Page 105 of Change

Chapter Eighteen

Bianca

Plot

Bryce and Damen never returned to the gymnasium, and Miles ended up taking me home later that afternoon. He claimed he needed a break in order to rediscover his muse, but I had a feeling it might have more to do with the tentative nature of what might happen once Julian—or even Titus—heard about what happened.

But only Julian and Finn were home when we arrived. At first, they barely glanced up from their studies.

“Hello, Darling.” Julian held one hand up into the air, while his other was busy tracing a line in his book. “Just give me one moment and I’ll…” His words trailed off, as his quick look turned into a lingering stare.

I was still holding an ice pack to my cheek, one that Miles had stolen from the locker room. Julian’s attention was riveted to the spot.

The shock wore off, and the necromancer jumped to his feet which caused Finn to drop his homework as well.

“What happened?” Julian had crossed the room within a second, pulling back my hand from my face. “It looks like someone punched you!”

Finn stood as well, expression ashen as he hovered, a living feature in the background. But I couldn’t be bothered by him. I was more concerned about Julian’s reaction.

Miles and I were really going to have to stop him from murdering Damen. Miles thought it might be a possibility and had stated such on the way home.

“That’s because someone did.” I winced as he lightly touched my swollen skin. My jaw tingled where his fingers lingered over me, and a soothing coolness began to radiate from the place where his fingers connected. “Issnot so bad,” I mumbled. Whatever he was doing caused my mouth to feel full of cotton.

“Not so bad?” Julian was furious behind his calm mask. “This has an onmyoji’s touch to it. Who?”

“Now, Julian.” Miles stepped closer to me, voice soothing. “There’s no need to make this worse than it is, he feels horrible. Did you know that Bianca can cast enchantments now? It was completely unexpected, and we both lost control for a little bit. Bryce already went to deal with it.”

“Damen.” A wave of deadly intent radiated from the man as he shifted toward the door. “Hehityou.”

“Actually,” I mumbled, my mouth still feeling strange. “He didn’t really see me. He wastryingto hit Miles. I jumped in front of him.”

“It’s true.” Miles nodded. “He thought he could take me. It was enjoyable until then.”

“You two were fighting?” Julian asked the witch, then he looked at me accusingly. “And why?” he asked. “Whywould you jump in the middle of a fight between two men?”

I wanted to point out that they had been acting more like teenagers instead of men at that moment, but Miles still had the strangest look of excitement on his face, and I didn’t want to burst his bubble.

“It’s what she does.” Finn had returned to his seat, seemingly nonchalant to the casual observer besides the nervous way his leg bounced. I knew him well enough to know he was upset too, but he was trying to hide it. Julian and Miles both glanced at him, and he continued, “Biancaalwayshad this inexplicable need to jump into my fights.”

“Why areyoufighting people?” Miles asked.

Finn didn’t answer his question but continued on about me. “It’s like she’ll see it happening, and somehow believes she’s going to help.”

Julian was frowning at him. “When—”

“There were a few memorable occasions, simply off the top of my head.” Finn leaned back as he crossed his leg over his knee. He appeared to be deep in thought. “A few on the school roof, another during swimming lessons—that time she almost drowned, then another when she ignored me and tried to befriend someone who held less than pleasant intentions toward her.”

“Wait,” Miles seemed confused. “Who started the fight? You or—”

“When I caught it happening,Ikicked the shit out ofthem, but I was never their target. They’re not that stupid.” Finn was practically lounging in his chair, ignoring my glare as he continued gossiping with the others. “They were trying to hurther. And every time we fought, she refused to stay out of it. She’s ended up with more than a few bruises.”

Julian and Miles levelled their disapproving gazes on me, and I could feel their questions.

“Why—” Julian began, but I cut him off, glaring at Finn.

“How could you tell them that?” I wanted to scream at him, but even though my jaw felt marginally better, I was still reeling from everything that had happened. “I was trying to make sure you were okay!”

“I didn’t ask for your help.” Finn shrugged. “I don’twantyou to help. It causes extra problems where there are none. It’smyresponsibility to protectyou. If telling the others and having them intervene is one way to get it through your head that you don’t have to be everyone’s savior, then so be it.”