Page 167 of Balance

For a moment, I didn’t know who he was.

Huo’s features were different than I remembered. His face larger, and his shiny, raven-black hair was now a dusty copper. Shui stepped towards us, also recognizable only by the gentle humming of our bond.

The world swayed under my feet as I stumbled forward a step. This wasn’t right, even the air tasted different here. What—

“Mu?” Damen’s hands closed over my arms, holding me upright.

I blinked at him, dazed, as the remnants of my dream disappeared into the abyss. My arms felt heavy, but outside of that was a buzzing numbness that threatened to pull me under.

“Damen?” What was he doing here? I’d just been with Miles, watching, safely, from a distance as Titus unsuccessfully tried to subdue the Snallygaster.

“Bianca!” Julian pushed the other man away, ignoring Damen’s glare as he ran his hands over my arms. “What in the world happened? Where have you two been? Are you okay?”

“I…” I bit my lip, trying to focus, but it was difficult with the ringing in my ears.

“You have a sword.” Damen crossed his arms, voice dry. “And you just bitch-slapped a dragon with it.”

The statement was so absurd it managed to pull me back to reality.

“What?” I frowned at him. Had he resorted to taking mind-altering drugs? “What are you…”

My words trailed off as my right hand tightened over a smooth, handle-like object. I didn’thaveto look to know what it was—this feeling wasn’t entirely unfamiliar—but I did anyway.

“A little help here?” Titus called, thrashing with the monster in the distance.

“Stop whining,” Damen responded. “You and Miles can deal with it for a moment.”

Miles was fighting? But how? He’d hurt his leg.

I probably should say something—dosomething—but my body wouldn’t obey. I couldn’t tear my eyes from the weapon in my hand. I stepped away from Julian and stared down at the crimson blade. I couldn’t stop from touching it, and I ran my finger along the golden floral engravings etched on the surface.

The unfamiliar writing seemed to hum under my finger.

“That’s your sword,” Julian was saying. “You named itSoulbringer.”

“Amongst other things,” Damen grumbled.

I rested my palm over the thickest part of the etchings. I didn’t remember, nor did I have any idea where it even came from.

I knew the others were watching me, expecting some kind of reaction, but I didn’t know what they wanted. It was mine but wasn’t. How could I even begin to explain?

“Okay.” Miles stumbled up beside me, leaning heavily on the walking stick he’d nabbed earlier. “Enough time wasted; we should get rid of it before Titus loses another shoe.”

Julian and Damenhadbeen watching me, but at Miles’s arrival the former scoffed out a laugh and they turned their attention to the witch.

“You usually leave the fighting to the rest of us,” Julian said, shooting Miles a suspicious look. “And Bianca doesn’t know how to…”

His protest faded as Miles smirked, reaching over me to cover my hand with his own. A surge of confidence thrummed through me. This was Miles. And even though I had no idea what I was doing, he believed in me.

He leaned down, whispering in my ear. “Remember, it’s only Kathleen’s spell.Soulwas made to kill in multiple realms, but magic is something entirely different. But maybe it’s time to add one more name to it? Consider it a gift for helping me.”

What was he talking about? My skin grew hot and my pulse roared in my ears.

“Spellslayer,” Miles breathed, and the warmth of his words melted my insecurities. The engravings seemed to grow brighter, if only for an instant, and the blade even hotter.

And then it was over. Miles, still grinning, stepped back, while Damen was frowning down at the object in my hands.

“What did you do?” the onmyoji asked.