Chapter 16

Two days later,I leaned on the bar at the Whisky and Warlock, our favorite pub in the Grassmarket. It was a rabbit warren of a place, full of different rooms and corridors and several bars.

The Protectorate always gathered in a little room at the front, where the beamed ceiling was low and the fireplace roaring. The gleaming wooden bar was usually manned by Sophie, and tonight was no exception.

She wore a T-shirt that said Haggis or bust and grinned at me as she asked, "What'll it be?"

"The usual for Ana, with a Pink Pumpkin for Bree." We came here a few nights a week usually, and she was used to our order. Ana always got pink champagne—the cheaper the better, as far as she was concerned—and Bree got whatever the cocktail of the day was. Better if it was pink with a funny name. For such badasses, my sisters sure drank girly drinks. But then, the toughest folks I knew were usually girls, so that was hardly an insult. "What's new on tap?"

Sophie leaned back and inspected the beer taps.

For myself, I was into trying different beers—the weirder the better. I'd had a Pink Peppercorn Saison once that was very good, and a banana nut stout. Maybe it was because I'd missed out on so much when I was in captivity, but it was fun.

"How about a honey Kolsch?" Her eyes met mine. "It's from Germany."

"Fantastic."

As Sophie filled our order, I leaned back on the bar and surveyed the scene. As usual, Lavender, Angus, and my other classmates were there. They made a point not to look at me. I suppressed a grin. Jealous nitwits.

We'd succeeded—mostly—with the monsters, so Jude had given me a pat on the back. More successes like that and I might actually graduate from the Academy. I couldn't believe it.

After the fight, we'd searched the old, desecrated church at the top of the mountain. There had been a nest, along with supplies for the demons and a collection of ancient golden jewelry. Greek writing decorated the walls—yet to be translated—and an unfamiliar symbol had been etched into the floor.

We were still trying to get to the bottom of it, but so far, we didn't know what exactly those witches were or what they wanted. Maybe they were gone forever, though I doubted it.

The big thing was that we'd stopped them from being able to murder, so I was counting it as a victory.

I hadn't seen Maximus since the fight, and I was itching to, but I didn't know how to seek him out. Nor did I want to make the first move, because what would I say?

"Drinks are up." Sophie's voice came from behind me.

I turned and paid. "Thanks."

She grinned and took the money. I grabbed the drinks, carefully balancing them on the way back to our little table by the fire. Ana and Bree made grabby hands at me, and I handed them their drinks.

I sat and caught Caro's eye. She was at another table with Ali, Haris, Jude, and Hedy, and she waved. A bit of warmth spread through me. I was really starting to fit in here.

"Why are you grinning?" Bree asked.

I shrugged. "Until now, without any magic, I felt like such an outsider. Now, I feel a bit better."

Bree smiled, though she looked a bit sad, too. "I'm glad you feel better now that you're getting some of your magic, but you always fit here, Rowan. Caro and the rest aren't acting any different."

"Yeah, and Lavender's just as much of a jerk as usual, so that's the same also." Ana grinned.

I smiled at them.

"But really," Bree said. "You proved yourself with your fighting skills and your potions long ago. And you're cool. You've always fit."

"Well, I feel like I fit a bit better, now." Her words meant a lot to me, but I couldn't help it. I felt more complete.

Bree raised her gleaming pink drink. "To Rowan's Dragon God powers."

Ana raised hers. "To Rowan suppressing the dark magic."

I grinned and clinked my glass with theirs. It was still inside me—maybe it would always be—but as long as I had control of it, I would be okay.

"So you have no idea what god gave you power over water?" Ana asked.

"I don't."

"It was my first power, too," Bree said.

"There are so many gods with power over water," Ana said. "It could be anyone."

"I'll just have to hope I get more magic, and it becomes apparent which Pantheon I represent."

"It'll be a good one," Bree said. "They all are."

"Did you ever figure out who was sending you those secret letters?" Ana asked. "The ones that told you about the murders."

I nodded, remembering the moment from earlier this morning when I'd learned the secret. Jude had found me in my apartment, working on my potions. "It was Jude. Apparently, she thought I was wasting my talent and had wanted to give me something to focus on. She knew I wanted to feel useful."

"Jude does seem to know everything," Ana said.

I just nodded. Honestly, it made me feel special that she'd chosen me. That she'd noticed me.

I liked it. All in all, it'd been a very good day.

I was still thinking about Jude when my gaze was caught by a large figure standing at the door.

Maximus.

I jumped to my feet embarrassingly quickly. "Be right back."

I strode toward him, and he stepped back into an alcove in the hall. It was dark and quiet and hidden from the rest of the bar.

I followed him in. "Hey."

"Hi."

"Where have you been? After the battle, you just disappeared."

"Had to sort things out with the Order. Report on my progress and things like that."

I swallowed hard at the mention of the Order, and he seemed to notice.

His voice softened. "I didn't tell them about you."

"Good. I've got it under control, anyway."

"But it's not gone."

"No. It's not. I don't know if it will ever be. It came from my time in captivity. But it's deep inside me now, no longer causing problems. And with the witches unable to feed, I can control it."

"It's only been two days."

"I can tell. It feels different." I eyed him, feeling a mixture of attraction and mistrust. He hadn't turned me in, and I mostly thought he wouldn't. But still, it was hard not to worry. "Why have you been so nice to me?"

"I like you." He shrugged. "Pretty simple, really."

"But…why?"

"You're tough and smart and inherently good. I can see that."

"You didn't think that initially."

"At first, I didn't trust you. But then it became clear that you aren't even close to evil. Not even close. You're one of the most impressive people I've met."

I blushed, unsure of what to say. So I focused on the most important bits. He'd already said it, but I wanted extra confirmation. "So, you won't tell the Order about me?"

"I don't agree with everything they do. They're too zealous when it comes to imprisoning those who are different. So, no, I won't tell them. But you have to be careful, Rowan. No one should know what's inside of you."

"I know."

His gaze turned intense. "I mean it. They'll strike first and ask questions later. The darkness isn't you, but a lot of people won't make a distinction. I've spent enough time with the Order to realize that."

"Why do you work for them, then? You don't need the money."

"I don't. I wanted a job where I could do good for the world. And I do that when I work for the Order."

"You should work for the Protectorate." I almost slapped a hand over my mouth. Asking him to work for the Protectorate meant asking him to basically live in the same place I did, since nearly all Protectorate members lived at the castle. "I mean, they don't imprison innocent people who happen to be a little weird."

"They don't." He looked thoughtful. "But that's a consideration for another time. I agreed to do a few jobs for the Order, and I'll stick by my word on that."

I nodded, understanding. He was honorable. He wouldn't just switch it up and leave the Order hanging, even though I thought they were a bunch of bureaucratic jerks, and it wouldn't be the worst thing.

"But how are you doing?" he asked, his gaze intent on me.

"Fine. You?" It was getting a little awkward now. The attraction was there, but not acknowledged.

I felt it, at least.

Someone passed by behind me, bumping into my back. I stumbled forward, my front pressing against Maximus. He reached up to steady me, his hands gripping me around my waist.

My breath caught in my throat, and I glanced up.

Heat had drifted into his eyes, and he licked his lips.

It was as if a curtain had fallen over us. Heat fogged my mind. All I could feel was his strong hands on my waist and his chest against mine.

Unable to help myself, I leaned up on my toes. He sucked in a ragged breath, clearly debating. Then his head swooped down and his lips pressed to mine.

Desire exploded within me. I threw myself into the kiss. His lips moved skillfully on mine, and my mind buzzed. Every inch of my skin tingled.

Abruptly, he pulled back. "This isn't the place."

I blinked.

But no, he was right. My colleagues were everywhere. My sisters. Anyone could walk by.

And had I really just kissed him?

We barely knew each other. I wasn't even sure how much I liked him, or if I could trust him, no matter what he said.

I stepped away, breaking contact. I had no idea where to look, so I glued my stare over his right shoulder. "Um, I'll see you around, okay?"

"Yeah. Sounds good."

I stepped back, and he reached for my arm, then drew his hand back before making contact. "I won't tell anyone about your dark magic. I mean that, so you don't have to worry. But you need to keep it a secret. For your own safety."

I nodded. "I will."

With that, I turned and left. I could feel his gaze on me as I walked away, and wondered why I didn't stay. It wasn't every day you felt heat like that.

Except, I didn't want to feel heat like that. Not now. Not when my life was such a mess. I needed to get my act together. And trusting… It was still hard. I liked being with him, but trusting him felt like a coat that didn't quite fit. I wasn't ready for that yet.

And he was right. I had much bigger things I needed to focus on. Like making sure I could really control my dark magic so that it stayed a secret. It was buried within me now, but it wasn't gone. I could let the others know about my other magic—the good stuff—but never the darkness. And my new magic needed practice. A lot of it.

It was a challenge I was up to.

I'd have to be.