Page 30 of Balance

Damen finally looked at me, his lips turned down. “I’d have thought you’d look scarier.” There was a note of hesitation in his voice, and a slight fear. “I remember the two of us really getting into it. We share some passionate moments—both good and bad. But this isn’t the same. You look like a kitten… with your nose all scrunched up and that glare. It’s actually cute.”

He was making it worse! “You broke the bro code!”

“What bro…” he began, but then his face lit in realization. “Ah, you mean the thing with Colette. No one calls it the ‘bro code.’ Besides, that’s history.”

“Does Miles know?” I poke his arm, daring him not to answer. “Pleasetell me Miles knows and gave his blessing.”

Damen tilted his head, seemingly puzzled. “Why would I ask for Miles’s blessing? What is this, 1750? We’re not living in the medieval ages anymore.”

“The eighteenth century is not ‘medieval.’ ” Frustration made my vision turn red, and I couldn’t decide if I wanted to punch something or scream. I rubbed my temples. “How long ago is ‘history’?”

We’d better be talking about some ancient—

“Well, I think the last time was about a week before I met you.” Damen stroked his chin, deep in thought. “We had this on-and-off thing for about a year, but it’s all completely casual. I saw other people on the side, and no one was attached. It was fun.”

I wrapped my arms over my head, pressing my face into the table. This was too much. I could not deal with this man.

“Bianca,” Damen said, pressing into my side. His presence fell over me, and when he spoke next, there was a command to his voice I couldn’t ignore. “Look at me.”

I turned my head slightly, moving my arm only enough to glimpse at him. His expression was uncharacteristically serious and more imposing than usual.

The sight of him—his angular jaw firmly set and eyes blazing—took my breath away.

“YouknowI’ve slept with other women,” he said. “I’ve refused to keep these things a secret. And we are going to struggle to find common ground, we’regoingto clash. The two of us represent the most outgoing of the elements, and we’re always aggressive personalities.”

I wasnotaggressive, and I was definitely not outgoing.

In fact, I was as introverted as introverts could be.

“But I can promise you this,” he said, grabbing my hand holding it to the table beside us. He turned my palm face up and began to trace a line in the center. “I refuse to screw things up this time. Now that you’re here—alive—I’m not going to give you up.”

What in theworldwas he talking about?

“I’m not going to apologize for my past, or for whom I’ve been with,” he continued to draw lines on my palm. While his actions seemed rooted in nervousness, his face was determined. “Whatever happenedhadto happen for us to get to where we are today. But from this point forward, I swear you have my future. I willnotfuck this up, andwhenI take you out on a date, it won’t be to a place like this.”

My heart was pounding so hard I thought it might burst, and an internal voice screamed at me that this was a profound moment. Damen was a free spirit, not one to be contained or easily controlled.

I didn’t get the feeling he pledged his loyalty lightly.

Yet none of this changed the fact that he’d slept with Miles’s sister. I wasn’t even offended on my own behalf… mostly.

“Here are your breadsticks.” A basket was dropped at the edge of the table, and Colette glared pointedly at Damen’s hand. “I decided to bring them out myself.”

This time Damen didn’t pull away from me, instead he entwined his fingers with mine. “Have you heard from Miles?” he asked a second time, but with an entirely different demeanor. There was no room for monologues or argument in his tone.

She blinked, frowning at him, and actually remained silent for a long moment before she spoke. “No,” she said slowly, furrowing her brow. “Why?”

“He disappeared, and I didn’t know if he said anything to you,” Damen explained.

“Oh.” The confused expression remained. For an instant, I thought she might be concerned about her brother. But then she asked, “And you’re asking about it why? It’s not like this is anything new. Just leave him be. He’ll come home when he feels like it.”

I glanced between them—this dialogue a confirmation of Dr. Kohler’s earlier statement: Miles was prone to running away.

Whodoesthat?

“Besides, wouldn’t you be able tofeelif something happened to him?” Colette popped her hip, rolling her eyes as she made a strange slicing gesture with her hand. The sarcasm dripped from her voice. “It’s not like you care any other time; relying on your stupid bond and whatnot.”

“I always care…” Damen narrowed his eyes at her. “And a little respect would be nice.”