Page 44 of Brambles and Bellflowers
“What something?” I asked.
“Do you feel better?” he asked, his thumb tracing over my pulse.
“Yes…” I replied, swallowing. The knot in my stomach had long since vanished, and it was much easier to breathe. “Are you… Are you controlling my emotions—like how Julian does?”
“He doesn’t control your emotions. He’s guiding your body’s responses,” Titus explained and glanced toward Julian, who had joined Damen at the counter. “Julian can command certain things—like your heartbeat or hormones—so you’re not overwhelmed.”
I frowned at him. “How is that different?”
“I’m shielding your empathic abilities,” Titus continued. “I’m blocking outside emotions from reaching you. Are you still upset about what happened in the car?”
“What happened in the car?” I asked, tilting my head.
“You were upset.” Titus pressed his lips together.
“Was I?” I didn’t recall that. It was an unpleasant conversation, but what was there to be upset about? “Because Damen was nosy?”
A line formed between Titus’s eyes as he watched me, and I blinked at him. “Maybe,” he said finally. “Are you sure you’re not mad at Damen?”
“Hm.” I looked at the person in question. “Would you hit him for me?”
“No,” Titus replied, turning my hands in his. “Although I wish I could.”
“Why not?” I asked, not realizing how the question sounded until his eyes met mine; his heavy brow raised in amusement. But it was a fact. Titus looked so much stronger than Damen. “I—I,” I stuttered, horror washing over me. “I was just curious!”
“Damen is ultimately in charge; I cannot go against him. But I’ll go after anyone else,” Titus replied. “Besides, Julian is the only one who can defeat Damen.”
“Julian would beat up Damen?” My throat closed at the very thought.
“Julian wouldkillDamen at your request,” Titus said, his voice deceitfully calm despite the words coming out of his mouth.
“What’s this?” Julian slipped beside us. “Do you want me to kill Damen?” he asked me, eyes glittering with eagerness.
“No!” I frowned at him. “I do not.”
What a terrible thing to joke about. I only wanted to show Damen that I would not be taken lightly. Damen would never respect my authority if Julian came jumping to my defense.
He frowned, his bottom lip jutting out. “Fine, darling. But if you ever change your mind, say the word.”
I glanced between them, confusion making me lightheaded. What in the world was happening?
Damen stepped away from the counter. “Everyone,” he began as the ranger got up from his seat. “This is Troy,” he continued, nodding toward the other man. “The park is technically closed, yet he’s ‘too busy’ to show us to the trail. However, in his benevolence, he’s willing to, begrudgingly, give us a map.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to help, but administrative paperwork takes up a lot of time,” Troy said as his attention moved across the room. “Besides, I’m sure you’ll be…” his words trailed off as our eyes met. My heart stuttered, and an inexplicable chill ran down my spine as the silver-eyed ranger’s gaze traveled from my black boot-covered toes to the top of my head.
Titus stiffened as the ranger sucked in a breath, doing a visible double-take. There was something predatory in his gaze, and my feet itched with the need to move.
“Actually, it’s procedure to take you there myself,” Troy said. I couldn’t breathe under his stare.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Damen’s eyebrow began to twitch, and his posture became something imposing. “You just said you didn’t have time. Give me the damn map.”
“No,” Troy replied. While he turned and shoved a few papers around on his desk and snatched up a set of keys, Titus pulled me behind him. “Rules are rules.”
“Rules that didn’t exist two minutes ago?” Damen protested.
I glanced around Titus’s arm. It was easier to think now that my racing heartbeat began to calm. But still, why did it seem like the park ranger hadn’t noticed me before? It wasn’t like I’d appeared out of thin air.
Unless…
