Page 30 of Reflections of Peonies
There was no need to continue this conversation. Everything was fine.
I just needed to avoid anything triggering, forever. Now that I knew another of my limits, it would be easier.
“No.” I crossed my arms, trying to get warm again. “Can I go back now?” My insides crawled with anxiety, and I was desperate for some peace. Even the air felt disgusting. “I want to go back.”
“We can go back.” Julian stood up and held his hand out for me. “I’ll go with you. I’d like to see Damen before I leave.”
I followed Julian as he led me past the door. He somehow evaded his mother’s questions, and she didn’t stop Julian from kidnapping me.
Julian didn’t let go of my hand even once. The farther away from the office, the more the buzzing faded from my ears. Slowly, Julian’s presence started filling the emptiness inside with a sensation of peace and belonging. By the time we reached my room, I was calm and collected and feeling much better about the entire situation.
Then Julian opened the door and I saw Bryce Dubois, sitting on my bed.
What misfortunethat I’d squandered my perfect chance to plan for the future. Instead of using my time wisely and plotting, I’d wallowed in self-pity.
What a terrible mistake, especially considering the identity of my foe.
What was I supposed to do? I hadn’t even decided what to call him, and now he was here on the offensive before me while I remained totally unprepared. So, with shame, instead of approaching the situation with wit and suaveness, my reaction tofinding Bryce lounging in my space was only to point at him as I made an embarrassing sound.
There was a loud laugh, and the sound pulled my focus from the fae’s frowning face.
Damen was balancing himself on the back two legs of a metal chair. He smirked at Bryce and said, “Nothing brings me greater joy than her reactions when she sees you.”
Bryce glared at him.
“Be nice.” Julian walked past me and smacked Damen on the back of the head. “Bryce, what are you doing here?”
My attention returned to Bryce, and I frowned as a pang of sympathy twisted in my chest.
“What happened to your face?” I asked him. I didn’t like the man, but by God—it looked like he’d been mauled by a wild boar. What kind of demon could inflict such damage on another person?
Damen continued to snicker, and Bryce frowned but didn’t answer. Instead, he reached behind him. “I’m here to see you, Bianca. I brought you something.”
Julian froze, and Damen leaned forward until his chair slammed down onto all fours. But neither made any effort to intervene.
Could it be? “Food?” I asked. I’d been wondering about that smell.
Bryce paused in the act of pulling out a brown bag and shot me an impressed look.
“Actually, yes,” he said, moving the bag to his lap. The movement had made the aroma even stronger. “I picked this up on the way over. I figured you might want something to eat.”
“I thought you brought it for yourself.” Damen rolled his eyes. “Don’t bother, she won’t—”
“Thanks.” I sat down on the bed next to Bryce and unpackedmy offering. Perhaps he wasn’t so bad after all. “You’ve read my mind. Good job.”
I unwrapped a plain McDouble and took a large bite.
“No one else understands.” Bryce nodded. “We’re a misunderstood lot.”
“What the fuck?” Damen’s rude words broke into our bonding moment. He—and Julian, too—stared at us as if we’d lost our minds. “Why are you eating for him?”
I took another bite, slowly chewing. After all, there was no easy way to explain. “He brought it here,” I said finally, “from theoutside.”
Damen frowned. “So what?”
“Do you not have any instincts, or has she always been saving you since the beginning?Obviously, outside food—especially something from a chain restaurant—is much less likely to be poisoned. You must always be cautious in times of war.” Bryce held up his finger as he nodded. “This is especially true if you’re trapped in hostile territory. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’ve tampered with her food. They hate fae.”
Damen rubbed his temples, so it was Julian who answered as he looked at my cheeseburger. “I really don’t think—”
