Page 41

He started past Finn, and my stomach twisted.

I didn’t understand. I was nobody to him.

“Why…” I grabbed the back of his shirt. “Why would you help me?”

Anthony knew who I was, but Damen hadn’t told Bryce or Brayden yet. As far as they understood, I was Bryce’s future ‘ protégé.’ That was, unless they’d figured it out, which I was beginning to suspect was the case.

“I have my reasons,” Brayden said. Then he left me with Finn and moved toward James’s still-frozen form.

The salt circle was still glowing, and Miles remained on the other side, chanting under his breath, while Finn, Anthony, and I stood aside within. Meanwhile, Brayden approached James with a regal assurance that made my breath catch.

I could now easily see why the Dubois family was considered a noble line. There was an air to him that seemed otherworldly and untouchable. A tension vibrated through the ground and into my bones as Brayden stepped in front of James.

James’s presence flickered and wavered like a candle in the wind as his eyes fixated on Brayden.

Meanwhile, Brayden was calm as he extended his left hand to the ghost. In his right hand, he still held the lance. It was pointed to the earth, but this time, shimmering marks and swirls were etched along the handle and blade.

“This is your last chance to leave,” he told James.

“No.” James narrowed his eyes. The space between them crackled with tension, yet Brayden remained steadfast.

“I don’t want to exorcise you,” Brayden said, eyes flashing. “Either move on, or I will make you leave by force.”

I frowned at the scene and leaned in to Finn, “How is that not an exorcism?”

“It’s not,” he said. “It’s actually much more peaceful.”

Brayden closed the distance between them and grasped the front of James’s tattered shirt before his eyes began to burn a low emerald.

I glanced at Finn.

“Brayden is using his abilities to connect with the ghost,” Finn replied, watching with mild curiosity. “He’s much nicer about it than Bryce is.”

His easy explanation only made me that much more annoyed with the onmyoji. This sort of scene was not unfamiliar to him—yet he’d never once spoken to me about it.

The burning smell grew stronger, and I covered my nose as Brayden and James remained still amidst the swirling clouds.

“Either one of two things will happen next,” Finn continued.

“Brayden will be able to help the ghost sort through his feelings and reach a peaceful conclusion, which will allow him to move on. Or James will reject the help, and Brayden will sever the connection himself and James will have no choice but to move to the Underworld.”

“But…” I wrung my hands. “It’s not an exorcism?”

“It’s not.” Anthony stretched, and I noticed that his weapons were now missing.

“An exorcism is used as a last resort, usually only used in two situations. The first is if a spirit has done something horrible, or if they’re about to become a lost soul.

An exorcism erases a soul from existence, and they do not go to the Underworld.

Damen normally believes that most people deserve a second chance.

James really pissed Damen off when he decided to attack you. ”

“And most fae do not like exorcisms,” Finn added. “While Bryce or Xavier might have supported Damen in this, Brayden is completely on your side.”

Xavier… Who was he?

I lost my chance to ask. The mood before us shifted, and James moved again, stumbling back from Brayden as he touched his chest. “No!” he shrieked, and my breath caught. “I’m not done yet!”

The ghost lunged for me, pushing past Brayden. I stared as claw-like fingers reached out, coming closer—so close that I could practically feel them across my face.

Harsh hands snatched at my arms—a fiery pain radiating from the source—and I was thrown back to the ground. Someone followed me, and the light was blocked as I was pressed behind a larger form.

“A-Anthony?” I gripped his jacket as my concentration refocused. He was on the ground in front of me, while Finn stood in front of him, his sword ready once more. My arm burned where Finn had grabbed me.

Finn started forward, something strange and foreign in his features as a smoky heat began to rise across the ground, but Brayden reached the ghost first.

“That was a big mistake.” Brayden swung his blade down, and as the point of his weapon moved near the ghost’s feet, James froze.

There was a telltale snap in James’s expression, a terrible blankness that came across his eyes, and his form turned so light that I could see through him.

Then, before I could do more than hold out my hand, he vanished in a wisp of smoke.

The sky gradually began to clear, and the light and salt circle faded away. Within a minute, the only sign that anything had happened was our presence alone.

“Bianca!” Miles’s voice echoed distantly in my head.

I was still staring into the space where James disappeared as Miles grabbed me.

“Hey!” he said, running his hands down my arms. “Are you okay?”

Why did it sound as though he was about to cry?

“Sure?” I responded, blinking. Did I not look okay ?

“It almost got you.” Miles was shaking as he smoothed down my hair. “It looked terrible.”

“It’s fine,” I told him. “See, everything worked out in—”

My sentence was cut off as an invisible force slammed into my chest, and the breath was knocked from me. I doubled over and wrapped my arms around my stomach. The feeling of flames licked the bottoms of my feet, crawling up my legs, even though there was nothing there.

“Bianca?” Miles pulled at my shoulders. But I could not answer—my heart was racing so fast that I thought I might throw up.

There was a shout, furious at first and then worried, as additional voices began to enter the fold. But I couldn’t see, couldn’t look for them.

Suddenly, there was a new set of hands pressing against me, turning me over, before Damen’s torn features were wavering in my vision.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, and when I didn’t answer, he looked out past me. “What happened?”

It was Finn who responded, kneeling beside us. His features were somewhat blank, but we’d been familiar with each other long enough for me to see that he was desperately worried. “I told you—” he sounded furious, and his glare was accusing. “You can’t use your abilities!”

Indignation mixed with the fire. Distantly, a soft and melodious sound, barely distinguishable, replayed in my mind. But I could hardly focus past the flickering clouds spreading from the corners of my vision.

Yet, my attention was captured by the lingering looks between my companions.

No! I would not have them be worried. This was a defining moment, and both Bryce and Brayden were watching. I had to make a good impression.

This was nothing.

“I’m fine.” I pushed Damen’s hand away and sat up. “D-don’t listen to him,” I muttered, refusing to meet Finn’s glare. I pushed the pain to the back of my mind as I stood and brushed off my knees. “I just fell.”

“Really, again ?” Finn’s reply reeked of sarcasm. “Then show me your arm.”

My arm?

I grabbed my sleeve, making sure that it was pulled over my wrist, as I glared at him. I wasn’t sure what my arm had to do with anything, but he was wrong. “No!” I told him.

Being annoyed with Finn had a way of making me forget my aches and pains.

There was an uncomfortable silence, as if no one knew what step to take next. My attention lingered on Damen, who looked between my coconspirators with an indiscernible expression. Julian and Titus had also arrived, and Julian was about to approach his brother.

This was more important than me.

“Don’t blame them,” I said, cutting off their lectures before they could begin. “I asked for their help. And I was right. We were able to deal with the ghost ourselves.”

Whatever argument Damen was about to delve into with the Officers turned in my direction instead. “I told you no,” he said, brows furrowed.

I touched my fingertips to my chin. He appeared to be quite agitated, seemingly torn between relief and anger.

“But…” I knew he’d be mad at me, but not this much. My confidence wavered as my stomach dropped. “I was right,” I pointed out once more .

That didn’t seem to matter to Damen, and his jaw clenched. “You were in danger! You could have died.”

“So?” I pursed my lips. “There are worse things that can happen to a person.”

Whatever argument he had fell, and he—along with Titus and Julian—stared at me.

I tilted my head. Had I truly persuaded them with my brilliant rebuttal?

“Bianca—” Finn stepped beside me. “I’m leaving now.”

Oh, now he was going to announce it? The last time we fought together, he ran away in secret. “Fine,” I told him.

“Please don’t do anything stupid.” He sighed, touching his head. “Or at least text me first.”

I frowned at him. “I texted you this time.”

Finn’s mouth turned down; he was not appeased. “You only contacted me to prove a point, and you were annoyed at everyone else.”

“What do you know?” I clenched my fists. “You weren’t there.”

“If you haven’t realized by now that I know everything about you, you’re delusional,” Finn replied, brushing his shoulder.

“Just go away.” I waved, gesturing for him to leave. It would be rude not to acknowledge his contribution, however, so I added, “But excellent work—we survived. Your assistance was much appreciated.”

“Hey, Finn,” Damen broke into the conversation. His forehead was wrinkled as he looked between us. Julian, who was staring at Finn, also wore a dark expression as he cracked his knuckles.

Finn glanced at his brother. “Yeah?”

“How many friends would you say you had in high school?” Damen asked .

I wanted to answer ‘Zero.’ After all, he was a traitor, and our friendship had been nothing but a mountain of falsehoods built on the pain of feigned allegiance.

“One,” Finn replied, looking at me. My breath caught at the open guilt in his expression. “Although she’s a bit more than that, but not really.”

“Yes, I know.” I frowned at him. We’d gone over this—these were the foundational words that had destroyed my trust. “I’m your responsibility ,” I reminded him.

“Something like that,” Finn replied, narrowing his eyes.

I gasped—he didn’t even deny it!

“Bye.” He bid me farewell, but then paused, glancing at me over his shoulder. “And stop looking up dumb shit on the internet,” he said. “It’s annoying when you cry.”

Finally, he walked away.

“Don’t say stupid stuff!” I flexed my fingers as I called after him. My heart was pounding as embarrassment flooded through me. Anthony glanced between us before he followed Finn. But outside of that, I couldn’t bear to look at anyone else.

“Bianca,” Julian said, moving beside me and taking Finn’s abandoned space. “Can I see your arm?”

“What?” I jumped at his nearness and closed my hand over my wrist. “W-why?”

He touched my hand. “Just for my own peace of mind?” he asked. “Please.”

I normally would have said yes. However, there was something in his demeanor—in the way that he, Damen, and Titus were watching me—that I did not like.

Anger, I expected. Or, at the very least, annoyance.

But why would they pity me?

I despised those concerned looks. It reminded me of my childhood when I was asked to talk to strange adults in bright, glass rooms.

At least this time, I knew the reason behind the expression.

I’d only proven further that I was not on their level.

“N-no,” I said, pulling away from Julian’s touch. I moved to the only one in my quintet who still believed in me.

“Hey,” I said, grabbing Miles’s hand. “Are—are you okay now?”

Miles blinked as he looked at me. “Huh?”

I bit my bottom lip. It must have worked. I had kept my promise to ensure his safety. “You’re not afraid anymore, right?” I asked him. “The ghost hardly even noticed you.”

“What are you talking about?” Miles crossed his arms over his chest. “That ghost was terrible. I hate them even more now!”

“Actually,” Brayden cut in, “James was mentally compromised. Bianca was right to step in. James was terrified of his father, and Edward killed him after Rosalie died because he couldn’t function. He wasn’t evil. His entire world had imploded.”

I glanced at Brayden, who shrugged.

“I told you; empaths can sometimes see memories too. Thank you for relying on me.”

My cheeks burned, and I looked away. “R-right…”

“That doesn’t change anything,” Miles said. “I still don’t like them, but maybe this was the right call.”

Still, my stomach sank as I pet his arm. “At least you were able to practice,” I told him. “Soon, you’ll be as good as the witches on the TV show.”

“I told you, they’re fake!” Miles protested.

He’d left his half-empty bag of salt near where he’d sat during the ritual, and I picked it up.

“Don’t forget this,” I said, waiting for him to take it from me. “For you to add to your collection. And—” I grabbed his hand, and he allowed me to turn his wrist until his palm was face up. I picked up some dirt from where James had been standing when he vanished.

“This too,” I told him, pouring the light, grainy soil into his cupped hand. “Maybe you’ll find it useful one day.”

“Oh, um,” Miles was bright red. “Thanks.”

I stepped away—he could figure out how to transport his own present—and turned to leave.

But no one came after me.

My braid fell over my shoulder as I looked back, noting the silent queries from the rest of the group. “Are you coming?” I asked, focusing on Damen. If he wasn’t going to lecture me, then there was really no reason to stay here any longer.

Damen touched his temple before he finally spoke, “Yes.” His features were torn with indecision as if the matter might not be settled after all, but then he shook his head. “Let’s go back,” he agreed. “It’s too late to accomplish anything further tonight.”

Despite removing the suffocating presence that’d been hanging over us, the air still felt heavy as we made our way back to the parking lot.