Page 83 of Shadows of Nightshade
“What?” His eyes widened, and he grabbed my arm. “No! Why would you think that?”
“Because it’s…” My voice trailed off. I was a weakness and a liability. Miles had said they couldn’t afford such things. While one of my problems had come to light, there were many more hidden in the depths. I really should come clean so they might know what they were getting into, but I couldn’t.
I didn’t need anyone to worry about me, and I didn’t want to lose them.
“As long as it doesn’t bother you,” I answered instead. “We’re still friends, right?”
Julian watched me before he answered, “Of course.” There was a heavy weight to his response, and I was unable to tear my eyes from his mouth. When he spoke, a tenseness uncurled from under my skin, replaced with hope.
“You’ll be hard-pressed to get rid of me outside of anything but your own request,” he said.
“Really?” I asked. I didn’t understand him very well yet, but I knew, without a measure of a doubt, that he was not lying. Still, I couldn’t calm my racing heart.
I grabbed his right hand with mine and held it against my chest. At this moment, I imagined that I could easily drown Julian’s ocean-colored eyes. His eyebrow lifted as I breathlessly asked, “Promise?”
I needed to be sure.
“Promise,” he answered and squeezed my fingers. His deep,smooth voice had a lulling darkness, and I knew, without being told, that Julian did not give his word lightly.
It waslate by the time Titus arrived and we were finally able to eat.
Dinner wasn’t a quiet affair. Damen and Titus argued about some investigative work in a way that had to break some confidentiality laws. Meanwhile, Julian kept me up-to-date any time my involvement was needed in the conversation.
If anyone thought it was weird, they didn’t comment on it.
I was only a visitor, but sitting here amongst these four men, and their chaos, it felt I belonged.
Julian touched my arm, and I glanced up—croissant hanging from my mouth—as the sound of my name finally registered. I couldn’t speak but was able to meet Damen’s expectant gaze.
“We have enough information to move forward on your case tomorrow,” Damen said.
I nodded. Of course, Brayden the Librarian had come through. I would expect nothing less. I was content, basking in the assurance that all would be well, until he added, “Bryce wants to know what we’re doing.”
The warm, delicious roll turned into a tasteless lump of mush in my mouth.
“I already sent him away,” Damen responded. “But he’s going to be hard-pressed to keep out. However, he’ll listen to me for a little while.” He propped his arm on the table and stared past me. “If only Mu was with us. Bryce would submit without a struggle.”
“Mu…” I repeated, the word feeling strange on my tongue. Who was this person? Damen’s expression was filled with reverence and admiration. And he could command Bryce?
This ‘Mu’ person had to be a legendary warrior if someone like Damen could admire them. But alas, we were on our own. The world had suffered a great loss to be without the presence of one who could defeat a person such as Bryce.
“Such a shame,” I answered. “Who is ‘Mu’?” I glanced around the table, and the hatred in my heart quelled at their solemn faces. Everyone, besides Damen, was now studying their plates.
“Mu”—Damen replied—“is the fae member missing from our quintet. We all are, alternatively, known by other names relating to our earliest, and first, life. I am Huo.”
Julian had stilled and was giving Damen the strangest look—an expression that only grew as the others joined him. “What are you—”
“Why don’t you introduce yourselves?” Damen interrupted and waved his hand to his left.
Miles jumped to attention and glanced between Damen and me. “I-I’m Tu…” It sounded as though he had no idea why he was doing this.
Which was probably true, because I had no idea either.
We already knew each other.
Titus and Julian glanced at each other before Titus shrugged, “I’m Jin.”
Julian was tense, holding his breath, as he watched the ceiling with a look of forced patience. However, finally, he let out a slow exhale and answered, “I’m Shui.”
