Page 141 of Balance

“Thirteen is the number of death and rebirth, and of creation and creativity,” I answered. “Although the numerology aspect is more within Damen’s domain. I am so sorry that I missed your birthday. What did everyone do to celebrate?”

She shrugged. “Nobody did anything.”

I clutched at my chest, horror numbing my senses. “Are you serious?”

“It’s not like I told them.” She shot me a curious look, unaffected by the plummeting temperature and cool breeze. “Who cares, it’s not like it’s a big deal.”

What in the world was wrong with this girl?

“Although, Finn did make me a cake and give me a present.” She pursed her lips, eyes darkening as she was pulled deep into a memory. “I’m not sure why. I’d thought he’d be eviler now.”

Finn!

Red flared across my vision and my fingers clenched.

I was going to kill that fucker. He knew it was her birthday and he didn’t tell anyone! The ass was trying to make us all look bad!

“Why are you so angry?” Bianca frowned, tucking a wayward strand of hair behind her ear.

“Never mind…” I wasn’t annoyed with her, but… stupid Finn. He could have at leastwarnedus. I was the worst boyfriend ever—not that Bianca had any idea.

I doubted she even realized what she’d agreed to—or if she did, was she aware of what it really meant?

Chapter Thirty

Bianca

Charge

Miles was upset, and I was almost certain it had something to do with my birthday.

“It’s okay.” I leaned forward, placing my hand on his arm. “You can always bake me a cake.”

This would be a good homecoming. I’d been craving some German chocolate—

Miles flushed, then he turned his gaze from me, blinking rapidly. “I’m not making you a cake!” he said, stepping back and picking up our bag. He moved past me, swinging the bag over his shoulder. “Let’s just go.”

I grumbled, my heart falling as I frowned after him. He continued to stalk forward in the dark, using the lantern to roughly smack wayward brush out of the way.

Why wouldn’t he cook for me? You’d think that after everything he put me through—

“I’m not doing the same thinghedid,” Miles grumbled as he reached back and grabbed my hand, pulling me closer to him. “I need to do something even better.”

What could be better than food?

“I—” I needed to right this misconception and to straighten out his priorities, but my thoughts trailed off as a soft ripple passed over my skin.

My ears popped and, suddenly, the air seemed lighter—almost as if a cloak had been lifted. This airy feeling had nothing to do with the brightening sky.

“Miles…” I squeezed his hand. “What’s ‘the edge of the forest’?”

I hadn’t understood his earlier instructions, but I went with it. It wasn’t as if we could have gotten more lost than we were already.

He blinked down at me. “You just led us through the woods without knowing where you were going?”

I shrugged—I’d only gone where it felt right in the moment.

“I thought youknew,” he muttered, rubbing his face. “You do know.”