Henderson took an offramp, swerving to avoid something.“Look at that,” he said.“Bad driving strikes again.”
“Almost merged right into that semi.Wonder if he’s drunk?”Brew shook his head.“Little bit o’ bad karma.”
“Karma?”Cath snorted, her mohawk nodding.“There’s no such thing.”
Rowan rubbed gingerly at her face.Her eyes and nose throbbed, healing.Being around the others helped—they were a cohesive unit, and she was now included.
She’d never been a part of anything before, except her own family.
Her father’s face, the little gurgle in his chest…
No.She wouldn’t let it happen.Not to Justin, not to Catherine, not toanyof them.She would fight with every ounce of her being to protect them.
And if he didn’t think she was ready…
He’s wrong.
Why would he act that way?How could he be jealous?
Not jealous.He hadn’t struck out at Ellis.He’d pushedher.
There is no “friend” in the practice room, he’d told her, his hand spread against her hip, warm and forgiving.They taught me that.
A dawning realization made her drop her hands into her lap.Catherine was staring at her.“You okay?”
“I just had an idea,” Rowan said softly.Cath blinked; reached over and caught Rowan’s chin, her fingernails scraping.
“Christ, you’ve healed up.That’s pretty powerful mojo you’ve got, baby.”
“Really?”Rowan examined her lacerated knuckles.They now looked smoother, as if the scrapes were weeks instead of hours old.“That’s a good thing, isn’t it?”
“I’ll say,” Cath breathed.“It’sincredible.”
“If that’s why my head was hurting, I’d rather it didn’t happen.”Rowan stared at the back of Henderson’s head as he drove.Her gaze suddenly clouded.
She felt something else, then, Delgado’s hand on her nape.His fingers closed, hard and warm, and his strength flooded her.“Your head’s hurting?”
“It was.But not now.”Rowan’s eyes narrowed.Something was wrong.
Her stomach rose, sharp and sour.She closed her eyes, searching for the source of the disturbance.
Immediately, Justin was there.I’ll anchor you.Go as deep as you need to.He didn’t care that she’d shouted at him, and he didn’t care that she hadn’t been kind.
He just offered his strength, a hot tide pouring into her spine, wrapping around the her core.
I don’t know what’s going on.“Something’s really wrong,” she said.“My head hurt, and then…”
Does it feel like Sigs?
“We’re not under attack,” Brew said.“If we were, I’d know.”
“I’d trust Rowan’s senses,” Yoshi said quietly.“Let her work.”
“What should we do?”Zeke piped up, shifting uncomfortably.
“Quiet.”Henderson sounded crisp.“Del?”
“Hang on.”He sounded funny, almost dreamy, disconnected.“Rowan, move a little bit.Here.”And hepushed, to show her.
