Page 138 of Reflections of Peonies
Since when was heso wise? “Yes…” I grumbled.
“Like Bryce,” Julian added. “I know you hate him, but he’s not as bad as you thought once you got to know him. He’s just… awkward.”
I shot him a dubious look—surely Julian wasn’t trying to reassure me usingBryceas an example. “We still have our issues…”
Julian gave a knowing smirk. “I’m just saying, sometimes things aren’t as terrible as they seem at first.”
“Then what about Finn—could you be his friend?” I rebutted. “He grows on you, like invasive bacteria that takes over before you even realize it. Are you saying he’s not as bad as we thought?”
Kiania had been telling me something of the sort.
The humor fled from Julian’s expression, and there was no denying his coursing, hot hatred.
“No.” His voice was sharp. “Finn is far worse than you realize. Damen keeps him close to monitor him, but I need you to stay away from him. You’ve only seen a fraction of what happens when he loses control.”
I’d seen Finn angry before. What could be worse? “What—”
But as I spoke, the air around us began to shift. The room feltthinner, less solid. The stone walls flickered like the edges of a dream unraveling. I blinked, feeling a strange pull in my chest, the weight of this place slowly lifting.
Before I could finish my thought, the ground beneath my feet dissolved.
22
I woke with a gasp,choking as a coughing fit took over. Warm hands moved over me, and someone pulled me into a sitting position while patting my back. Once my breathing evened out, the hands started poking and prodding at me.
The bright light hurt my eyes, and I covered my face. “S-s-stop!”
“Bianca, I need to check your vitals,” Dr. Reed said gently. Her cool hands moved efficiently, checking my pulse, pupils, and oxygen levels. After a few minutes, she seemed satisfied with my physical state, though concern lingered in her eyes.
There was a rustle, and Damen’s warm skin suddenly pressed against mine. He’d crawled onto the bed, pulling me against him.
Everything hurt. Besides that, my throat was raw, my mouth dry, and my hair tangled. Also, someone had changed me from the vintage pajamas that Bryce hated so much.
“Welcome back, sweetie.” Dr. Reed’s voice was a mix of relief and concern. I peeked at her through my fingers, noting DetectiveKohler standing behind her as she turned to Julian. “Just how long were you expecting to be gone?”
Julian was blearily blinking himself awake beside Damen and me. “What—” He rubbed his eyes. “How long has it been?”
“I arrived as this foolish man completed his contribution to this terrible breach of ethics,” Dr. Reed replied as she put her hands on her hips, and the room chilled under the force of her anger. “Then youstilldidn’t wake up, and we had no idea what happened. It’s beenhours.”
“Hours?” Julian asked, looking at his hands.
I glanced between them, my foggy brain trying to catch up. Hours? It hadn’t felt that long in my head. And what was this about a breach of ethics?
My gaze drifted to Detective Kohler. Why was he here? This day was already shaping up to be a mess, and I’d only been awake for five minutes.
“Come on now, Trinity,” Detective Kohler shrugged. “No need to get all worked up. The girl’s awake now, isn’t she?”
“That doesn’t justify your involvement,” she replied.
“I was asked to assist,” he stated calmly, his posture straight. “Perhaps we should focus on the patient now. There are more pressing matters at hand.”
She frowned but turned back to me, her expression softening. “Yes, you’re right. Bianca,” she said, her voice warm with concern. “You’ve had us all so worried. Are you all right?”
“I feel okay,” I answered, swallowing. I spotted Bryce, gathering my courage before it could fail me.
“I’m sorry…” I began, my voice barely above a whisper. The others seemed to fade from the room as I held his gaze. Despite Julian’s reassurances, I was sure he’d blame me. My heart raced, but I pushed on.
“I didn’t realize until you showed me her picture,” I said,hiding my shaking hands under the blankets. “I met our mother before, but she never told me who she was.”
