Page 131 of Brambles and Bellflowers
“I—I mean…” Why was he looking at me like that? “He did. But—” I was shaking so hard my knees rattled. “What—what if it doesn’t work?”
“It will work,” Miles responded firmly. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the vial of potion.
“I—I don’t know,” I told him. “I don’t want you to waste it. Who—whose blood were you going to use?”
“Damen’s,” he replied. “I keep some on hand for emergencies.”
“Damen’s!?” I covered my mouth, unable to hide my disbelief. I had no idea how many people he’d slept with, and while it was definitely fewer than me, there was no way he was a virgin. “What?”
“Make no mistake”—Miles’s lips quirked—“it’s not because he has a pure heart—there’s too much darkness in him for that. He’s my Supporter, that makes him an exception.”
“Oh,” I replied. So, my original concerns were still valid. I shifted my weight between my feet. “But what if—”
“Hold that thought,” Miles interrupted, raising his hand. “Sit down.”
“Um, sure.” I obeyed as he moved to a seat on the ground. I sat on my knees as he placed the jar on the ground and began to mess around in his little belt bag. I vaguely noted the Hawthorne berries but was too nervous to care other than to wonder: was that all he’d been eating before we arrived?
“This is important,” I told him, barely able to control my voice. I pulled a lock of my hair over my shoulder and twisted it between my fingers. “I’m sure there’s someone else out there far more qualified—and much less of a risk—than—”
He’d cut off my protests by shoving some berries in my mouth, and I stared at him.
“Eat that,” he said. “I want to hold your hand.”
I nodded but wasn’t sure why he was telling me now. He held my hand all the time. Still, I wouldn’t argue. It wasn’t like I could anyway; he’d already grabbed my wrist.
What a weird way to hold someone’s hand.
“That’s not—” I mumbled as I chewed, but my statement ended in a yelp. “Ow!” I glared at Miles as he held my pointer finger in an unbreakable grip. He tossed something over his shoulder and reached for the open glass bottle. “Why would you…”
He didn’t answer me. Instead, he wore a look of intense concentration as he held the bottle under my hand and squeezed my finger. Blood began to bubble up from the treacherous wound, and I continued to scowl at him as he guided a few drops into his beautiful potion.
“Good,” he said. He released me and held up the jar in front of him. The lantern light cast creepy shadows over his face, making it seem that his good-natured features might be a bit wilder than previously noted. The potion began to change colors until it turned into a dark crimson.
I’d stuck my finger back into my mouth. “You tricked me.”
“I prefer to think of it as operating on a need-to-know basis,” he replied.
I watched him warily. Why did he look so pleased?
“I told you it would work,” he said, showing me the potion. “It’s perfect.” He swirled the red, thick solution that now appeared to have a slight glow from within. “I only needed your blood.”
My skin grew cold as my annoyance faded, and I blinked down at it. “Oh…” Titus—and Finn—had said, but I hadn’t believed them.
“But—” I’d been so sure. Even back then. “Does that mean that D-Daniel Cole…”
I almost let him win.
“The fae aren’t the only ones who hide double meanings within their words,” Miles said, leaning into my line of sight. “If Daniel had been successful in using your blood in his spell, you would not have just been lost to us again, but there would have been no avenging you.”
“Oh,” I said again, my skin flushing. Miles pulled my hand back to him.
“You might be my Controller,” he said, kissing my fingertip. “But it would be disastrous for a witch with ill intent to gain access to anything you offer. Be careful.” He lifted his gaze, and our eyes locked. “Please,” he added.
“O-okay,” I replied. My chest felt heavy, and a sense of dread pooled in my stomach.
There was still so much I didn’t know.
“You’ll be fine,” Miles continued. As he spoke, he laced his fingers through mine, and my attention was pulled back to him. “I need you to trust me.”
