Page 147 of Whispers of Wisteria
“I have important business, boy,” he replied mildly. “Not everything revolves around you.” He frowned as he looked at the screen, and his expression darkened.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, not expecting him to answer. He never talked about work unless it involved one of Damen and Gregory’s cases—or he needed my help.
“It’s Lee,” he said, not looking at me as he typed a response. “Gloria disappeared during a job, and Cécile has returned to him. It was unable to follow her.”
I watched, trying to ignore the low hum thrumming in my ears. “And?”
“Bianca was with her,” he said. “She’s missing too.”
Numbness spread from my fingertips before I realized I’d curled my hands into fists. Lee Sao… I’d almost forgotten that he knew who Bianca was—he’d played a part in keeping her from us for the last ten years.
And now Bianca had vanished again.
“You’re sure?” I asked, my voice flat.
“Lee’s sure,” he said, not looking up. “Something’s wrong.”
“But…” I pressed my hand to my chest.
Our Quintet Bond with Bianca wasn’t working. It was supposed to be a connection of the threads that bound a quintet together. When in danger, a ripple moved through the line, affecting the rest of the group.
That was why the Soul Bonds were so important right now.
But—
I still didn’t understand. I hated feeling helpless.
“Why…” I muttered, more to myself than my grandfather. I hardly noticed him pause through the rising rush in my head. “Why can’t I feel anything?”
“There’s nothing to do about it now,” Pops replied. “Let’s continue.”
I stared at him as he returned to his seat across from me, picked up the thick brown towel, and wiped the floor clean.
He held up the chalk. “Veilcraft.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” The anxiety that’d been held back burst through the dam. “I’m not listening to your dumb lesson when Bianca’s missing! I need to find her.” I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone.
I didn’t care if he had a fit.
I had a message from her. She’d sent a photo of herself in a black skirt and turtleneck, and had asked my opinion of her glitter eyeshadow.
And I hadn’t responded yet. I hadn’t even known she was leaving.
Bianca.
“And you’re useless,” my grandfather replied, his calm voice grating against my thoughts. “Until you complete your assignment.”
“What are you…” I glared at him.
“Write the runes,” he told me, sliding the chalk toward me. It rolled across the floor and came to a stop at my knee. Meanwhile, he pulled out a knife from his pocket.
“Now,” he commanded. “Otherwise, your Bond is as dead as you fear.”
My blood chilled as I looked at the knife.
“What are you talking about?” I asked, though I suspected. I’d seen that blade a long time ago in my earliest childhood memories.
Alyssa Dubois had been pregnant. I’d still lived in Texas. However, we visited my grandparents because we knew Alyssa carried Mu. Pops asked for my help with a ritual. He said it was to protect someone special.
