by Casey Wolfe
Caleb frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“There’s something I have to tell you.” Rowan sighed, stepping up next to the counter and looking up at him. “I wasn’t exactly honest with you over the phone.”
Caleb’s brows furrowed. “What are you talking about?”
“I didn’t just happen to save a group of mages at random. I was there with them on purpose.”
“Doing what?”
Rowan heaved a sigh. “There was a dark mage. The Guild had to get rid of him before he killed anyone else, before the Inquisition got wind of it.”
Caleb opened his mouth, nothing more coming out than confused noises.
“So, me, Jorah, Tate, Quail, and Sacha went out to the southern side of the Timber where he was hiding out, and we killed him.”
“Why didn’t you just tell me?” Caleb demanded.
“’Cause when I called you, I was afraid someone could have been listening in.” At least that was true enough. “And there wasn’t time to get into it between your apartment and the Guild, so I planned to tell you afterward. Now.”
“But this didn’t just happen. You knew before you ever went out there. You could have gotten yourself killed!” And there was the reaction Rowan had expected. “Why in the hell didn’t you tell me before!” Caleb didn’t wait for an answer, slipping off the counter and throwing his arms out. “I mean there’s a—what?—a dark mage running around killing people and you didn’t think to say anything?”
“Guild orders. Most of the mages didn’t even know. It needed to be kept a secret.”
“Mage secrets. Great.” Caleb huffed. “Don’t tell your best friend when you plan to go off and get yourself killed.” Looking over at Shaw, who was standing off to the side quietly, Caleb gestured to him. “What about you? Why don’t you seem surprised by this?” He whirled on Rowan and accused, “You could tell him but not me?”
Rowan felt Shaw’s familiar energy filling the shop, sending out calming waves in hopes of helping aid the situation. “He didn’t tell me either,” Shaw outright lied. It drew Caleb’s attention, which also meant that Shaw’s empathic abilities worked better. “I had to find out by showing up at the cottage when he didn’t answer my phone calls, only to find it empty and then have him come home covered in blood.”
Caleb whirled on him, and Rowan huffed out, “Thanks a lot. And it wasn’t even my blood.” Shaw raised a brow. “Okay, most of it wasn’t. That’s not the point.”
Caleb crossed his arms over his chest, landing Rowan with a hard stare. “You better start talking.” At least Shaw’s powers had stopped the yelling.
Rowan spilled everything: the Guild’s discovery of a dark mage terrorizing Osterian, the attempt to find him before the Inquisition found out, and the spell they cast that showed them the way. “It was Badger.”
Caleb gave him a blank look. “What do you mean it was Badger? Badger’s a cat.”
“Shapechanger.”
“Shape—?”
“Ancient form of magic that’s hard to master. He could change his form into multiple beasts, which explained why those kills looked animal.”
Caleb gaped at him like a fish. “How is that—? He was here that whole time!”
“Believe me, I’m not thrilled knowing he was spying on me either.”
“But, why?”
Rowan shrugged and looked away.
“Ro,” Caleb warned.
“I think he was looking for a partner maybe,” Rowan admitted. “The things he said… I dunno. Maybe he was just looking to try to gain more power, steal mine somehow. It wasn’t like he was very sane when we found him.”
Shaw was the one looking unhappy now. “You neglected to mention the partner bit.”
“Sorry?”
Shaw snorted.
“I was a little scatterbrained if you didn’t notice! Hell, I’m still trying to wrap my head around all this.”
Sighing, Shaw held up his hand. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” A bit of calm washed over Rowan like an apology and his lips twitched in response, a silent acceptance.
“So you…” Caleb held his temples. “You killed Badger? Who was really a dark mage in disguise? Who tried to kill you, before you slayed him with blood magic?”
“That about covers it, yeah.”
“I need a drink.”
“I hear that.”
Caleb raised a brow. “Rowan asking for a drink? Shit, you really are fucked up.”
“Bite me.”
Caleb snapped his teeth in Rowan’s direction, drawing laughter from all of them. When it died down, Caleb pulled Rowan into his arms. “Just glad you’re okay. I dunno what I’d do without you.” Caleb nuzzled their cheeks together.
Rowan squeezed him harder in turn. “I know. I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you.” He pulled back enough to look at Caleb. “Can you forgive me?”
Caleb tilted his head with an easy grin. “Could never stay mad at you.”
Rowan smiled in turn, throwing his arms around Caleb’s neck. “Love you,” he murmured.
Caleb pressed a noisy kiss to his cheek, making Rowan chuckle. “Love you, too.”
“What am I?” Shaw inquired. “Chopped liver?”
For his trouble, Shaw got his arms full of both of them. “I guess we can keep you around,” Caleb mused. “You’ve made Ro happier than I’ve seen him in a long time.”
Shaw’s smile was bashful as he looked from Caleb to Rowan. “He makes me happy too.”
Rowan felt his heart flutter and his face heat at those words, but he couldn’t deny how insanely happy he was in this moment. He was a newly minted high master, with the best friend anyone could ask for, and an amazing boyfriend. In truth, Rowan wasn’t sure how it could get much better than this.
THEY HAD DUMPED Caleb onto the couch. After spending the evening bouncing from one bar to the next, they decided to take things back to Rowan’s cottage. Not that Caleb had lasted the trip, falling fast asleep in the back seat of the Jeep while Rowan—the sole sober one remaining—drove.
“He’s fine,” Shaw said, nudging Rowan away. “Wanna sit on the porch? It’s a nice night.”
“Sure.” Rowan flipped on the porch light, the faint glow not extending far. Rather than sit on the porch swing, he leaned against the railing, looking up at the sky.
Shaw joined him. “See? Beautiful.” Stars filled the sky, a waxing moon shining brightly.
Rowan lay his head on Shaw’s shoulder. They stood there like that for some time before Rowan smiled and stepped off the porch.
“What are you up to?” Shaw asked in amusement, leaning his forearms on the railing. Rowan gave him a wink. Shaw shook his head, watching as Rowan walked into the middle of the yard.
Light danced across Rowan’s fingertips. He was chanting a spell under his breath, the light sparkling as it looped around him. Rowan stretched his arms up, throwing the lights above him to hang like a brilliant array of fairy bulbs.
Whirling around, Rowan looked a little surprised, but most certainly pleased. “That’s the first time I’ve tried that.”
Shaw beamed, walking down the stairs to meet him. “I told you that you were wonderful.” He gathered Rowan into his arms, kissing him softly. Shaw started to hum, spinning them in a small circle.
It made Rowan laugh. “Hold on, I think I’ve got this part down.” Closing his eyes, Rowan said a few more words, the lights starting to shimmer as a soft folk melody seemed to emanate from them. Rowan was smiling down at him when he opened his eyes again. “How about this?”
“Perfect.”
Shaw couldn’t stop smiling, allowing Rowan to lead him as they twirled around the yard. There wasn’t much grace to their dance, but neither of them cared as they held each other close and laughed at their occasional fumbling.
Shaw snagged Rowan around the waist, picking him up and spinning him. After setting him down, he looked up at Rowan and pulled him close. He took hold of Rowan’s chin, utterly entranced. “I love you,” Shaw
said.
Rowan was taken off guard, but his surprise quickly vanished, replaced by a completely fond expression. “I’ve known that for a while.” His lips twitched. “You wear your emotions on your sleeve.” Rowan leaned down and kissed him, long and slow, before speaking against his lips, “I love you too.”
Shaw rose up on his toes, tugging Rowan as close as humanly possible. When he came to Osterian, not once did he think he would find someone who would so completely steal his heart. Yet that was exactly what had happened.
He laughed a little as he pulled away, face turned into Rowan’s neck. “What spell did you put on me?”
“I can ask you the same thing,” Rowan answered softly, giving him a squeeze.
Shaw simply replied by kissing him once again.
Chapter Fifteen
SHAW WASN’T ENTIRELY sure he was in the right place, no matter what his GPS was telling him. This neighborhood didn’t seem like Caleb’s type, despite him being an artist. Nevertheless, when he turned into the parking lot of the row of one-story apartments, he saw Rowan’s bike parked next to Caleb’s Jeep—both splattered in mud. Not that Shaw’s truck was any better with the number of trips he’d taken to the Sacred Timber himself now.
Shaking his head in amusement, he pulled into a vacant space. He was barely out of the vehicle when Caleb came barreling out of an apartment door. “Hurry up!” he called. He grinned at Shaw, bouncing down the steps. “Hey, dude, right on time. Hop in the back.”
Rowan was the one left to lock up. “Relax, would you? I can take as long as I need for lunch, and I’m sure Shaw can too.”
“Pretty much.” Shaw could do as he pleased, for the most part. He didn’t even need an excuse usually. It paid to be on Meredeen’s good side with an impressive case closure record—never mind the fact he was secretly getting many of them overturned.
Rowan took it easy coming down the stairs, albeit, for the most part, he was walking normally again. It had been almost a week and the stitches were starting to dissolve. Even so, Shaw was well aware his leg was still sore after a long day of activity if Rowan didn’t keep off it like he was instructed.
“You look nice,” Shaw complemented, giving him a quick kiss.
Rowan attempted to hide his blush by being cheeky. “So do you. Appreciate you losing the inquisitor uniform.”
Shaw laughed, allowing himself to be shoved into the back of the Jeep so Rowan could get into the passenger seat.
“What,” Caleb complained, “don’t I look good?”
Shaw leaned between the seats, looking Caleb dead in the eye. “I hate your hair.”
Caleb’s pout was epic. “Rowan,” he whined, looking for help.
“I like it.” Rowan combed his finger through the new emerald locks.
“At least somebody loves me,” he muttered, starting the Jeep.
Shaw stifled his chuckle, Rowan sending him a sympathetic glance. Honestly, it wasn’t Shaw’s fault that he thought it looked ridiculous.
He arrived at the cottage to hang out that night, stopping midsentence as he was greeting Rowan in the kitchen. “Why does it smell like wet dog in here?” Just then, Caleb walked out of the bathroom, a towel slung around his waist and another being used to scrub his hair. “Oh.”
It turned out Caleb was making one of his infamous color changes in preparation for the celebration at the Mages Guild. Shaw was still surprised he had managed an invite, but the way Rowan told it, he had discreetly made the suggestion to Frey since Shaw had appeared to extend an olive branch to them. Shaw would prefer to spend the entire party with Rowan and Caleb, instead of pretending to rub elbows with each of the Masters Board members, but at least that included Rowan.
“Tate’s been teasing me,” Rowan whispered once they were alone. “Apparently, I’ve been making eyes at you all night.”
“Did you tell him it’s because I’m irresistible?” Shaw ribbed.
“I told him you weren’t bad to look at.” Rowan shot him a playful glance, getting back to his other party guests before people got too suspicious of them.
“Y’know,” Shaw mentioned, thinking of the celebration for Rowan’s advancement the day before, “there’s got to be a limit on parties in one week.”
“It’s not a party,” Rowan said. “Some clients couldn’t come yesterday, so they want us to stop by, that’s all.”
“Want you to stop by, you mean.”
“Well, I’m not going to have lunch alone.”
“Besides,” Caleb said brightly, turning on the CD player, “we’re the best.”
Shaw swore it was Caleb’s revenge for the earlier comment about his hair when the volume was cranked on an old rock song. It had a punk vibe to it, and it sounded oddly familiar. It wasn’t a true betrayal until Rowan started to sing—well, more like yell—along to it as well.
“Oh, come on!” Shaw shouted above the noise.
Caleb winked at him in the rearview mirror, tossing that damned green hair. Rowan turned, grinning. Shaw gave him a pitiful look, and Rowan must have been swayed enough because he at least turned down the volume to a level that wasn’t about to make his ears bleed. Though they were still ringing when they arrived at the cafe.
Nyx’s Coffee was a standout among the other shops on the block with its bright, sky-blue canopy over the entrance. There was an enchantment on it so that a small, cartoonish nixie flitted across the canvas, creating ripples. Shaw could take a guess at who had done the work.
Rowan linked his arm with Shaw’s, Caleb holding the door for them. It was a charming little place that transported Shaw outside rather than in. The ceiling appeared to be branches of tree canopy, the lighting mimicking sunlight, while the floor looked like fallen leaves and other forest debris—he half expected to hear the crunch under his boots. When he caught a good look at the staff, he realized the reason for the decor—they were nymphs.
“Rowan! Caleb!” one greeted from behind the counter, waving happily. What looked like leaves in her hair and vines along her dark skin, where veins would be, pegged her as a dryad.
“Hey, Lilium,” Rowan replied.
The other woman had light skin, and silver hair that moved like water—in fact, her whole body did—and there was no doubt to Shaw that she must have been a naiad. “Nyx, Rowan’s here!” she called.
Someone came barreling from the back. She wasn’t a nymph, rather an elf from Lefalas. Snow elves, people called them, because of their rather obvious features, including white hair and light-colored eyes. Shaw couldn’t recall seeing one since he was a boy—they didn’t often venture from their far northern city.
“Congrats!” Nyx wrapped herself around Rowan, rocking him back and forth. “I’m so proud of you!”
“Thanks. Sorry, you guys couldn’t come.”
“I could have watched the store for a couple hours.” The voice was male, dry. Shaw followed it to the source, an elf sitting off by himself in the corner. His hair was also white, but nothing else about him made him look like a Lefalas elf.
Nyx rolled her eyes, waving him off with the ease one did an old argument. “You must be Shaw. I’m Nyx. That’s Lilium, Pyrus”—she pointed out the naiad, now wiping down tables—“and ignore Taron.”
“Whatever,” Taron muttered, going back to reading his book.
Caleb stepped closer to Shaw and dropped his voice. “No, seriously, ignore him.”
“You slept with him, didn’t you?” Shaw guessed.
Caleb dug his elbow into Shaw’s ribs.
“You guys have a seat,” Nyx said, “and I’ll bring you out some drinks.”
As they were settling at one of the round tables, Shaw looked around to the empty cafe. “I know we did late lunch, but everyone sure cleared out fast.”
“Yup,” Caleb replied, “it’s always slow about now. That’s why we waited. So much nicer when it’s quiet.” He paused before raising his voice to add, “Except for Mister Grumpy Pants.”
“Eat me,” Taron said, almost absentm
indedly.
Turning in his chair and leaning it back on two legs, Caleb cooed, “Only if you ask nicely.”
Taron glanced up from his book and gave Caleb an unimpressed look. He eventually asked, “Free tonight?”
“Tomorrow?”
Taron sucked his teeth. “Text me.”
“Will do.” Just like that, the conversation was over. Caleb turned around, chair legs clunking back to the floor, arms flopping onto the table, with a smirk on his face.
Shaw looked over at Rowan, who was shaking his head, and back again. “Okay then.” He had been under the impression that things between Caleb and Taron hadn’t gone well, but apparently that wasn’t the case at all.
“We’re not about to hang out, but we’re good for a hookup when we need one,” Caleb explained with a shrug, flipping his bangs a bit.
“Maybe you should trim those,” Shaw suggested, reaching over to try to push them out of Caleb’s face for him.
“Would ruin my look.”
“You did that yourself when you made your hair green.”
Suddenly, the lights went out, and Shaw stilled. He was on alert, his hand inching toward the knife attached to his boot. The singing stopped him—“Happy Birthday.” The cafe lighting came back up to a twilight mode, and a small cake was slid in front of him.
“Happy Birthday, Shaw,” Rowan said, smiling at him. Caleb followed suit, along with Nyx and her nymphs, maybe even Taron too. Shaw wasn’t certain since he was too busy watching Rowan.
“How did you know?” Shaw asked once Nyx had taken the cake over to the counter to cut up.
“I stole your ID, remember?” Rowan’s smile was coy. It morphed into slight embarrassment, likely recalling the whole mess that it caused. “Anyway,” he barreled on, “I remembered the date, so Caleb and I decided to surprise you.”
“Green tea lattes,” Lilium announced happily, setting the drinks down on the table—complete with heart-shaped foam. Shaw chuckled and thanked her, watching her light up at the simple praise.
“Here you are,” Nyx said, giving Shaw and Rowan a piece of cake each. When Pyrus served Caleb a piece, Nyx leaned over to brush a kiss across her cheek, and they shared a warm smile before Pyrus left to help Lilium. “Anything else you need, just let me know, hon.”