Page 89 of Balance

“But to do that, he’d need to find Sasquatch,” I clarified.

Julian nodded once. “Right.”

“And he’s just trying to… help me bynotdepending on me?”

Julian nodded again.

Heat flushed through me—this was literally the stupidest thing I’d ever heard. Most people did not like to make their own lives harder by principle. Yet here was Miles, doing just that.

All because he was being stubbornlynoble.

It was both heartwarming and a tiny bit infuriating.

I left Julian, pushing past both Titus and Damen, who’d stopped packing and had been watching us, and stepped in front of Miles before he could even finish standing. “You.” I pointed at him.

“Me?” he asked, eyes widening a fearful fraction as his gaze took in my fighting stance. “I thought that was Bryce’s nickname.”

“Not anymore.” I grabbed his hand, stepping backward as I tried to drag him after me. “Let’s go.”

“Where are we going?” He watched me in question, unmoved, while I continued to pull on his hand. “You’re supposed to be leaving.”

“We’ll see about that,” I muttered, digging my heels into the dirt. If this worked out the way Julian suspected, then this separation anxiety nonsense would cure itself soon enough. That’d be one less mental issue to add to my tally. “Come on, I want to talk to you.”

“No.” Miles was frowning at me, distrust twisting his expression. “You’re not feeling well. You need to go home and rest.”

“I. Feel. Perfectly. Fine.” I grunted, turning as I tried pulling at a new angle. Why was this man so unmovable? Why was I so weak? Some strength-training was definitely in order.

“Miles, are you seriously passing up a chance to be alone with Bianca?” Titus interrupted. The others had regrouped, watching the two of us with expectant expressions. It was obvious, to me at least, they knew what was going on. “Or are you scared of her?” Titus asked, raising his eyebrow.

“Scared?” He moved then, turning his attention toward the dragon. “I’m not scared!”

“He’s acting scared.” Damen tilted his head, elbowing Titus. “It’s like a blast from the past.”

“Stop saying that!” Miles stepped toward them, dragging me along with him in the movement. “I’m going to go talk to her right now!” He shifted suddenly, turning his weight to me and grabbing my hand. “Let’s go.”

“But—” I began, but my protest was cut short as I stumbled after him as he began to stalk toward the river path once more.

This totally wasn’t fair, that was my line. I was the one trying to kidnaphim.

Then again…

His stride slowed as we left the others, and his grip gentled on my hand until the hold shifted and our fingers entwined. I fell into step beside him, glancing up at his newly determined expression.

Did it really matter how we’d come to get to this point, just so long as we made it?

Miles quietly walked beside me as we reached the river. There was a tension in the air, and the only sounds were the rushing rapids and occasional animal.

“So, when are we going to do it?” I asked, breaking the fragile tension.

He turned to me, eyes wide and mouth lax, as his shoulders tensed up. He seemed ready to jump into the river. “What do you mean? When are we going to dowhat?”

I sighed—I hated chasing after a man. Despite everything, I considered myself to be rather traditional, but Mileswasshy. If I had to take the lead for us to get anywhere, then so be it.

“Thisbondingthing?” I clarified, letting go of his hand and gesturing between us. “Is it like Julian and mine, where he jumped into my memories and I accepted the inevitable?”

Miles’s brows lowered, and his tone turned cautious. “No…” he said slowly. His fingers began to twitch, and he shoved his hand in his pockets, but his voice was steady when he responded. “The process is different for each of us, and the way it happens is a larger indicator of how our relationship will be in this life. Julian is…” His words trailed off, and face turned cautiously blank. “Shui expects you to completely trust him, to depend on him. Why do you think he’s so annoyed at Damen?”

“I don’t depend on Julian…” I argued, even though in the depths of my racing heart, I knew it was true.