Page 125 of Reflections of Peonies
Brayden looked between them and interjected. “Of course, he’d keep away too. The last thing we want to do is upset her!”
Gregory frowned and opened his mouth to speak when Titus stood.
“Joe is here,” he said, and my arms tensed.
Could I really leave something so important to someone else?
Pops walked through the door, nodded to Gregory, and approached the side of the bed nearest me.
“Julian,” he greeted, his deep voice breaking through the silence, but I couldn’t meet his eyes.
“Don’t hurt her,” I told him.
There was a short silence before he replied, “Don’t be stupid, I’m not going to hurt her. She’s made you respect me again.”
I glared at him. How dare he joke during this dire situation?
“Ah,” he raised his eyebrow. “There we are.”
I let out a breath, ignored him, and refocused on Bianca. Why did it seem like if I stepped aside, I might lose her forever?
Her appearance might be calm, but she depended on me to protect her. That was the way it was supposed to always be.
I couldn’t give up.
“I’m going,” I said through clenched teeth.
Popstsked. “Always waiting until the last minute to make up your mind.” I looked at him, at his knowing expression, and he continued as he rolled his shoulders, “I will help you.”
“What?” I asked. But I was mentally prepared now!
Besides, that wasn’t true. Take Bianca, for example. I’d acknowledged my feelings about her from the first moment I saw her.
“I did not just leave an award ceremony to indulge in yourwhims,” he said, lowering his forehead. “You’ve made me come here, so now you get to deal with it.”
“What did you win this time?” Gregory asked.
“Just something or other,” my grandfather replied, shrugging. Then he turned his attention back to me. “Besides, I will not see you lose control while I’m here. This won’t be like anything you expect.”
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
“You’ve connected with Shui,” he said, looking me up and down, “but you haven’t sensitively dealt with trauma in this lifetime. Addressing that in a way that doesn’t harm your target requires a different mindset than your usual destructive intentions.”
I glared at him. “I would never hurt Bianca!”
“I know.” Pops waved his hand. “That’s why it’s a good learning exercise.”
“This isn’t a learning exercise!” Titus cut in. “Can’t you see that she’s in serious condition?” He looked at Gregory. “She is your niece. You should be more concerned.”
“I trust Joe,” Gregory replied. “If he’s confident, then I’m not worried.”
My grandfather studied Bianca. “It will work. Juliandoeshave the necessary skills, and I will be there too.”
“Then why didn’t Trinity mention it?” Damen asked.
“Both Julian and I are stronger than my daughter,” Pops replied. “Trinity prefers modern approaches to the magic our family has always known. But being a necromancer means doing what is necessary, even if the method is controversial. Julian understands that, and under most circumstances, he embraces it.”
I felt myself flush and looked away. We did not generally discuss the details of our abilities with each other.
