Page 145 of Brambles and Bellflowers
“No,” I replied. I’d find a much better way to kill him.
Besides, I’d just spared his feelings.
Titus’s face was easy to read, and so was Bianca’s… After all, one of my favorite pastimes was watching her when Damen was acting like a moron. It would be almost cruel—and not as fun—to clue him in this early.
I turned to Titus. “Okay, try it,” I told him.
Titus was already shifting before I’d finished speaking. His large, reptilian body twisted through the space, tail swishing behind us as he stood alert and closed his eyes. Even Damen, who’d been about to butt in, remained silent as we watched the dragon suck in a breath, whiskers swaying with the movement.
A long moment passed. Even the air stilled, and the rustling leaves quieted. My heart began to race in excited unrest for the first time since our journey began.
It hadn’t taken him this long before—and now that we knew what he was doing, hope began to swell in me. This was a good sign.
But then blood-red eyes flashed open, and my heart sank as his face lowered to the ground, defeat heavy in his frame.
Nothing yet.
Damen grumbled, glancing away. My stomach twisted. My disappointment wasn’t only for my sake and worry but also for Titus’s crumbling and spiraling state. Of course, I wasn’t ashifter. But from what I’d heard, an unsealed mate bond created a painful time of unrest for both parties.
Whatever we were going through, he had to be feeling Bianca’s loss ten times worse. I hoped we’d find them soon: an unstable dragon was dangerous for everyone.
Bianca POV
Miles was dragging a branch in the dirt as he trailed after me as we followed the river upstream. Initially, when he’d chosen the walking stick, I assumed his injury was acting up. However, his pain seemed forgotten due to his sudden interest in beingoverly communicative.
“—and that was my first kiss,” Miles rambled as he drew a line in the dirt behind him. “I was only eleven, but my grand-père said it was good for a young man to gain experience, especially in kissing. She had a pixie cut and blonde hair. Did you know that’s my usual type? It’s odd—you have long hair, and you’re a brunette. Maybe it means something. I also prefer my women to be tall, but you’re kind of—”
“Miles, what is your point?” I interrupted with a sigh.
My ire had been steadily rising over the last thirty minutes, which was approximately how long it’d been since he’d started reminiscing over all his past crushes.
And we hadn’t even gotten to the teenage years yet.
I’d thought Damen had been bad—I’d even requested not to know about his past fraternizing. I might have to establish similar boundaries with Miles.
And since when did he talk so much? Was it a family trait? Colette had been the same. Usually, I loved the sound of his voice, but my head was pounding.
Not to mention, I had no idea where we were.
But my annoyance at being lost evaporated under his relaxed demeanor. Although he’d mainly returned to his usual self, sans the abundance of conversation, there was something different in his mannerisms. There was a change in him now—his aura was softer, more relaxed, and the uneasy lines of his face had lifted.
Miles had finally found his confidence.
He’d always been attractive, but there was something irresistibly appealing about a man who carried himself with assurance. His large, imposing form seemed stronger somehow, and currently, his grin was causing my heart to flutter dangerously.
“But don’t you want to know everythingabout me?” he asked. “We’re together now.”
The puppy dog eyes caused my heart to twist with guilt.
“We’ve always been together…” I muttered. It was true, in one way or another, and in ways I didn’t fully comprehend; wehadalways been together. “But yes, I like hearing about your life.”
He perked up. “Good.” Contentment once again hung heavy in the air. “So, here’s the deal. The last time I got laid—”
I jumped toward him and slapped my hand over his mouth.
“Please don’t.” Despite my efforts to hold it back, my voice still came out as a growl.
But who could blame me? Miles having sex was not something I wanted to think about. There was such a thing as oversharing. Was this what the others meant by saying it was normal for me to yell at Tu?
