Page 67 of Change

Chapter Thirteen

Bianca

Ruin

It was the next day when Titus and Damen approached me during lunch—while I was once more in the coffee shop—with grim looks.

“How do you feel today, baby girl?” Damen asked, sliding into the seat across from me while Titus lurked behind the table.

“Um…” I glanced between the two of them in suspicion, lowering the white paper cup from my mouth. “Fine?” It came out as a question because, for a moment, I couldn’t imagine why they looked like someone had just died.

And I’d never seen Titus on campus. Neither had anyone else, judging by the panicked looks on the patrons faces as they steered clear from our table.

“What’s wrong?” I ventured.

“Do you think you’re up for a road trip?” Damen asked. His voice was casual, but there was a hint of something darker in his tone.

Without further explanation, I knew what he meant.

My attention moved from Damen to Titus, who was also watching me in expectation. And without hiding his expression.

He still didn’t want me to go.

“You don’thaveto go,” Damen started.

“It’s fine.” I hoped they didn’t notice my hands shaking as I placed the cup back on the table.

“I’m only saying,” Damen continued. “If you’re really not sure—”

“Okay.” I stood and brushed off the front of my skirt, interrupting the onmyoji. “I’m ready.”

Damen frowned, gray eyes moving over me, before looking at Titus. I’d been getting better at reading their body language these days, and it was obvious that neither fully agreed with my decision.

I wondered if they fought about it amongst themselves. What kind of things did they say about me behind my back?

Well, it was up to me to prove them wrong.

“Let’s go.” I held my hand out to Damen, waiting for him to stand. In most of our interactions, Damen was the one in this position, but this time the tables were turned. “It’ll be fine.”

Just so long as nothing unexpected happened or I didn’t freak out over nothing. Considering that, it might not be fine at all.

But I had to pretend not to be bothered, at least right now.

Damen stared at my hand, the strangest expression on his face, before he finally let out a low breath. “Right,” he said, wrapping his fingers around mine. “Let’s get this over with.”

“How are you doing?” Bryce had arrived earlier with Uncle Gregory, and once Damen, Titus and I pulled in, he barely left my side. Staying with me as the other three men carried on in low voices some feet away.

But instead of being annoyed, I was thankful for his presence. It’d been hard to concentrate on anything much since the first bend I’d recognized, and now that I stood outside of the building that had been my hell on earth for some years, I could barely breathe.

I wrapped my arms tighter around my stomach, but this time it brought me no measure of comfort.

The house might have been ruined, but the land was the same, as was the forest. And my ears buzzed with the howling echo of the hunt.

Bryce touched my arm. “Bianca?”

I shook my head, mentally grasping at the fraying edges of my composure. I couldn’t give in now; it would only prove to the others that I was weak.

And I couldn’t be weak anymore.