Page 66 of Brambles and Bellflowers
“Did you live near water when you saw them, baby girl?” Damen’s voice was gentle, almost casual, as he moved closer.
Her shoulders tensed as she looked between us, and her pupils dilated slightly.
“It—it doesn’t matter,” she whispered, her gaze dropping to her feet. Her fingers twisted in her shirt hem, and it was clearthat pressing further would only make her retreat deeper into herself.
Damen caught my eye over her head, his expression carefully neutral even as frustration simmered beneath. Another lead, another dead end. But at least we knew to look south for further clues of Bianca’s life before Eric Richards.
“It’s okay,” Damen answered, pulling her from me. “Why don’t you go take that bath?”
“I’ll keep watch,” Julian said, claiming Bianca’s attention. “Titus and Damen need to talk.”
“Ah,” she said, not raising her eyes. “O-okay.”
Damen closed his hand over my forearm as Julian led Bianca away, and my dragon screamed in protest as my skin roared with the need to shift.
Why was she embarrassed? Why was she so afraid?
And why did it seem like there was nothing I could do to make it better?
It wasn’tuntil Bianca disappeared with Julian that Damen eased off.
He stepped back, throwing me a shaky smile, as he touched the chain around his neck.
“Sorry,” he said. “But you looked like you were about to jump out of your skin. Literally.”
“I was fine.” I wasn’t.
“I know you’re excited,” Damen continued, ignoring my statement. “But we are far from narrowing down where she lived before Richards.”
“Or learning how he got her,” I growled. That was the most important thing—and something she couldn’t, or wouldn’t, tellus. But if we could figure out where she’d met him and how it’d happened, it might give us a clue on how to track him now.
As it were, the man had vanished without a trace.
I’d promised her I’d find him, but it was looking less likely by the day—even with the help of our outside sources. Not even visiting the abandoned, burned remains of the wood-gray two-story house where Eric Richards had kept her prisoner had provided any clues. The place reeked of filth, squalor, and the faint, decade-old scent of corruption.
Time had weakened the evidence, so picking one scent out from the rest was nearly impossible. I thought I’d found hers, maybe even her room, but…
I’d really rather not have it be true.
“We’ll find him.” Damen remained eternally optimistic as he touched my shoulder. This time, there was no display of power to restrain me, only the comforting presence of a long-held friend.
What I wouldn’t give to have his faith.
“How can you be so sure?” My gaze moved to the place where Julian and Bianca had disappeared. The soft sounds of splashing water reached my ears.
“Because we don’t have any other choice,” Damen responded, his tone pulling me from my thoughts. His tone had suddenly shifted, and his fingers burned through my shirt. His bearing changed as he allowed, for the first time in lifetimes, the fire and darkness to rise within him.
I held my breath, my internal conflict settling in the awakening of the Demon King.
“You…” I began, but I was speechless.
Since when? He didn’t even have a Soul Bond with her, and having a second shikigami should have weakened him. But, instead, he was closer to the surface than ever before.
Did Julian know?
Probably not. Julian wouldn’t resist any opportunity to use his abilities on the onmyoji. But at least this explained Damen’s recent mood swings.
For a second, I was concerned, but then, as I realized the implications of his words, my trepidation was replaced with relief.
