Page 87 of Brambles and Bellflowers
“Only on certain things,” he answered, holding me to him as my foot caught on the edge of a stone. “Over ten thousand years,and I still don’t understand you. You’re always changing, but despite that, some aspects remain consistent.”
“Ten thousand years?” I repeated, but he didn’t elaborate—he only focused on the next ledge. When he didn’t answer, I asked, “How do the trees affect your abilities?”
“The roots break up my connection to the earth,” Miles responded, reaching for me. He grasped my wrist and pulled me up to another ledge. “It’s how, in nature, Wood controls Earth. In the context of our abilities, it’s how a fae’s magic can disturb the flow of a witch’s power. It’s how you are my Controller.”
I bit my lip as he continued to guide me. “I didn’t know that was how it worked.”
“I am Julian’s Controller,” Miles continued. “I can redirect Julian’s powers or hold him back.”
“I—” I hesitated, but when he looked back at me, I forced my heartbeat to calm and asked. “Do you guys ever use your abilities against each other?”
Miles froze. “What do you mean?”
“I’ve never seen it happen, right?” I asked.
“Titus has subdued you more than once,” Miles replied. “It’s very subtle—normally.”
He did? I frowned. “When?”
“When we first found out you were Mu,” Miles replied. “And you lost control in the bathroom.”
“When the wind destroyed Damen’s bedroom when I was upset?” I asked.
“You did that. Wind power is associated with Wood,” Miles explained. “It’s a physical manifestation of your powers; it’s how you blink. You’re manipulating the air around you.”
“Blink?” I repeated.
Miles pursed his lips. “You’ve done that too—jumping from one place to another without walking or running.”
“Oh…” I replied. I’d never really thought about it before, and Brayden and I hadn’t gone that far in our discussions.
What else did I do without realizing it?
“He also controlled you when you found out he was a dragon,” Miles pointed out.
“I wasn’t upset he was a dragon!” I argued. “I was upset because you said he’d eat me!”
Miles hummed and turned away, not looking embarrassed. “No. I only reminded you thatI never said hewouldn’t. Not that he would.”
I frowned at his back. He’d also freed me from the hospital and told me human laws did not apply to fae and the spiritual world. Was it possible that my precious, good-natured Miles was also… cunning?
How terrifying. He had such an unassuming presence. He could wreak much destruction if not kept in check.
“However,” he continued, unaware of my narrowed gaze, “controllerscanalso use their abilities to more forcibly subdue, which is another reason I must complete this quest.”
“Why?”
Miles climbed up a larger ledge, moved to his hands and knees facing me, and reached down. “Between you and me?” he asked, waiting until I nodded. He grasped my hand and pulled. “Julian has been left unchecked for far too long. He and I will have to talk when I return.”
Julian? But I hadn’t noticed anything. “What about?”
“You’ll see. We’re here.” Miles pulled me again to his side, bringing us to our destination.
We stood at the mouth of a cave. It was dark, and the opening slightly larger than Miles’s form. It might be a good place to camp for the night, but only under the right conditions.
“Do you think anything is in there?” I asked, pressing my fingertips to my lips. I was beyond cold at this point, too weary to shiver—the last thing we needed was to wake a hibernating bear.
“No,” he answered without hesitation, pressing his palm over the top of the entrance. “It’ll work well enough. Come on.”
