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I just needed to avoid everything, forever. Now that I knew another of my limits, it would be easier.
“No.” I crossed my arms, trying to get warm again. “Isn’t this session almost over?” My insides crawled with anxiety, and I was desperate for some peace. Even the air felt disgusting. “It needs to be almost over.”
“It can be over.” Julian stood up, holding his hand out for me. “Let’s go back to your room. I’d like to see Damen before I leave.”
I followed Julian as he led me past the door. He somehow evaded his mother’s questions, and she didn’t stop Julian from kidnapping me.
Julian didn’t let go of my hand even once. The farther away from the office, the more the buzzing faded from my ears. Slowly, Julian’s presence started filling the emptiness inside with a sensation of peace and belonging. By the time we reached my room, I was calm, collected, and feeling much better about the entire situation.
Then Julian opened the door, and I saw Bryce Dubois, sitting on my bed.
I knew I should have used my hours of solitude for more productive affairs. But instead of plotting for the future, I’d been wallowing in self-pity.
What had I been thinking?
All that wasted time. I hadn’t even decided what to call him yet, and now here he was before me. I was totally unprepared.
So instead of being witty and suave, my reaction to finding Bryce Dubois lounging on my bed was to point at him as I made an embarrassing sound of horror.
Damen’s chuckle echoed through the room. The sound of it pulled my attention away from Bryce’s frowning face.
Damen sat in one of the chairs, balancing himself on the back two legs. He smirked at Bryce. “I love her reactions when she sees you,” he said. Bryce glared at him. “Nothing brings me greater joy.”
Julian walked past me and smacked Damen on the back of the head. “Be nice. Bryce, what are you doing here?”
My attention returned to Bryce, and I frowned as a pang of sympathy twisted in my chest.
“What in the world happened to your face?” I asked. I didn’t like the man, but by God. He looked like he had been mauled by a wild boar. What kind of monster could inflict such damage on another person?
Damen continued to snicker, and Bryce frowned but didn’t answer. Instead, he reached behind him. “I’m here to see you, Bianca. And I brought you something.”
Julian froze and Damen’s chair slammed down onto all fours. But neither made any effort to intervene.
“Food?” Could it be? I’d been wondering about that smell.
Bryce paused, mid-motion of pulling out a brown bag, and shot me an impressed look.
“Actually, yes,” he said, finishing his previous action. The movement had made the aroma even stronger. “I picked this up. I figured you might want something to eat.”
“I thought you brought it for yourself.” Damen rolled his eyes. “Don’t bother, she won’t—”
“Thanks.” I closed the distance between us, sitting down on the bed next to Bryce, and unpacked my offering. Perhaps he wasn’t so bad after all. “You’ve read my mind, good job.”
I unwrapped a McDouble and took a large bite, uncaring about etiquette.
“No one else understands.” Bryce nodded. “We’re a misunderstood lot.”
“What the fuck?” Damen’s exclamation broke into our bonding moment, and my eyes shot to him. He—and Julian, too— stared at us as if we’d lost our minds. “Why are you eating for him?”
I took another bite, thoughtfully chewing before I replied. There wasn’t an easy way to explain… “He brought it here, from theoutside.”
Damen frowned. “So what?”
“Do you not have a single shred of survival instinct, or has she always been saving your butt since the beginning?Obviously, outside food—especially fast food—is less likely to be poisoned. You must always be cautious in times of war.” Bryce held up his finger. “Especially if you’re trapped in hostile territory. Never trust your enemy. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’ve tampered with her food in some way. It’s obvious they hate fae.”
Damen rubbed his temples, so it was Julian who answered as he glanced doubtfully at my hamburger. “I really don’t think—”
“You don’tthink,” Bryce interrupted, shrugging his shoulders. “Biancaexiststo subjugate those who work in this establishment. She’s a threat just by being near. These are not officials used to being around power. They are going to fear her. Do you honestly believe she’s been treated like any other patient? I’m sure they’re on their best behavior in front of you, and maybe Dr. Kohler. But what do you think happens behind closed doors?”
