“Then that’s what we’ll do.”
Raina took a seat as well, her eyes scanning everything on the table. “I actually came in here to ask about Advocate Latimer. Rowan was muttering something about needing an alibi and Drachifel, so I have to ask, just how bad is this man?”
“Bad. Do not trust him. At all.”
Her blue eyes narrowed in rising anger. “And why is he still chasing after you?”
“I legit do not know. My friend Ray theorizes I was the best relationship Andrew ever had, and he’s regretting ever being a little shit to me, so he’s trying to win me back. Don’t know how much truth there is to that theory. I just want him to go away. I really don’t care what his motives are.”
She accepted this with a slow nod, but you could see she wasn’t happy. “I did speak with Advocate Nottle. He was verifying everything you said in your report. Really, I think he already believed what you told him, but he had to fact check. I backed what you said and explained some more, and he’s satisfied that he has enough evidence to fine the previous five mages who came up here, with intent to look into the others as well. So there’s that.”
“Delightful. I hoped that would be the case. Then maybe those two will leave now?”
“Advocate Nottle said he wanted to remain here another two days. He wants to see you complete the primary ward so he can report it in.”
“Ah. Well, if he’s willing to help me with the ward, I can get it done much faster.”
“I think he’s also needing a break from riding.”
“I mean, he rode for several days, so it makes complete sense. I couldn’t stomach looking at a horse after I got here, either.” Milo shrugged. So long as Andrew didn’t make a nuisance of himself, Milo really didn’t care.
“I’ll squash the fool if he tries to come near you again.” Raina made another face. “I really do not like cheaters.”
“Neither do I.”
Roana piped up. “How did you and jerk face meet anyway?”
“Well, almost two years ago now, we were on the same job. It was kind of like this one, in a way, where something had gone very wrong with a ward and I’d been sent in to fix it. Once I realized the previous mage had made the screwup, I reported to the Council, and Andrew was the man sent in to evaluate the situation and make a formal judgment. It’s his job as the Council’s Advocate. We worked well together, so when he came across another situation, he called on me. I didn’t mind coming in to help straighten things out. Work is work, after all. It has to be done. And I like a challenge, as I admitted before. Andrew’s habit of calling for me kept ramping up over a few months, and then he confessed his feelings, and we started dating, and for a while it was good. I took more and more jobs with him, wanting to spend time with him, and I honestly thought of us as this amazing duo. We got a lot of attention and praise for how we handled problems.”
Remembering what went down at the end of last year, Milo growled his vexation. “Until I realized he’d been cheating on me the entire relationship.”
Raina’s eyes crossed and her tone went up into bird-of-prey screeching. “The entire time?!”
“Yeah. I don’t understand it.” Milo scratched his cheek. Andrew’s betrayal didn’t hurt anymore, just this twinge of his heart at the reminder. Like a wound that had healed but left the scar. “Why ask me out if you’re not interested in staying with me? But then, I don’t have the cheater’s mentality. I think he did enjoy my company, and like I said, magically we worked great together.”
Raina shook her head, brows beetled in a deep furrow. “I like him even less now.”
Milo had the distinct impression Raina was already crafting a good alibi for her youngest brother over there. The way this family rallied around him was incredibly heartwarming. He loved them for it. “I’m really hoping Andrew has seen how attached I am to Rowan and he’ll leave us alone.”
“I hope so too.”
Milo also wasn’t holding his breath.
Notes:
AJ: Raina, do not join Riley in helping Rowan.
Raina: Too late.
AJ: For fuck’s sake.
12
Rowan
Much later, nearing midnight, Rowan and Milo were cuddled up in bed. They had opened the window, allowing the cool sea breeze to sweep through the room. Rowan ran hot, so anything to cool him down enough to sleep was welcome. After a long day, he was tired, but he wanted to talk to Milo about something before they dropped off to sleep. Really, the rising hope in his chest was so strong, he couldn’t ignore it. The flutter ofanticipation in his gut insisted on an answer, and he couldn’t possibly sleep until he at least broached the subject.
“Milo? You’ll teach the girls?”
