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“But,” Julian protested weakly, “she could still snap out of it.”
“Julian, think about this.” Miles sat down on the bed, his voice a calmness in the storm. “Youwould know if she was even close to coming around. Her heart would speed up, and her breathing would change. Have you noticed either of those signs?”
Julian’s expression turned pained, and his attention returned to Bianca. Even before he responded, I knew his answer.
“No,” he said. “She’s not waking up.”
Chapter Thirty
Julian
Cups
“How much longer do you plan on waiting?” Miles asked, and his tone told me everything I needed to know.
When Miles used his abilities to cajole, he did it in one of two ways. There was the dark force of his anger. It was rare, but something that did happen on occasion. He had a wildness to him. I hadn’t been there when he’d gotten angry at Finn on Bianca’s behalf, but Damen had said it was almost frightening. It seemed only Bianca’s presence had been enough to keep him from crossing the line.
But then there was his dark side. When he was controlled but his displeasure was a tangible thing in the air. Like his anger at Garrett Cole.
But Miles also used his abilities another way. He was extremely persuasive. He could talk his way around almost any situation and make people see his point of view. I knew he was manipulating me—this entire plan. But I couldn’t argue with him. Mu had always been the only one able to out-logic Tu.
Damn it.
Bryce was already wearing a contemplative look that didn’t bode well for my protests. We’d trapped ourselves into this corner, giving Bryce the power to make medical decisions on Bianca’s behalf. Now we were going to have to learn to deal with it.
“What if I don’t…” My words trailed off.
“I’ll give it until Dr. Kohler gets here, then we’ll go to Whisperwind,” Bryce said. “I don’t like the idea as much as anyone, but Miles—and Uncle Gregory—are right. We need to do something. There’s no other choice.”
“Fine.” My voice came out as a growl, barely discernable through over the pounding of my heart. “But don’t think I’m happy about this.” I glared around the room. “And I’m not going to be forgiving any of you anytime soon.”
Miles grimaced before his expression steeled over and he nodded. “It’ll work.”
“It better.” I shifted Bianca in my arms until she was facing me. She offered no resistance as I studied her face one last time, trying to catch any flicker of emotion.
But there was nothing. She was seeing me, but nothing was registering in her mind.
“It helpedme,” Miles said softly. My gaze tore from Bianca, lifting to Miles. Guilt flooded through me, making it hard to breathe.
“You’re right…” I muttered, the edges of my anger fading away as, for the first time, Itook note of the stressed lines of Miles’s expression. Out of everyone, he wouldn’t suggest this lightly. And how was he feeling right now, seeing Bianca like this?
She was the strong one, the one who kept him grounded. And he…
Miles had been in a similar situation not so many years ago.
How could I have forgotten? “Sorry.”
“Besides, you can control it,” Miles continued. “I’ll help you.”
The statement was so absurd that I was sure I’d misheard. However, when Damen and Titus also made sounds of confusion, I knew I hadn’t imagined it.
Tuneverused his abilities with mine—excluding preparing the items I needed for rituals.
My powers were invasive, and—when unleashed—unpredictable. Once I began, I never knew which memories would be conjured. I’d start with a direction, but I’d always see more than my intentions. In my practice, it generally didn’t matter—the privacy and wellbeing of my victims weren’t priority. And the others, besides Mu, never cared for their secrets.
Betraying Bianca’s trust was my biggest fear.
But if there was a way to control my ability, to help her through what pertained to herat this moment, then I could do this without guilt.
