Page 40 of Brambles and Bellflowers
“It’s like hewantsto die,” Finn said to Brayden, nodding in Damen’s direction. “And I just saved his life yesterday too.”
“Let it go,” Brayden answered. “I can’t wait to see the explosion. You can’t save people from their own stupidity; you should know this first-hand.”
Finn stepped back, fingers tightening over the straps of his backpack. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Just stop it.” Brayden rolled his eyes. “I see straight through your little games. You’re just embarrassing yourself.” Then, catching on to the fact I was watching him, Brayden’s derision turned to innocence. He stepped forward, grabbing my hand and pulling me from Damen and Julian.
“I’ve put in a request for the books you asked for,” he said, cupping his mouth between us as if we shared a great secret. “And here’s something else.” He slipped a pamphlet into the open V of my fleece. “Some local folklore on the place we’re going. Don’t tell the others. Bryce will be a complete pain in the ass if he knows.”
“Oh…” I pressed my hand to my chest. “Thank you.”
Titus’s Yukonwas roomy enough for us to spread out over three rows. I’d taken up residence in the back—alongside Brayden and Finn—where we procured a lap desk and played Old Maid to pass the time.
Julian and Bryce were in the middle seats, their heads tilted toward each other in conversation. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but Julian’s posture was unusually relaxed as he flipped through his book, only occasionally glancing up to acknowledge Bryce.
I tried to focus on my cards, but my attention kept drifting to the rear-view mirror, where I could see Titus’s stern expression. His lips moved as he said something that made Julian’s mouth quirk slightly—a sight that only fueled my growing unease.
“This is a waste of time,” Finn grumbled. “He clearly doesn’t want to be found.”
Julian barely looked up from his book as he nodded. “It is much more peaceful without his constant lectures.”
“Well, we’re siccing Bianca on him now,” Brayden replied. “It’s going to be hilarious.”
I frowned at him. What was he implying?
“True,” Bryce nodded. “She can be quite formidable. Imagine if she’d been around that time he vanished for three weeks. Where was he anyway?”
“He was living with a family of raccoons,” Julian answered mildly as he turned a page in his book. “In a treehouse.”
“That wasn’t nearly as bad as when he decided to become a wandering minstrel,” Titus said, and I glanced to the front of the car. His smirk reflected through the visor mirror. “I still have his lute hidden in the garage.”
“Such a hassle,” Finn replied, stealing a card from Brayden. “Some of you seem to forget that you have people whose job is to keep tabs on you. Why make our lives more difficult?”
“Really?” Brayden lowered his cards slightly to look at Finn. “Since when do you care? You never bothered to take your role seriously before.”
Finn glanced at me and frowned. “Is that so?” he asked.
“W-what? Why are you looking at me?” I felt myself flush. My heart began to race, and I was flustered at the utmost disrespect. “Plus”—I turned from my ex-best friend and glared at the others—“how can you all be so calm about this? Miles is out there alone, and none of you are concerned!”
“He’s not a baby,” Finn told me. “He can take care of himself.”
“That’s not the point!” I snapped.
“Bianca,” Damen said, twisting to face me, and my attention strayed to his lips. “None of us would be in this car if we weren’t concerned.”
“You were just going to let him be until I said something,” I replied, pointing at him.
“I understand you’re anxious, but there’s no need to be rude,” Damen replied. “You forget that this is not unusual behavior for Miles.”
“That doesn’t make it normal for me!” I argued.
“I know that,” Damen nodded. “That is why we’re going to look for him now. So you will feel better.”
I leaned back as my face burned. “You’re doing this to humor me?”
“No,” Damen replied. “I just want you to see, first hand, that there’s no reason to worry. You need to trust in the Quintet Bond and Miles, even if we disagree with his methods. Besides, we would know if something happened to him. We would know ifhe was in danger. I would be able to feel it. That is a part of my abilities as the leader of this quintet.”
“Oh.” I pressed my lips together. “The same way you knew what was happening to me?”
