Page 88 of Reflections of Peonies
He was just a jerk.
“Okay.” I got to my feet and brushed off my skirt. Although I was barely at the point of being comfortable alone with Brayden, it was certainly better than suffering under the weight of Finn’s suddenly very heavy stare. “What are we doing?”
I lookedaround the gloomy greenhouse, my eyes tracing the faint outlines of plants and the glass walls barely visible in the dim light. This space was a surprising discovery, almost intact enough to use despite its abandoned appearance.
My attention was pulled back as Brayden crossed his arms on the table and leaned forward. It wasn’t until I caught sight of his expectant expression that I realized he’d asked a question.
I blinked. “Pardon?” I asked, turning my full attention to him.
“Who taught you to block emotions?” he asked. “You’re not an expert, but you’re doing all right. If you weren’t, you’d have lost it by now. But I’ve noticed you struggle when you’redistracted. It’ll only get harder when your quintet comes into play.”
I tilted my head. “Whatareyou talking about?”
Now, it was Brayden’s turn to look confused. He raised his eyebrow. “You can’t tell?”
“Well, no. I do what feels natural,” I said. “When I feel overwhelmed, I focus on my breathing. But it’s sometimes hard to distinguish between my emotions and spirits’. But what does my quintet have to do with anything?”
“You don’t know?” Brayden sounded unsure, and I pursed my lips. After all, if I knew what he was talking about, this conversation would be going very differently.
He correctly interpreted my expression. “We aren’t limited to feeling only the emotions of spirits. We can also sometimes pick up on the emotions of our quintets.”
That was ludicrous. Surely, the boys would have said something.
I had my finger in the air, poised to argue. Then, recent events came to mind.
I’d kissed Damen in a moment of passion. Knowing this, everything made much more sense.
It wasn’t my fault. Although I’d attacked him, he’d seduced me just byexisting. He had probably been thinking lusty things. No wonder my heart always raced when he was nearby. I was being influenced by outside forces beyond my control.
I had been foolish. I always believed it was only the emotions of the dead that affected me.
What in the world was happening to me?
“The emotions of your quintet are different than a spirit’s. But if you’ve accepted your role, you will feel both,” Brayden continued. “You can learn to compartmentalize. I was worried you wereuntrained, but I’ve been watching—you just lack confidence. Who taught you before this?”
It was suddenly hard to breathe, and I focused on the double-door entry. “I’m okay with teaching myself.”
Brayden sucked in a breath, but before he could speak, the door slammed open, and Bryce strolled into the room. He was wearing a suit—although it was Saturday—and as he crossed the space between us, he loosened his tie and grumbled under his breath.
I’d never been so happy to see him, and a twinge of concern even touched me at his appearance. At this moment, he was far from the annoying man I’d come to know.
“What in the world is wrong with you?” Brayden dropped our previous discussion.
“It’s Abernathy.” He slumped into the seat beside me.
“Damen?” Brayden asked. “I thought he was painting.”
Bryce shook his head. “No, notthatone. I just came from a meeting with the dean.”
“Of the college?” Guilt twisted at me. Why did I have the feeling this was my fault? “Is it because of…” Bryce turned toward me, and I waved my hand. “Us?”
“Is it regarding our marriage?” Bryce raised his eyebrow. “In a manner of speaking.”
“Are you going to be able to keep your job?” Brayden asked.
My breath caught. I hadn’t considered this. However, relationships between students and professors were forbidden. “What’s going to happen?”
What about the plan? Would all of this be annulled, and I sentback?
