Page 107 of Whispers of Wisteria
“D-do you think h-he’s mad at m-me?” I asked.
Damen had been super angry when I didn’t listen to him when he fought the hyenas. And he wasn’t thrilled when I jumped between him and the Snallygaster. He told me never to get involved.
But this was the first time I’d ever really gotten hurt, and fromhis own hand.
He was probablybeyondlivid with me.
“Damen?” Miles asked, pressing the towel to my lip. “Nah. He’s upset with himself.”
“But…” My attention wandered back to where he’d disappeared.
“He’s a lonely person,” I whispered, voicing my long-held theory for the first time. Miles’s movements paused at my statement, and he raised his eyebrow, giving me a doubtful look.
Was I the only one who could see it?
“He acts the way he does because he wants attention. He needs to be loved and admired. He lashes out when he feels like he’s losing control because he doesn’t know what else to do,” I told him; my breath was tight at the thought. “He crossed a line and probably has no idea how to make it better. He won’t stop running away, especially if he’s ashamed.”
He was a lot like me in that regard.
“He needs someone to talk to him.” I should go after him, but what if he was still mad?
Bryce groaned, rolling his eyes as his posture relaxed. “Fine.”
I glanced at him. ‘Fine,’ what?
“I’ll go be his friend again,” he answered, sounding put out.
“Wait…” That wasn’t what I wanted. Not exactly. I wanted Damen to stop running, but not—
I pushed on Miles’s shoulder, holding out my hand to Bryce. But he was already stalking away.
Friends, again?
Why did my chest hurt at the thought?
I didn’t want Damen to feel lonely, but that wasn’t what I asked for. If Damen was friends with Bryce, then where did that leave me?
16
Damen POV
You hit a girl.
The accusation rang in my ears.
Kasai started berating me the instant she fell to the floor. The shikigami had been trying to get my attention before that, warning me that fighting Miles wasn’t the most brilliant idea.
But I couldn’t ignore it. The fact thatMileshad her attention filled me with an emotion that I’d thought I’d long since moved past.
You hit a girl.
And not just anygirl, butBianca.
She was mine to take care of, to adore. I’d been waiting for lifetimes, and now, when we were almost there, I’d hurt her like she was nothing.
What the hell was wrong with me?
“You’re an idiot.”
