Page 22 of Brambles and Bellflowers
Well, then, he shouldn’t have started talking about it in front of me.
“Finn beat a man into a coma.” Xavier shrugged. “It was about three years ago. He used his abilities to go after a shifter. His victim became paralyzed. Julian takes Finn’s lack of oversight personally, especially sinceAnthonydidn’t do his job.”
Anthony glared at Xavier. “That’s not why he’s mad.”
“Maybe not the whole reason.” Xavier waved his hand in the air. “Stop glaring at me, I’m leaving.” He bowed slightly in my direction. “Goodbye, mistress. Until next time.”
Xavier strolled away, and my attention returned to Anthony, who continued to scowl after the retreating man.
“Is that why Julian hates Finn?” I dared Anthony not to respond this time.
Anthony sighed, the anger fading from his posture as his hand dropped back to his side. His expression was torn. “Yes. But it’s complicated.”
“What’s so complicated?” I asked. “What happened?”
Three years ago? We were in our sophomore year of high school then.
“Xavier spilled it already,” Anthony replied. “Finn went looking for a fight, found one, and almost killed the dude. ThenDamen and Julian got into it because Damen believed that Finn must have a reason, even if he didn’t share it.”
Unease began to stir in me. Finn had been in many fights over the years. But I’d never once known him tostartsomething. In most cases, he acted in my defense and never was the aggressor.
What in the world would possess him to attack someone unprovoked?
There was something wrong about this story, something I couldn’t ignore. Had I been that off in my initial judgment of Finn as a person?
“Don’t worry about Finn.” Anthony’s grin didn’t reach his eyes. “Only two people can stand up to him now, and you’re looking at one of them.”
4
“Here you are!”Damen greeted me at Dr. Stephens’s door with a grin before wrapping his hands around my waist.
I felt my cheeks warm as I watched him, taken aback by this sudden burst of affectionate attention. It momentarily stole my breath away. Understanding Damen’s ever-changing moods was proving to be a challenge.
“What took you so long?” Damen asked, turning his attention to Anthony. “Brayden sent you to find her ages ago.”
“Brayden told you to come get me?” I blinked at Anthony, my pride slightly bruised.
And here I thought he and I were beginning to understand each other. Had it all been a ploy?
“I would have walked with you anyway,” Anthony replied. “I’ve been waiting for the right moment to make my move.”
“Make your move?” Damen’s grip tightened on my waist.
“Oh, stop.” Anthony finally turned his attention to Damen. “It’s not like you’re thinking. I’m just interested in what’s going on these days. What’s so wrong with that?”
“I’m surprised you offered to do anything,” Damen admitted with a frown. “You’ve been hanging around a lot lately. You never cared to do your job before.”
Anthony glanced down the hallway. “Never had a reason to,” he answered, almost distractedly.
“What was that?” Damen asked.
“Nothing.” Anthony quirked his mouth at Damen. “Just that things are finally interesting. You’re so fucking boring.”
“Don’t curse in front of her!” Damen moved his hands over my ears.
“It’s not like that’s going to change anything.” Anthony shifted his backpack to his other shoulder. “She knows damn well what I’m saying.”
Damen, who was behind me, said something, but I didn’t catch it. Anthony smirked at him. “Lord, you really are an idiot. She can read lips.”
