Page 80 of Reflections of Peonies
“I’m pretty sure it’s true.” Kayla raised her eyebrows as she studied me.
“What I said?” Hanah asked. “Or him?”
Kayla was scowling at me. “I wonder if someone should intervene?”
“Okay, both of you stop.” I ignored their teasing and pointed at my cousin. I changed the subject before Kayla decided to run to our grandfather. “I’m still waiting for your confession.”
She pulled at one of her black curls. “What is it that you want me to confess to exactly?”
“You tell me,” I said. “In Finn’s brief, he said that you were helping. How much did you work with Bianca?”
“Not a lot,” she said, avoiding my eyes. “I’ve been mostlyfocused on Finn lately—helping him contain his emotions. We have an understanding.”
Her cheeks darkened, and her continual refusal to look in my direction caused alarm to rush through me.
“Don’t tell me that you have feelings for him?” Even though I asked, I already knew. “Kayla, how could you?”
“It’s really none of your business, Julian,” Kayla said, her tone somewhat snarky. “You don’t own me.”
“Kayla, he’s violent, unpredictable, and already put one man into a coma. Then, when his victim was on the verge of recovery, he broke into the hospital, misused his power, and paralyzed him! There could be no possible reason for that,” I lectured. I couldn’t believe her stupidity. “Why are you all acting like this is no big deal?”
Instead of helping her understand, my words caused her expression to turn fierce. “You’ve got some nerve!” Her eyes glittered with anger.
“Kayla?” I stepped back.
“You may be my superior, and you may have more power than I do, but that’s no excuse.” Her eyes flashed as she pressed her finger into my chest. “You don’t control my life, or what I do in my free time. Finn cares for her; he would never harm her or me. Now stop acting like a fool and tell me your real problem.”
“What?” I felt flush as my heart thundered. “You…” I began.
Why would she lie to me? Even my own mother. They’d kept Bianca a secret, and when she needed me most, I couldn’t be there.
All because no one could trust me. That’s what pissed me off the most.
If Kayla wanted to be stupid with Finn, that was her business. I just needed to know—was it my fault?
“It was afterhim, wasn’t it?” I asked, clenching my fist. “That’swhy no one told us about her. They thought I wasn’t able to handle it.”
The snark left her expression in an instant. “Julian…”
It was all the confirmation I needed.
Kayla was silent momentarily but carefully said, “You were so angry back then—knowing what happened to her would have shattered you. Auntie wanted you to focus on getting past everything with your father.”
My heart sank as my deepest fears were confirmed. “So, I’m right.”
“There’s other reasons too,” Hanah interjected, her gaze traveling between us. “Damen was still immature, and Miles was dealing with his anxiety attacks. Plus, after what happened with Kiania, no one knew if she’d survive. Mom worried that anything paranormal would make things worse for her or draw the Council’s attention. Then there’s the fact she’s scared of men. We didn’t know how she’d react with the four of you. You’re all imposing.”
I could understand the last part. After learning everything, I was surprised she was doing so well. Even in the beginning, she’d trusted me—she’d said so herself—even when she had no idea who we were. I was so thankful the companionship we shared in past lives was enough to bind her to us without fear.
An earlier echo of Hanah’s words ran through my mind. And something else she said when she’d disclosed Bianca’s story to us now stood out. “But you never agreed on their methods,” I said. She’d been angry at the mention of her parents. “That was why you wouldn’t go home.”
“That’s true.” Hanah nodded as she crossed her arms. “I don’t think lying is ever justified, no matter what happened in her past.”
I agreed and was about to say so when she continued, “Besides, letting her avoid these things might be more dangerous.We don’t know howshe ended up in the position we found her or even the details of what happened there.”
Kayla leaned forward over the glass countertop. “Bianca had no legal papers before Abigail was involved, and to this day, we have no records from before her adoption. Her family and medical history is unknown. We’ve been trying to locate anything, but haven’t had any luck.”
“Titus has copies of everything available so far,” I told them. I tapped my fingers against my bicep. Something wasn’t adding up. “Does anyone know how she was taken fromWhisperwind?”
