Page 135 of Reflections of Peonies
The force of his words resonated through me. Both humiliation and fear warred for dominance. He sounded so sure. He’d been looking through my memories.
What did he see?
“Julian?” I was almost afraid to ask.
“My grandfather helped me,” he explained, rubbing circles on my back. “I searched only for the memories to help you escape. It’s something your subconscious wanted to communicate.”
That didn’t make me feel any better, and I pressed my cheek against his chest. His heartbeat echoed loudly against my ear—he was nervous. Possibly more than me. It was that knowledge that steadied my emotions.
When I didn’t respond, he continued, his voice unsure. “We saw a scene where Alyssa met you and reviewed some rules.” He paused, but only briefly. “Then we saw what happened with the water demon.”
“That’s what it was?” I felt numb again. “I wasn’t sure.”
“It was a kappa, technically,” Julian responded. “It seemed to have a contract. It appeared to be collecting souls. No one has ever escaped.”
“So, she’s really gone?” I’d never seen her after that day, so I’d always assumed.
His movements slowed, and his voice was soft. “Possibly,” he answered. “But we didn’t see what happened after the demon left. Was there anything else?”
I shook my head, pressing my face into his chest.
I would never forget that night. I watched the water for whatfelt like forever. And it wasn’t until the moon was high before Kieran came rushing to my side.
He’d only been that angry on one other occasion.
“I’m still mad at you,” I muttered, my thoughts distracted.
“I’m sorry,” Julian said. “But you weren’t getting any better. Gregory has been told who you are, and he and Bryce were on the verge of taking you toWhisperwind—your family’s home. We were trying to think of anything we could do to prevent that.”
I sighed. I did give Julian permission to jump into my memories—sort of.
“I’m still mad”—my resolve had weakened—“but I’ll get over it.”
I should be used to disappointment. Nobody was perfect, not even these men. It made sense I’d get hurt eventually. Maybe it wasn’t on purpose, but I couldn’t stop how I felt.
Julian swallowed, and his frame trembled. “Bianca—”
“It’s not important.” I pushed against his chest. “Let’s go back.”
“Bianca, I’m sorry,” he said again. He sounded tortured. But was he? They wanted to know about my past. “Look at me, please.”
His voice pulled at me, and I glanced up. I was just so tired. Tired of being afraid, tired of pushing everyone away, tired of… everything. And in that moment, staring into Julian’s eyes, I did something really stupid—I stopped fighting.
Just like that, everything changed.
A faint echo of emotion brushed against my awareness—just a whisper of what Julian was feeling. The sensation was different from our normal Quintet Bond—more intimate. His presence surrounded me, growing stronger with each passing moment.
A shiver shot down my spine, and a wave of raw feelings crashed into me—Julian’s emotions.
Brayden had warned me this would happen, but why now?
My thoughts dissolved as warmth spread across my skin—adoration, genuine and pure, wrapping around me so deeply it nearly stole my breath.
However, he also radiated self-loathing and doubt in his guilt. My chest felt heavy from its weight.
How could I have thought so little of him? I was used to being lied to and manipulated. It was something I expected. But with him, there was no shadow, no hidden motive.
This was Julian—raw and unguarded. He gave everything, and his presence filled me with a strength I usually wouldn’t possess.
