Page 39 of Brambles and Bellflowers
She crossed her arms. “Well, now maybe you should try to learn more about him. It could make your quintet stronger.”
But I already knew more about Miles than I wanted to—like Tu’s not-so-subtle self-insert romance novels chronicling his greatly embellished romantic escapades with Mu. We’d originally bought his books to support his writing career, even though he’d never once admitted that he was writing. Butdiscovering they were thinly veiled fantasies had crossed a line we couldn’t un-cross.
So, Maria was wrong. We paid plenty of attention to everyone in our quintet.
7
Bianca POV
I looked across my room,ensuring I hadn’t forgotten anything I could use for our trip. While I wasn’t well prepared, the few supplies I’d manage to wrangle would do well enough. My duffle bag was ready with sweatshirts, leggings, socks, a bar of soap, and a hairbrush.
The rest of the gear fell to the boys, and I hoped they were progressing in packing. Titus seemingly had a ready supply of camping supplies in the garage, but they had been dragging their feet throughout breakfast.
It was like they weren’t bothered that Miles was out lost in the woods somewhere.
I nodded at my room. Yes, I was more than ready to gather up my wayward witch. And once he was back home—where he was meant to be—we could discuss why he thought running off in the middle of the night was acceptable.
I dragged my bag on the floor behind me as I descended the shiny, refurbished stairs.
Wilderness survival wasn’t my favorite activity, but maybe this would be a good opportunity for the five of us to bond.
Perhaps my skills might even be helpful. This was my chance to make a good impression.
I still pulled my bag behind me as I stepped into Damen’s entryway, where the sight of Bryce, Brayden, and Finn lingering in front of the doorway made me pause.
Why were they also wearing hiking gear?
“What is this?” I asked, frowning at Julian, who’d broken away from conversation with Titus and stepped to my side.
Julian reached for my bag, picked it up, and tossed it to Titus. “Did you pack enough?” he asked, not waiting for an answer. “They’re only coming along part of the way. Be nice.”
I was being nice. But seriously, didn’t these people have lives?
“Bryce wants to come.” Damen stepped beside me and threw his arm over my shoulders. “He said he needs to defend your honor.”
Excuse me?
I narrowed my gaze at Bryce, but the other man didn’t even have the courtesy of looking in my direction.
“We’ll be fine,” Titus was telling them. “You know we’d never let anything happen. It would be best if you stayed. There’s more than enough to do with the investigation. Besides, he might not come out if you’re there.”
“We’ll stay in the hotel.” Brayden stepped between them. “Just in case he doubles back before you find him.”
“Why are you trying to make her hate him?” Julian glared at Damen. “That’s just childish!”
There was a smirk in Damen’s eyes as he readied his retort, but this was more important. I curled my fingers in his burgundy fleece, capturing his attention as the mirth faded from his expression.
“What investigation?” I asked, glancing at Julian. He stood still, expression carefully blank.
This had better not be what I thought.
Julian’s blue eyes, usually so tranquil, turned dangerously cold at my question. He glanced toward Damen, mouth open to answer—
“We’ll talk after we come back,” Damen interrupted, spinning me from Julian to face him. He held me firmly by the shoulders, a commanding, decisive tone in his voice that shot chills down my spine. “Don’t worry about it right now.”
I held his gaze, hoping that my displeasure was evident in my glare.
“I knew you’d understand,” he said, petting my head. “You always do.”
