin. As you’ve now experienced, fighting is messy, and if it comes to more, I need you to keep my trainees safe.”
Everly’s gaze widened before she stiffened. “I’m under contract.”
I kept my expression even while emotions flitted across her face and spilled into me. Fear, then excitement mixed with determination. I purposely stepped back as if moving awaywould further prove I wasn’t using my mind magic on this young woman who just realized her future could be more.
“You’re not your contract.” I placed my hand on my chest. “Will you help me?”
Everly gripped her twin’s hand and squeezed. “Yes. We will help you.”
I nodded. Giving the Grierson’s daughter freedom and a taste of a different future could backfire on me. However, allowing every person to make their own choices was the reason my family existed. I’d been preaching more than doing for too long.
I patted the map. “Be ready to move in twenty.”
“Twenty minutes to organize all the trainees?” Everly said, her eyes widening.
I grinned and pressed my hand to my TB. My commands wrote themselves, each one tailored to the person I sent it to. Every TB in the room buzzed at the same time.
Everly looked at hers, and her face filled with determination.
“I guess I’m about to make a little army in the coliseum," she said, responding to my message.
“Leadership is about delegation, trust, and listening to those around you,” I responded.
Everly nodded while Rowan narrowed his eyes at me, well aware I rarely listened to anyone but Ezra.
I gathered Rowan and Cayden to my side.
“In none of this planning have you addressed how the shield is coming down,” Rowan said in a low voice.
I couldn’t look at him or anyone. I didn’t know if Professor Holiday’s creation even did what I assumed. Guilt ate at me. I’d unleashed a monster in the heart of my castle. My trainees were gathering in the coliseum, not to fight but to stay out of its way. Instead of focusing on the unknown, I doubled down on the only truth I knew. “We will get into the Alun. Erick will not take everything I’ve built.”
We stepped out of The Happy Rooster, and Professor Holiday’s thick, slimy air coated my skin.
Chapter 5
Rowan
