Page 46 of Brambles and Bellflowers
I had waited for Damen’s decision, but it was the wrong decision, so there was no use in hearing him out. Besides, what was he going to do about it? Absolutely nothing.
“For what it’s worth,” Bryce began, pulling me aside as the rest of our group grumbled onto the patio, “I think you’re going to do just fine.”
“The lady should ride with me,” Troy called across the gravel lot, his eyes fixed on me. “I know these roads better than anyone.”
Titus paused beside me, his expression far scarier than anything Damen could muster.
“She stays with us,” Titus said, his voice threatening.
Something in his tone seemed to register with Troy. The uniformed man’s posture deflated slightly, though his gaze drifted back with unsettling interest. There was a familiar look in his eyes—it made my chest tight and my breath shallow.
I slipped away from Bryce and moved between Titus and Damen. “Is everything okay?” I asked, noticing their tense strides.
“He’s challenging me,” Titus grumbled. “I don’t think he knows who we are, and that bothers me. Plus, I don’t feel like dealing with a wolf today.”
I could no longer feel my feet as the word hit me like a physical blow.
“W-wolf?” I repeated as my vision tunneled, and the world seemed to tilt beneath my feet. Memories I’d tried so hard to bury clawed their way to the surface—the sound of growling in the dark, the feeling of being hunted, that terrible knowing that no matter how fast you ran, they would always catch you.
Where was he?
I started to turn, panic rising in my throat, but Titus wrapped his arm around my waist. I looked into his face as his solid warmth anchored me to the present, though my heart still raced painfully in my chest.
“I’ll handle the rogue later," he said, blood roared in my ears. “We need to find Miles first.”
We’d reached the SUV, and Titus lifted me into the passenger seat while Damen opened the door, their movements synchronized and swift. My hands wouldn’t stop shaking.
“It’s fine, princess.” Titus lowered his head to mine, his hair creating a curtain around us, blocking everything else. “It’s okay to be scared. That’s why I’m here.”
I sucked in a breath and nodded.
“Hey—” Brayden spoke from somewhere beside me, and I flinched. Where had he come from? As he approached, I pulled back and pushed my wrists against my eyes.
“Here,” he said, ignoring Titus’s glowering as he shoved a stack of papers into my lap. “I picked up some pamphlets; you should probably read them.”
“Oh,” I whispered, looking down at the small pile. “Okay.”
This was nice—it gave me something new to focus on.
“This one in particular,” he said, moving a particularly colorful one to the top. “You’ll find it very interesting research.”
Really? I bit my lip, studying it. It looked cartoonish to me, and I wasn’t sure how it was relevant to our trip, but if he said so…
It sure was good that I had Brayden—I’d completely forgotten to do any research before now. What if the success of our mission hinged on some obscure local reference that only I could find? How neglectful I had been not to read the material!
“Thanks,” I told him, smiling this time. “You’re a good brother.”
Brayden stilled as the color rose to his face. “I—” he began, a strange tone to his voice. “Just read them, and don’t tell Bryce,” he muttered before scurrying away to join Bryce.
I looked after him, then back to Titus and Damen—both smirking. “What?” I asked them.
“He’s not used to it yet,” Damen replied. “Fae men are weird. Give him time to adjust.”
“Oh.” I pretended to understand. “Sure.”
“Just stay up front with Titus,” Damen ordered. He placed one more pamphlet over Brayden’s pile and touched my head. “And do your reading.”
“But—” I began. Was he giving up the front seat? I glanced at the center console. “That’s your seat.” He was theleader, which was supposed to be a whole thing, and…
