Page 118 of Change

Chapter Twenty

Julian

Heart

It was late—but nothing out of the ordinary for a low-key mission—but I couldn’t help but feel anxious that Bianca was out there—alone (but not really)—without one of us. But she’d been so excited for the chance to have something to do. Strangely enough, she seemed to find some sort of purpose at the idea of helping Gloria, and none of us—besides Gregory—would even dream of intervening.

Though, to be honest, I really didn’t want her taking on this work.

So I imagined that I was more on edge from worry, rather than annoyance, at Damen’s entirely obvious stare, but I knew better. It’d been growing worse over the span of the lasthourand had been making my already on-edge mood harder to conceal.

“What the hell do you want?” I blurted out. Either I was going to have to address this obnoxiousness or leave the room.

And I’d grown rather comfortable in this seat.

“I have a question for you,” Damen said, cocking his head to the side even more.

I barely held back my groan—I was right. He was trying to wear me down first.

“Don’t even bother. I won’t have an answer,” I replied, shutting my book. Knowing Damen, he’d be asking something that was most definitely none of his business, and there was no need to go down that road today.

But also knowing Damen, there was no way to avoid this.

“Now don’t be like that, Julian.” Damen leaned back, squaring his shoulders. “It’s not that bad. We’re only going to have a light-hearted conversation between friends.”

Okay. It wasdefinitelyan intrusive question, and probably one that would piss me off. How was it, historically, that he wasso goodwith gaining followers and encouraging others to fall for his hair-brained schemes, but so terrible when it came to dealing with us?

“So,ask.” I waved my hand in the air. There was no need to delay the inevitable. “Get whatever it is now off your chest before you drive me insane.”

“Sure.” Damen sat up instantly, leaning over the side table, arm bracing the weight of his upper body. His full attention became fixated on me.

I looked away, unable to maintain eye contact without running the risk of losing my resolve. A warning began to ring in the back of my head. When Damen got like this, he was preparing for a fight that he fully intended to win.

Ihatedthat he had the ability to make a person lose their own sense of confidence with just a look.

“Can a necromancer create body doubles?” he asked.

A chill shot down my spine as the audacity of his almost-accusation broke through my wavering resolve. He’d spoken with such quiet certainty that it was obvious he’d already guessed at the answer; even though this was an aspect of my abilities that I’d never shared withanyonewho did not need to know.

And my quintet decidedly did not need to know.

“What?” I glared at him.

“It was just a thought.” He stroked his chin, unperturbed at my rising anger. “I mean, you can read memories from a human’s remains or items that were tied closely to that person. And Iknowthat you can, very briefly, reanimate and control the movements of the newly deceased. But what about—”

“I don’t know what kind of boneheaded thing you’ve been thinking up now, but tell me, why would anyoneeverhave the need to build a corpse?” I moved to my feet, holding my books so tightly against me I was afraid the bones in my fingers might snap. “Don’t bother me with this nonsense again.”

It was definitely time to go back to my room, otherwise I’d never be able to finish this chapter.

Heck, now I might not be able to finish it either way.

Why would Damen…

My thoughts, and my exit, slammed to a halt as I’d thrown one last look at the onmyoji. He rested his elbow on the table, and chin in the palm of his hand as he watched me with a victorious expression.

“I never said anything about building a corpse,” Damen said.

Goddamn it.