Page 208 of Whispers of Wisteria
“He is…” I began. My chest felt full. I knew before he spoke, but he said it anyway.
“Mu’s previous life before you.” He nodded, looking very grumpy. “He had me going all over creation running errands for his Grand Return. He was a bit melodramatic.”
He tilted his head and added, “Kind of like you.”
“I’m not!” I gasped.
Uncle Caleb rolled his eyes. “Sure.”
I looked away and clutched the rabbit tighter. I still wasn’t sure what the right thing to do was, and it was scary to think about it. But if I was going to stop running, then I couldn’t put this off any longer.
My head spun as I swung my feet over the edge of the bed and stood. Uncle Caleb just watched, unimpressed.
“I—I’m going to go talk to them,” I said. Why did I sound so pathetic?
He nodded. “Good.”
I was half-turned toward the door when he added, “Bianca.”
I paused, my heart pounding in my ears, and looked at him.
He wouldn’t meet my eyes, and his words were gruff when he said, “You were worth the search.”
I sucked in a breath to respond, but he’d already left.
There werevoices coming from Damen’s office when I approached, but I couldn’t make out the words. The world was muffled without faces.
I didn’t knock—I might run away if I stopped for even a second. Instead, I opened the door.
The conversation stopped.
Damen was standing behind his desk, with Julian, Titus, and Miles nearby. Across from them, on the other side of the desk, were Uncle Gregory, Bryce, and Brayden.
Damen and Uncle Gregory had been leaning over the desk, reading, but looked up when I entered.
“You’re awake!” Julian sounded surprised. “How are you feeling?”
I looked at my feet as he started to move towards me.
The lacy hem of my nightgown brushed across my ankles as I shifted my weight from foot to foot. “I want to meet Declan.”
No one spoke.
“Please,” I added, hugging the rabbit closer.
“Of course!” Brayden broke the silence. He practically jumped across the room to stand in front of me. “We’ll have dinner, okay?”
I rubbed the rabbit’s ear between my fingers and nodded. What a thoughtful idea. Everyone knew food was an efficient way to show affection.
Well, everyone except a specific person who always forgot to feed me.
Titus coughed, looking me over, then froze. He stared at my hands, and his expression turned dark.
I ignored him.
“You understand what that means?” Uncle Gregory stood taller, yet kept his fingertips on the table.
“Y-yes,” I answered, my voice wavering. “He’ll want me to move toWhisperwind.”
