Page 104 of Ashes and Lilies
“That isn’t anything new,” I pointed out.
“But it’s hurting her,” Julian said, slipping into an open seat. “Wecould hurt her if we don’t know.”
I’d opened my mouth to reply but stopped myself. I was missing something.
Julian looked toward Damen. “We need to talk to Finn.”
A power was gathering at his feet—the necromancer wanted free reign. Julian loathed Finn on a good day, but lately, his feelings had grown proportionally stronger. He’d only been holding back per Damen’s orders.
“He’ll tell me when he needs to,” Damen rebutted, giving Julian a severe look. “Do not go after him.”
Julian scowled.
“So,” Bryce finally cut in. “I’m assuming it’s true then—she’s Mu.”
“We figured you’d have noticed by now.” Damen frowned at him. “Hence why you’re included in this conversation. Continuing to hide it from you would be pointless.”
Bryce and Bryden exchanged a look, and I felt my curiosity rise.
“Where did she come from?” Bryce asked, redirecting his attention back to Damen.
“You heard her.” Damen waved his hand in the air. “She’s Finn’s friend. She was raised as a human, they were in school together, and she came here.”
“How did she get adopted?” Bryce asked.
“We have no idea,” Damen replied. “She’s unapproachable on this topic, and Finn won’t tell me. We haven’t been able to make Abigail and Jonathon talk.”
I pressed my lips together. I should have been on top of things. They were two of my Proxies; I should have known what they were doing.
“Do—” Bryce began and looked at Brayden once more. The younger fae was sitting on the edge of his seat. “—do you think she had a good life?”
Damen studied Bryce with a look that could cut glass. “You know,” he said, and I could tell his every word was carefully measured. He was furious, and I still had no idea why. “I asked her that question once,” he continued. “And she told me she did.”
Bryce’s eyes flickered with almost concealed relief, but it was quickly squashed as Damen added, “But I don’t think she’s telling the complete truth.”
“Fae can’t lie.” Bryce frowned at him. “Not without side effects.”
“She’s not lying, per se. She’s hiding,” Damen said. “She’s a female fae who doesn’t understand her origins, nor can she control her abilities. That leaves her completely defenseless in this realm, doesn’t it?”
My trepidation rose at the expressions on Titus, Julian, and Damen’s faces. I had no idea what I was missing. However, I doubted it’d be discussed in front of Bryce and Brayden.
I’d have to be patient.
“What do you mean?” Bryce asked, and his hand shook.
“I wonder what happened beforeshe was adopted,” Damen frowned, looking away.
Brayden glanced between them. “Did you ask her?” he asked.
“She won’t talk about it,” Damen replied. “She changes the subject.”
“Finn knows something,” Julian cut in once more.
“No,” Damen said again, waving his hand and not shifting his focus back to the necromancer. “It’s not the time.”
So, we were back here. I should stop this before I had to end up restraining Julian. Whatever was bothering him had to be bad. I’d never seen him so close to disregarding a direct order before.
“Damen,” I said, leaning forward. The others looked at me, and my skin grew clammy. However, the only thing I disliked more than attention was conflict.
