Page 55 of Reflections of Peonies
Brayden leaned forward, looking between them. “What effects?” he asked. “It won’t stop with the initial bond? What’s going to happen?”
“Well,” Damen said, scowling as he pulled out his phone. “We do have someone who seems to know something, at least.”
Julian glanced at him.
Bryce shot Damen a startled look, and his expression morphed into wariness. “If you’re calling him, then give the others a chance to come. The whole quintet should be present if you’re going to do something.”
“No,” I said, standing as my heart raced with panic. Their solemn faces filled me with dread, and before I realized it, I stood before them. “Don’t blame him! It wasn’t his fault.”
Julian’s gaze softened slightly, and he touched my face. “You’re too kindhearted for your own good. On some level, you had to know that agreeing with this wasn’t safe.”
“Maybe. But…” My voice sounded so small. “I had to do something.”
My resolve solidified when his expression didn’t change, and I clenched my fists against my thighs. “I don’t care what happens to me. I won’t let you hurt him!”
Julian sucked in a breath, but before he could respond, Damen wrapped his arms around my shoulders, and my face was buried against his chest. He was shaking, the world surrounding me was dark, and all I could feel was him, warm against me.
“Damen?” I asked.
“What about the medication?” Damen’s voice grumbled, and I wasn’t sure what he was asking.
“It must be why my mother has her on them,” Julian responded. “She’s probably watching to see how it affects the contract. The medication possibly blocks that connection as a side effect of suppressing her abilities.”
“So,” Damen said. “Finn was right. She really can’t use her abilities.”
“Maybe,” Julian agreed. “But he can’t use his either. Not without hurting her.”
“Bianca,” Damen said, squeezing me once more before loosening his grip. He held my shoulders as he pushed me back from him. “Can you show Julian your arm?”
My breath strangled in my throat, and I pulled my wrist against my chest. The white cotton bunched in my fist, but I wouldn’t give in without a fight. “Why?”
“We’re not going to hurt you,” Julian said, moving beside me. He reached for my hand. “Darling, just let me see—”
“No!” I told him, and he froze while Damen dropped his hands from my arms. My muscles were tight as I backed up against the kitchen door, looking between them.
Julian’s hand was still raised in the air, his face a picture ofsurprise. Damen, too, seemed stunned. It was better than their furious looks earlier, but my racing pulse didn’t steady in relief.
In fact, it only worsened. I knew what they wanted—evidence to use against Finn. But I wouldn’t be a part of it. It was one thing to hate him because he was a liar and a jerk.
He did deserve a beating, and I would help.
But it was another thing to kill him over something he had no control over. Something that was entirely my decision.
I would never be able to live with myself.
“Please, Bianca,” Julian said, cajoling. “You don’t need to be afraid. You’re safe now.”
“No, you s-stay away from me,” I told him, trying to talk through my shallow breaths. “You’re trying to use me to hurt Finn.”
“We’re not going to hurt Finn,” Damen said, forehead wrinkling.
“Are you serious?” Julian’s expression grew fierce as he turned on Damen. “This affects you too! She cannot support you and an Er Bashou at the same time! She could die!”
“Wh-what?” I asked, shifting my weight as I looked between them. “I’m fine.”
Damen had become noticeably disturbed at the mention of my potential death and ran his shaking fingers through his morning hair. “Bianca,” he began, but the rest of his sentence was cut short, and his attention darted upward when the door opened behind me.
A shadow fell over my back, and a warmth draped over my shoulders as Titus pulled me back against him.
