Page 96 of Balance
“They climbed on that?” Damen asked, joining us at last. He crossed his arms, gaze moving critically over the sight. “Why would they do that?”
“Who knows.” I pursed my lips, glancing toward the other side of the water. “They might have gone the whole way across.”
“Or they could have fallen in,” Damen added.
My chest tightened as I took in the roaring rapids. If that were true, they could be seriously hurt. I didn’t even have a chance to respond before Titus shifted, taking less than a moment to change into the white dragon.
He walked into the water, stopping once it was as high as his chest, and peered downstream.
Damen knew better than to talk—as did I. Titus, in his dragon form, had much better senses than as a human.
I didn’t realize I was holding my breath at first, and my lungs ached by the time he turned back to us. He didn’t even wait until he was out of the river to change back. “I don’t hear her. They’re not here.”
“You mean ‘them’?” I corrected; Miles might not be talkative to most, but if Bianca had made up with him, it was impossible to shut him up. Especially if he was nervous. And being alone with Bianca right now would make him nervous. “But at least we know they’re alive,” I added helpfully; nothing had indicated that our bond tobothof them had been cut.
This was no time to panic.
I should be able to feel Bianca, to sense her even while separated. While she’d gained the ability to read my emotions from our connection, I, too, had grown stronger.
“No, I meanher.” Titus brushed past us, still wet, as he followed the river downstream. A boulder jutted into the water, and Titus, spotting it, climbed over the top of the stone. “I should be able to hear her. This goes on as far as I can see.” He pointed into the distance. “They’re still alive, in any case. But we should follow the river. The problem is, we’re not going to have a scent to chase.”
“Will you stop posing like that?” Damen snapped, trying, but failing, to hide his unease. “Obviouslythey’d go downstream, and no one wants to see your shit.” He turned. “Let’s grab what we can. We’re going after them. They’ll need supplies once we meet up.”
“Didn’t you pack your satellite phone?” I stalked after him, hiding my hands under my sleeves. There was nothing to fight right now but knowing that my weapons were close helped me concentrate. Panicking wouldn’t solve anything; the most helpful thing would be to remain calm and collected. Damen was already looking for a reason to lash out, and I had to control my baser instincts.
It wouldn’t be helpful to antagonize Damen.
“We should call Bryce,” I added lightly. “He’ll probably want to help.”
The onmyoji froze, mid-step, and looked back at me. “What?”
“They need to know,” I reasoned, stepping past him. The last thing we needed were two vengeful fae on our hands but, “The more people to help search, the better. Miles has enough power to steer them through rapids.”Hopefully, I added mentally. “And he’s used to the wilderness, so they’llprobablybe okay. But can you imagine what Bryce will be like if we don’t tell him now?”
Knowing him, the fae would probably drag her off to Whisperwind. We might not ever see her again.
Damen was forgetting that, right now, Bryce had the upper hand when it came to Bianca.
“Who the fuck cares?” Damen snapped.
“I’m calling him.” I stalked into the camp. “I refuse to put Bianca at risk because of your ridiculous pride.”
“What do you mean you’ve‘lost Bianca’?” Bryce’s curt voice cut through our connection. As I suspected, he sounded less than pleased. “How do you lose aperson?”
“They’ve donewhat?” Brayden’s question echoed in the background.
“Miles is missing too,” I reminded him. I knew that being the one to break the news to Bryce was a bad idea. But with Titus not being on good speaking terms with the fae, and Damen and Bryce’s history, I was the only person available to hold back the impending fae implosion. “They were alone together, and now they’re gone.”
“Don’t give me that shit,” Bryce continued, voice seething. “Miles can take care of himself. I want to know where the fuck you put my sister.”
“We didn’tputher anywhere.” I watched Damen and Titus as they hiked ahead of me, attention riveted to the water. “Don’t worry,” I said, trying to reassure them as much as myself. “We’ll keep walking along the river until we run into them. They’re bound to be along the water somewhere. I just thought it might be faster if you helped. Maybe start at the other end of the park? We can meet in the middle.”
“Why do you say that?” Bryce, for all his usual obtuse behavior and usual missing of references, was on point today. “Are you telling me thatyouallowedmy sisterto be washed downstream?”
“I warned them,” Brayden was shouting in the background, presumably speaking to someone else. “I said,one hair.”
“She’ll be fine,” I replied. Bryce was usually so infuriatingly logical—why today, of all days, did he choose to be emotional? Besides, I hadn’t missed the accusation in his question.
This wouldn’t have happened if I’d been there. I could have stopped it—made the currents easier to fight.
