Had he been at the meetings before? This place got so packed, and so much larger, on meeting nights that it was hard to notice everyone, especially as I tried not to notice anyone.
I gave him a nod.
“Ab,” Hawk called out.
Ab immediately looked to the front of the room.
“Do you have something you care to discuss?” Hawk asked. “Anything beneficial to bring to the table? I don’t believe you’ve contributed info at all yet, or am I wrong?”
Hawk could get as angry at me as he wanted, but it was hardly necessary to vent it on people who were nice to me. That was some serious grudge holding. We were all on the same team. Even I believed that, and I was in virtual bubble wrap tonight.
Ab’s cheeks grew rosy. “No, I haven’t been able to yet.”
I wasn’t sure if Hawk was going to continue to torture Ab, but the protector in me couldn’t let it continue.
“Does anyone else have anything to offer?” I asked, standing and looking around the room. “Seems most of us are hitting a dead end, huh?”
If Hawk got annoyed by my interruption, that was his problem. He was the one who’d kept telling me I should be more involved.
Beard raised his hand hesitantly. He and I went way back to an incident at Zark’s bar, a messed-up drink and a near burning. We were friendly these days, always giving each other a smile when passing even if I still didn’t remember his name. This would surely be friendly fire.
“Just say it. You don’t need to raise your hand,” Hawk said, when Beard seemed to be waiting for permission to speak.
Beard turned to me, and the rest of the room followed suit. “Is it true you glow the same color as Dread does?”
“Do you want me to handle him? You don’t need to answer this,” Bibbi said, standing up beside me, pushing up her sleeves as she did. She shifted closer. If she moved in any tighter, she was going to knock me over. Or would’ve if I didn’t have Zab blocking me on the other side.
“I got this. He doesn’t mean any harm. We’re cool with each other,” I said softly.
I cleared my throat, focusing my attention back on Beard. I had the undivided attention of everyone in the room.
“I do glow the same colors, but I don’t know why,” I said loud and clear, so that not for a second would anyone assume there was anything to be ashamed of. I was so loud that people in the alley behind the building might’ve heard me.
A unified “ooh” spread across the room. They all looked on as if I were some strange alien in front of them. But not one person looked horrified. Were they too stupid to make the possible connections? No, probably not. After all, the connections were really obvious, and these people weren’t stupid for the most part.
They all kept staring as if expecting me to say something else.
“I wish I could say more, but I truly don’t know anything else. I’m fairly new to this whole magic business in the first place.”
There were a few nods, and a couple of people whispered.
I sat down, and my two guards took their seats as well.
Another person raised their hand, looking at Hawk briefly before turning back to me. I looked at Hawk as well, hoping he’d try to take the reins back.
He locked eyes with me and then settled himself on the edge of the table. Figured he wasn’t bailing me out now. He probably loved that I was being forced to accidentally take the lead with this meeting. So much for helping Ab. Next time, instead of trying to help him out, I’d give him a glare. Didn’t change the fact that the room was quiet as they waited for me.
“Yes?” I asked the newest questioner.
“Do you think that’s why it doesn’t like you? Because you have the same magic? Maybe there’s some sort of competition or jealousy?”
It was a very good question, and one I’d mulled over myself. “It could be, but I’m not sure if throwing off the same colors does mean it’s the same magic, let alone if that’s the reason. I really don’t know much about this at all.”
“Is that why you were able to make that wall it couldn’t get through?” a woman in the back asked.
“It’s possible, I guess? It would make sense.” I’d barely finished answering one question before another was asked.
The questions came at me for a steady fifteen minutes before they slowed down.
We’d hit the end of anything important when a woman with cotton-candy-pink hair asked, “Do you think you could help out guarding my daughter’s birthday party next week?”
“Do you think you could use it against it, like the way you made the wall?” a person in the corner asked.
Hawk stood. “Tippi already has a job and her hands full with other matters. She’s not available for private parties or personal protection details. If the only thing left is curiosity or appearance requests, this meeting is over. We have other work to do.”
Some people looked downward, but I could see the irritated expressions enough to make it clear that Hawk had ruined their party plans.
“That went pretty well,” Bibbi said, nodding as she watched people file out.
“Definitely went better than I thought it would,” Zab said.
“Yeah, me too,” I added, feeling tired already when I knew I had a full night ahead of me.
Bibbi’s scowl deepened. “Why do you look like that when things went pretty well?”
“Xazier sent notice for a meeting tonight,” I deadpanned.
She grimaced and shook her head. “Oh.”
“Yep.”
21
“You look nice, if a little less inviting than in your first meeting outfit.” Bibbi stood in my door as I finished getting ready.
“I’m not sure he wants to get in my pants as much as he wants to dig around in my head.” I tugged my hair back into a ponytail, not caring how it emphasized my unique brand of highlights.
“Oh, that doesn’t sound nice at all.” She crossed her arms, as if getting ready to fend off an attack not aimed at her.
“It’s a bit tiring.”
“Don’t let him have free rein in there.” She twirled her finger toward my head.
“Definitely not trying to, that’s for sure.” I grabbed the jacket lying on the bed and threw it on, hearing an annoyed chirp. “If you insist on being invisible, how am I supposed to know where you are?” I asked Dusty before turning my attention back to Bibbi. “Anyone downstairs?”
Why I felt like I was sneaking out past curfew every time I met Xazier was beyond me. But I did.
“No,” she said. “I haven’t seen Hawk since the meeting, and everyone else went up early.”
It was strange how that seemed to happen on Xazier nights, as if no one could quite stomach my interaction with him. It made what was to come somehow lonelier, even if that was the most absurd thought. I didn’t want to make a big thing of it, and yet the loneliness was killing me. What did it matter if most of them didn’t want to be there for my departure?
I threw on my jacket as Bibbi moved out of the doorway.
“Good luck, and keep your mind closed,” she said.
“I will.” I hoped.
I walked down the stairs, not caring if they creaked. The office was dark but the smell of cocoa still lingered, as if I needed salt in the wound. Would Gillian have stepped up and offered herself to buy Xest time? I doubted it. It was surprising she hadn’t asked for a chariot to bring her back and forth across the street yet.