Page 25 of Power of Draken

"You are right. There is no need for a scene." I turn to leave.

Collin grabs my arm, just above the elbow. "We aren't done talking about this."

"Oh, yes, yes we are. We are done talking, fucking, everything."

Instead of loosening, Collin's grip tightens like a vice, his fingers digging into my skin hard enough to bruise. "You do not walk away from me, Ro. Not after I've spent two years catering to your whims, and holding you up when anyone in my place would have thrown up his hands. How many times have I healed you? Covered for you? I’m the only reason you are still in the Spire, and you know it. You've been happy to take everything I have to give all this time, so don't try to make yourself out into a victim now.”

"You are hurting me. Let go."

He yanks me toward him and I smell his sweat. "You wouldn't last a moment in this place alone."

"I’ll take that chance. Now let me the fuck go." I shout loud enough that heads all over the courtyard turn toward us. The color of Collin's face rises to a molten shade of red that makes patches over his chin and cheeks.

“Stop it. You're humiliating yourself, and dragging me down with you.”

I shove Collin’s chest.

His eyes flash and fear shoots through me in belated warning. But it’s too late. Collin’s free hand shoots up, the knuckles swinging toward my face too quickly for me to dodge. I brace for the sound. The pain.

But the only sound is that of one bone slamming against another, as a corded forearm blocks Collin’s attack. A sudden silence settles over the parade grounds and Collin’s eyes widen. Then I inhale a familiar woodsy scent wrapping around me. Logan?

"I think there has been a misunderstanding." Logan says with a calm that can ice over death. "Rowan Lexington belongs to the triad."

I turn my head to realize that in addition to Logan, Kyrian and Kai have come up as well. Collin turns to the latter.

“She assaulted me, sir.” Collin’s voice hardens along with his spine. “Shoved me in the middle of the courtyard. I want to bring her up on charges for striking a superior officer.”

“Not sure what orifice he pulled that story from, but it was dark, deep and full of stench,” Kyrian says.

“Is the snapping and screaming coming soon?” Kai asks Logan, casually motioning to where Logan now grips Collin’s wrist. “I’d like to get on with the morning.”

“I figured that treat belongs to Rowan. Give me a few months with her, and you can listen to this idiot screaming over snapped bones all you’d like.” He releases Collin’s arm as if dropping a piece of garbage and steps back toward his friends.

Kai’s attention shifts to me. Though he stands several paces away, he manages to take up all the space in the world with a single lift of his brow. “What do you say to that, alchemist?” he asks just as a gust of wind blows through the parade grounds, flattening the grass beneath our feet. It’s just grass, but it looks like a line. A decision.

I step back, crossing it. Moving away from the man who, until yesterday, I thought I’d marry and toward the warriors I know nothing about. Kyrian and Logan step forward, taking up position on either side of me. And suddenly I am not alone.

I am a rabbit taking shelter amongst wolves.

Chapter 13

Rowan

Walking in the middle of the triad is surreal at best and terrifying at worst. Thoughts rattle through my head like spinning dice and I blurt the first one that lands face up. "I thought Logan wanted nothing to do with me."

"That was yesterday,” Logan says without breaking stride. “I've changed my mind."

"How often can I expect that to happen?"

"In the four years I’ve known him, this is the second time,” Kyrian replies, walking straight through the group of cadets gathering in front of us. They part smoothly, giving the triad the right of way even in the organized chaos of the training yard. Kyrian rolls his shoulders. "So I think we are safe for another couple of turns around the sun.”

“What did he change his mind about the last time?” I ask, as if Logan isn’t walking two paces away from me and hearing the entire conversation.

“About whether to kill me or not,” Kai calls over his shoulder as he breaks away to do whatever it is he does to preside over the whole debacle of cadets. “To be fair, most people who meet me debate that.”

Kyrian snorts. “Aye, they don’t debate verra long though. Unfortunately for them, none can make good on the wish. That wee bastard is hard to kill.”

“Come along little rabbit, Collin’s arm isn’t going to break itself,” Logan says, veering toward the sparring ring as he makes a come hither motion with his hands. His black shaggy hair flounces with each step, as unruly and unpredictable as he seems to be.

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