Page 129 of Ravenrose

“Put him in a cell.” I growl the order to Eli and Callum, knowing they’re sober. “I’ll deal with him later.”

A curt nod from Eli assures me they’ll take care of it.

I head upstairs. I’d gone too hard—too fast—on Riggs. He passed out before I’d gotten the chance to really question him about what he’d done. My questions still require answers, and like it or not, Rowan’s going to give them to me.

“Step aside, Hayes.” My tone comes out harsher than I intend. I force a slow breath, trying to cage the anger simmering just under my skin.

Hayes doesn’t budge. His gaze catches on my face, a crease forming between his brows. “Captain...”

“Move.”

His jaw tightens, and he remains where he is, studying my eyes. “Clear your head first.”

I scrub a hand across my eyes, blinking hard until the darkness recedes from the edges of my vision. “I’m fine.”

Hayes eyes me warily, hesitating for only a few more seconds, then dips his chin before vacating his post outside my door.

I give him a clear nod of dismissal, waiting to fully twist the knob until he disappears into his own room down the hall. I take a deep breath, steadying my nerves, and further tamp down my temper before stepping into the room.

My accommodations are modest, yet I don’t see Rowan immediately when I enter.

The bed sits untouched, the chair by the hearth—empty. My jaw clenches as I do a quick scan of the room, my eyes catching on the tiniest movement in the far corner.

Rowan pushes herself up from the floor where she’d been curled into herself, nearly hidden behind the chair.

One good look at her and all the rage and fire for answers drains out of me.

Her skin is ghost-white, the dim lighting accentuating the dark circles ringing her eyes. Bruises, fresh and purple, bloom along her jaw, while her eyes are rimmed red. There’s a hollowness in that pine green I’ve never seen before. She’s still wearing her ripped, damp clothes, and when she notices me staring, she hurriedly pulls up the torn shoulder of her shift, covering up the exposed skin.

The tremor running through her at the same time doesn’t go unnoticed.

Still, she forces herself to her feet, rolling her shoulders back and lifting her chin until she’s looking me square in the eye. Beneath a familiar spark of defiance, she buries the fear I just saw. Unexpectedly, the sight of it steadies something in me. But even her stubbornness can’t disguise the bone-deep exhaustion etched across her face.

I release a breath, holding her gaze while running a hand through my hair, wondering what the fuck to do with her now.

Chapter 54

ROWAN

Isettle into the corner of the room, but there’s no comfort in it. Restless energy hums beneath my skin, refusing to let me relax.

Though exhaustion drags at my limbs, I force myself to stay awake, curling into the corner of Ayer’s room where I can see everything—most importantly, the door.

And I wait.

I don’t even know if he’s coming. Every passing minute leaves me wondering whether he’ll walk through that door furious… or worse. I can still see him in the hallway, his eyes darkening as they locked onto mine, something dangerous flickering behind them that left my stomach in knots.

I wrap my arms around my knees, keeping myself there, my skin buzzing with nerves as my eyes keep flicking over to the door as if he might burst through it at any second.

My arm is bleeding, and my lip too. I can still taste the metallic bite of the blood on my tongue, but I can’t bring myself to care. The death grip I have on my emotions is down to a single, breakable thread.

Ayer fills the doorway, every line of his body rigid with barely restrained fury as he scans the room. Something about him feels... wrong. Darker. And it’s as if the room itself has dimmed with his presence, and I can sense the rage simmering under his skin.

Releasing a heavy breath, I push myself up, prepared to face whatever consequences he decides to hand down—whatever it is he wanted me in his room for.

His eyes find me as soon as I move, his gaze heavy as I rise to my full height. They trail the length of me, lingering on every cut and every bruise, like he’s taking inventory. I hope he can't see how my entire body trembles beneath the weight of his gaze.

“Sit down,” he growls roughly, pointing at his bed.