Page 74

Then a low rumble cuts through the corridor, followed by light flooding the floor.

Both of us freeze when a hover car drops into view at the end of the hall, stabilizers hissing as it settles and shattering the moment completely.

"Who's that?" I shove at his chest, forcing space between us as I twist free.

Ciaran holds me there a second longer, his grip tightening before finally letting go. "No one you need to worry about."

I'm not buying it. "Ciaran—who is that?"

"Ciaran?" A voice cuts in, and I turn despite myself. Lucan strides toward us from the hover car, sleeves rolled over ink, his gaze flicking between us. "What the fuck are you doing, dude?"

Ciaran finally lets go, though not completely at first, his hand lingering longer than it should before dropping away.

I shove off the wall and put space between us, my pulse kicking harder now, the heat under my skin turning sharp.

Lucan steps closer, taking in the distance I forced between us, the tension still hanging there, then my face, his expression tightening. "This looks like a great conversation. Mind explaining why you're having it here?"

Before either of us can answer, another voice breaks in. "Rowan?"

It's Damaris, already moving toward us, coming down the corridor fast with concern written all over his face as his gaze shifts between the three of us. "What's going on? What the hell are you doing to him?"

Lucan drags his gaze over Damaris, a faint, amused smile touching his mouth. "Well. Nice seeing you again."

"Lucan," Ciaran says. "Not now."

Damaris glances at him, visibly thrown before his attention snaps straight back to me. His gaze catches on my swollen mouth, then moves over my face, my posture, the way I'm still trying to steady my breathing. "Are you all right? What were you doing out here? I woke up and you were gone."

I try to answer, but nothing comes out right away. My pulse is still too fast, my thoughts tripping over each other.

Damaris doesn't wait. "Come on." He reaches for my arm and turns me away from Ciaran. "Let's get you upstairs."

"I'll find out, Rowan."

I half turn, only to find Ciaran already watching me, his jaw tight, his gaze locked on mine, something unfinished sitting there between us. Then he turns away, and Lucan follows, glancing back once before disappearing down the corridor.

"Come on." Damaris is already steering me away. "We're leaving."

I don't resist. I can't. My body goes with him before my head catches up, my focus slipping as he pulls me down the corridor.

"Ro, what the hell was that?" he demands. "Why do I wake up in the middle of the night and find your bed empty?"

I open my mouth.

He doesn't wait, quickening his pace as we head for the dorms. "And then I spend half an hour looking for you only to find you out here with Ciaran of all people." He shoots me a look. "What were you thinking?"

With Ciaran.

The way he says it makes my stomach tighten.

I think of the photograph. The blurred street sign. The hours spent chasing a clue that led me straight into that alley. I think of the men watching me. I think of Ciaran dragging me onto that bike before I found out what they wanted.

"I thought I had a lead," I admit.

Damaris glances at me. "On Sola?"

I shake my head, throat feeling tight. "I don't know. I was wrong. I'm sorry, Dama. I didn't mean to worry you."

His expression softens. "Well, you did, boo. You scared the shit out of me."