He winced. “Uh, now that you mention it, he did give me some, like, last year, and I never… um, did anything with it.” He sounded so tired. It made me want to pull him into my arms, but I wasn’t about to open the door until he talked to me. It was the only leverage I had.
“Don’t you keep your pockets filled with all the spells Tan gives us and a bunch of weapons every single day, everywhere you go?” I narrowed my eyes at him. He fucking better be keeping himself protected.
“Well, I do… I just… I didn’t even realize what the glitter was. I thought he was giving me some kind of crafting… thing.”
I snorted out a laugh, shaking my head. “You’re so stupid.”
“Yeah, I am.”
That made me frown because he’d sounded serious, and I’d only been joking. “Hey.” I waited for him to look at me before I continued. “I was joking. I don’t think you’re stupid, Rome. I know you’re not.”
He sent me a small half-smile. “Thanks, Oak.”
I nodded. “Now tell me what happened.”
He dramatically flopped back onto the bench cushion. “I don’t know if I should tell you.”
“What? Why not?”
“Because I don’t… I don’t know if you’re ready to hear it. I didn’t think Garrick was either, but if I want to move forward, I had to tell him. Plus, he kept asking me what was wrong, and I just… I had to tell someone.”
“Okay, and now you have to tell me.”
I pulled out my all-access passkey—the same gemstone I used to get down here. It was spelled to my signature, so even if I lost it or someone stole it, they wouldn’t be able to use it. Tan wasgetting really creative with some of his spell work, although I was pretty sure some of that was because he kept reaching out to Delaro Ellwood, one of the most ingenious witches in the world.
I remembered Anton was down here, so I faced him and said, “Thank you, Anton. You don’t have to stick around. Roman’s back on duty.”
He lifted a brow. “How do you expect him to guard you when he’s—”
I lifted my arm, showing off the charm. “I’m letting him out.” After a second, I added, “Don’t tell Dad.”
I was surprised by the big grin on Anton’s face. “Your secret’s safe with me. I don’t mind pulling one over on Garrick every now and then. Please let me or Ker know when you’re home and safe.”
“I will. And thanks again.”
“Anytime, Oakley.” He sent me another smile and a nod, then hit the elevator button. It was already down here, so he stepped on, and I offered him a wave that he returned.
The second the elevator closed, I turned back to Roman.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Oakley
Iheld the bracelet up to the reader on the wall, and it opened. But instead of asking Roman to come out, I walked in and sat down on the bed beside him.
“Talk to me, Rome.”
With a sigh, he looked up at me, not sitting up yet. “I could just walk out of the cell since you opened the door.”
“You could, but then you’d have to deal with me jumping on your back and repeatingtell me, tell me, tell me, tell meinto your ear over and over and over again until you cave.”
He snorted at that, then rubbed his eyes again before sitting up. Roman surprised me by facing me and taking my hands in his, making my skin feel like small sparks were shooting between us. My stomach fluttered with nerves—and perhaps a little pleasure from the simple touch—as I waited with bated breath for him to tell me the secret he’d obviously been carrying around for weeks.
I’d known something was up, but he clearly hadn’t wanted to talk about it. I’d thought giving him space would help, but perhaps I should’ve pushed sooner.
“Are you sure you want to hear this?”
I nodded. “You can tell me anything, Rome.”
