I lean back in my chair, the fight drained out of me. “And if it’s not what you want, then you should make that clear to her.” And to me.

He nods, then tenses as he looks over my shoulder.

I turn and see Rafe stalking over to our table. “There you are.” His voice is a low growl, his eyes as cool as sea glass. “Let’s go,” he says, and grips my wrist, tugging me up from my chair.

“Don’t order her around,” Michael says, reaching for my other hand.

“It’s okay,” I say to Michael. But he ignores me and stares at Rafe, seething. Rafe reaches over, and without breaking eye contact with Michael, he pries Michael’s fingers off my hand, puts his arm around my waist possessively, and herds me toward the door.

When we’re out of the room, I shake his arm off. “What was that about?”

“You asked me to be mindful of your reputation, and yet you have no problem having a—whatever that was, a lover’s quarrel?—with another person so publicly.”

“It’s not like that. He doesn’t see me that way.”

“And how do you see him?”

“I don’t know.”

“Don’t insult me.”

“Don’t be so controlling.”

“I’m not trying to control you. It was you who said you wanted to pretend fidelity for the sake of your reputation, and yet you don’t seem to be considering mine.”

I sigh. “I’m sorry. Okay? There is nothing going on between Master Loew and me, but I will be more thoughtful about how things could be perceived going forward.”

“Much obliged.”

“Anyway, I think I’ve identified where Hypatia is being kept,” I say.

“What?” He stops in his tracks. “That’s amazing!” He grabs me by the shoulders as if to hug me. I’m surprised by the action, and from the look on his face, I think he is too. He clears his throat and says, “Let’s go to Sire lab early. I have something to show you.”

I haven’t had a proper lunch, but I did just eat all of Michael’s crunch-bombs. “Sure, let’s do it.”

We pass Georgie in the Equinox, and I watch her face fall as her gaze tracks us. She and I normally eat lunch together, but I’m clearly headed in the wrong direction with one of her least favorite people. Right after she’s gone out of her way to help me, no less. She waves stiffly, then hurries off. She has every right to be upset at me. I need to find some time for us to talk. I’ll make sure to catch her later tonight, when I can explain everything properly.

“What did you want to show me?” I ask Rafe when we arrive at the Sire lab. No one else is here yet.