Page 78 of Brambles and Bellflowers
“I will say nothing more on the matter,” Damen said with finality, his usual playfulness nowhere to be found.
“Understood,” I said, my shoulders slumping. I looked back to the ground. One had to pick their battles when it came to Damen. “But it doesn’t change that I still have another reasonfor being out here,” I reminded him. “I still need to complete my mission. Otherwise, there’s no point in me coming this far. At least, I should graduate. The quintet needs it.”
Especially considering Julian’s rising animosity toward Damen. There would be no way to contain the necromancer unless I gained power. I had no choice but to focus on mastering myself and my abilities if we wanted to make it as a quintet.
Bianca POV
Morning dew clung to the grass as I approached the campfire where Miles sat alone. He was surrounded by his little cloth pouches and papers, organizing them as he muttered under his breath. I wasn’t sure where the others had disappeared to, but I was happy to be alone with him.
“Good morning,” I said. He jumped as he looked at me while I settled beside him on the damp ground.
“Ah,” he said, a tight smile crossing his features. His hair was still messy from sleep, chocolate strands falling over his forehead, and he was still wearing that horrid outfit. “Hey there. Did you sleep well?”
“Well enough…” A sense of wariness passed over me as I watched him organize his bundles back into his bag.
Why was he packing up? Were we leaving already?
“I made you breakfast,” he said, inclining his head to the left. I glanced at the fire pit, where a cup of apples and oatmeal had been placed on a flat rock. “I put some supplies in Damen’s bag, but you’ll have to cook for yourself if you want to eat something decent on the way back.”
My shoulders tensed. “But you’ll be with us.”
His movements slowed but didn’t stop packing as he looked at me. “No, Bianca,” he said softly. “I have to continue my quest.”
“Your quest,” I repeated, feeling my stomach drop. “The one to find Bigfoot?”
“To find a Bigfootartifact,” he clarified, finger in the air. “I need an item of magical properties from a supernatural creature. Such power would allow my spell to bridge the gap between shadow and light.” His eyes took on an otherworldly gleam, and he continued excitedly. “With such power, I can brew the Potion of Inner Sight, allowing me to traverse the spirit realm and confront my shadow self. Only by defeating my darkest fears can I unlock my full potential as a witch.”
I didn’t know what that meant, but it sounded important.
“Um… that seems like a lot of work,” I began. “Dragons are ‘supernatural creatures.’ Can’t you ask Titus to shift and take one of his scales?”
Miles leaned back. “He would never let me.”
I wrinkled my nose. Did that mean it was possible?
“I’m a fairy—” I pulled a handful of my hair over my shoulder and held it out to him. “You can have some of my hair. It should work, right?”
“I’m pretty sure that’s cheating.” Miles frowned. “Plus, you shouldn’t give your hair to people—especially witches. There’s only certain circumstances in which I’d let you.”
“But—” What was wrong with being resourceful?
“Besides,” Miles said, brushing off his shoulder. “Jonathon specifically used the word ‘quest.’ I can’t let him down. I would have to have no other choice.”
I pursed my lips. “That’s how he talks…”
“You don’t know how awful it would be to fail,” Miles said, shuddering.
“I’m sure he doesn’t care, just so long as it’s from a ‘supernatural creature.’ ”
“He’s terrifying,” Miles protested. “I can’t even imagine what he might do.”
What?
“This is the only way for me to prove myself,” Miles said. He hesitated only briefly, glancing around the campsite before he quickly added. “If I’m ever going to have a chance to enter into a Soul Bond with you, I must do this on my own—the traditional way.”
“Oh,” I nodded, finally understanding. It was about tradition.
That I could support.
