Page 186 of Whispers of Wisteria
“You should be more worried about yourself,” Titus responded, inching toward me. “Your quintet will turn on you for hurting her.”
Jameson paused from adjusting his cufflink. He glanced at me, then frowned.
“Declan doesn’t frighten me,” he said. He rolled his shoulders. “Still, they would be better entertainment. Let’s end this. I’ve got more important things to do.”
A shrill whistle cut through the air, and before Jameson could even lower his hand from his mouth, smoke crawled over the floor.
That was… faster than Damen.
A silver falcon landed on Jameson’s outstretched arm.
“Go play,” he said, flicking his fingers.
The shikigami didn’t need to be told twice. It screamed as it leaped into the air, massive wings spread wide.
I pressed my hands to my mouth as Titus barely dodged the falcon’s strike.
Was there really nothing I could do?
Jameson looked at me, and my muscles tensed. He watched me curiously as I shrank back.
“Come here,” he said a second later. He held out his hand.
What?
My fingers shook, and I curled my hands against my chest and shook my head.
I couldn’t do that; he’d betrayed everyone. Plus, it’d really hurt the last time he’d touched me.
“Stop it.” He scowled. “It’s in your own best interest not to fight me. You won’t win.”
He stepped closer, and my body jerked.
No, no, no…
Then Titus was standing between us. “Back off, Jameson.”
He’d been wounded—blood seeped from a cut on his arm—and his breathing was heavy.
Jameson, in comparison, was in better shape. He looked at Titus, annoyed, and waved his hand dismissively.
“I told you to entertain yourself elsewhere,” he said coldly.
The shikigami came in from the side, and Titus was flung into a stack of crates on the opposite end of the room.
I covered my mouth as he fell.
How could Jameson be so strong? Maria had called Titus, Damen, and Julian the Power Trio. Yet right now, Titus didn’t even stand a chance.
Was this the strength of the legendary quintet that everyone kept talking about?
Would Declan be the same?
“Come,” Jameson said, closer now, and my breath hitched.
Titus wouldn’t win—instead, he might even die. And Damen wouldn’t be able to save us up here.
There was no way to escape.
