Page 51 of Balance

Brayden grinned in response, his features hardening on his heart-shaped face, and his eyes glittered dangerously. “Good. You can do it. Don’t worry about anything else. Even if the monsterisreal, it’s nothing that the five of you can’t handle.”

My breath caught in my throat—the five of us. Even though we hadn’t found him yet, we were close, so close. I was certain of it.

How would I act when we first reunited? What would I say?

Andhowwould Miles explain his abandonment?

Brayden pet my arm, sympathy darkening his eyes into a deep sage. “Don’t be too hard on him. People tend to make bad decisions when they’re stressed.”

My brows furrowed, but why—

“Earth types tend to bury their emotions,” Brayden explained. “He’d rather die before admitting he needs help; they have a fear of burdening people. He might even be depressed. Just keep that in mind.”

I pursed my lips, concern for Miles suddenly making it harder to breathe.

I hadn’t thought he was actuallydepressed. How could I have missed something this big?

“Or he’s just on another one of his meditation trips. It might not be a big deal and we’re all making way too much of this. Only time will tell. Just keep an eye out—that’syourjob,” Brayden added, turning from me and crossing the few feet between us and Bryce.

The other man was frowning at the tree line, apparently caught in a thought so deep it was quite possible he might be broken.

“Let’s go,” Brayden said, pulling on Bryce’s arm.

Bryce startled, Brayden’s touch bringing him back into reality. He dug in his heels, turning back toward me. “But what about the Snallygaster?”

“It’s fine. I’ll tell you all about it in the car.”

Bryce jerked away from his brother. “But she’s my wife!” he protested; his voice sharp. “I deserve to know these things.”

Brayden paused, throwing Bryce a disturbed look. “Please don’t ever say that. It’s disgusting.”

“It’s true.” Bryce twisted the neck of his shirt. “And if she’s eaten by a dragon, I’ll be the one who looks bad.”

“I promise you that it’ll be none of your business when she’s eaten by a dragon,” Brayden muttered through clenched teeth, trying unsuccessfully to drag Bryce along with him.

Bryce’s stern expression fell, and he finally stumbled forward one step. “What?”

“What, you heard me.” Brayden shrugged. “Don’t be such a prude.”

Titus—whohadbeen paying attention after all—frowned at the two of them. “No dragon is going to eat her. Don’t you trust me?”

“Well.” Brayden frowned, looking Titus up and down. “Idid. But now I’m not so sure.”

Julian, meanwhile, stood in the background, his hand to his face.

“Just get out of here!” Damen stepped forward, clapping his hands and making a shoo-ing motion toward them. “You’re holding us up.”

“If it’s that dangerous, she shouldn’t go.” Bryce pouted, looking pointedly in my direction. “She should come to the hotel with us while you all chase after him. Don’t give me this ‘he won’t come out unless she’s there’ shit. What is he, five? Besides, it’s neither proper nor safe.”

Damen narrowed his eyes at Bryce. “Are you insinuating something?”

But Bryce’s attention remained on me. The disapproval in his gaze caused my skin to prickle and my ire to rise. Little did he know that when worse-came-to-worst, wilderness survival was nothing new to me. I doubted a single strand of his overly conditioned hair could survive in such harsh conditions. In fact, myleft pinky toeheld more survival experience than Bryce held in the entirety of his overly muscular frame.

What a waste of manliness.

HadBryceever had to catch a rabbit with his bare hands and cook it over an open fire? Didheever need to crack open chestnuts with nothing but his weak, clumsy fingers and a rock?

I highly doubted it. If there was anyone in this group who knew how to survive in the wild, it wasme.