Page 76 of Balance

Miles’s back straightened and he held out his arms toward me, the forward momentum of breaking from Titus causing me to fall right back into his embrace.

It shouldn’t have worked, but as his arms wrapped around me and with my face pressing into his chest, it was impossible to stay mad. Even though he was totally going to fail his graduation project by choosing such a hopeless topic. I was lost in a whirlwind of emotions—fear, anger, and the worry that had pulled at my nerves since the day he’d left. Before now, I’d been too lost to focus on the source of all of the above.

He’dabandonedme.

It was selfish. This wasn’t about me at all. He had his own life to live too. And I knew, logically, I couldn’t expect everyone to put their lives on hold for me. But I couldn’t convince my heart to see this any other way.

“Mon rêve.” Miles sounded as hopelessly lost as me. “What—”

“Please don’t do that again,” I begged, gripping his shirt, as if this action could make him stay. His heart was racing—a quick but steady hum lulling my senses. Finally, the fight drained from me.

He was here again. And I was so tired.

These boys were going to be the death of me.

“O-okay?” Miles sounded so unsure. “If that’s what you need.”

It was what I needed, at least at the moment. But he still never said he was sorry.

Part Two

Chapter Seventeen

Bianca

Together

Damen did not seem overly excited at Miles’s safe return. “There you are,” he said, lowering one of the copper pans he’d been rooting through. “About time. Julian needs food.”

Miles raised an eyebrow, glancing at the necromancer. But Julian didn’t seem enthused either, he only briefly met Miles’s eyes, and with an expression smooth as glass, muttered out a welcome. If I hadn’t been paying attention, and measuring his response, I might have missed it.

I bit my lip, glancing between the two of them. What in the world was this? I’d never noticed any conflict between the two of them before.

I thought everyone would be happy.

Titus shifted back into a human, and before slipping off in the direction of his clothes, leaned close to my ear and whispered, “That’s between them. Let them figure it out.”

Wow, that was impressive. Damen had said my thoughts were written on my face, but I had no idea it was that obvious.

“Fine.” Miles stomped past me, snatching the bag and pot from Damen. “What were you going to…ramen?”

We had ramen?

“It has everything you need,” Damen was explaining. “Noodles, the flavor packet… What else is there?”

“No!” Miles began muttering under his breath, pulling off his own backpack. “Thank God I brought my own supplies. You all are the worst at camping.”

I nodded—they really were.

“You always forget the most important things. Just get some water,” he added, laying out various cloth-wrapped bundles from his bag.

Instead of listening, Damen began to hover over the witch’s shoulder. “What do you have there?”

“Do what I told you.” Miles pushed back against Damen’s legs. “What did I tell you about being in the kitchen? You do not get kitchen privileges yet—Julian why were you just sitting there?”

Julian shrugged. “It was amusing.”

“We’re notinthe kitchen.” Damen stepped back, muttering as he grabbed a canteen and stalked off in the direction of the water. “We’re in the middle of the woods.”