Page 51 of Ghost

Julian sat down in one of the arm chairs without a word, holding his head.

“Bianca, do you have any other abilities?” Miles asked, studying me. “Or anything odd about your person. No matter how benign that you think it is, is there anything that stands out?”

“I— I don’t know?”What a weird question.Besides, how was I supposed to know what was normal?

Julian glanced between Damen and me, as if he couldn’t process what was happening. “He only died seventeen years ago. You saw his body. It is too early for another. Besides that, no woman has even been born into that role. I am not certain if it is possible.”

“Think logically, and assume we don’t know everything.” Damen stopped pacing, glancing at Julian. “We could have made a mistake. We were very young—”

“I’m older than you,” Titus cut in, something almost like panic in his voice.

I remained silent, trying to follow along with this strange conversation. Even so, I couldn’t miss the shaking of Titus’ hands as they remained splayed over my back.

But Titus was still staring at Damen. “There was no mistake. I remember it clearly.”

Damen rolled his eyes. “You aren’t that much older than me. Besides, I’m not saying sheis. I’m only saying to assume the worst.”

He paused, sighing as he ran his hand over his face. The action pushed his glasses as he pinched the bridge of his nose. His expression was almost pained, and it made me feel guilty something about me had caused him to feel this way. But the look passed, and Damen spoke again. “Kasai can speak, if you haven’t noticed.”

“Hello there, friends,” Kasai chirped up, his voice directly behind my shoulder. I almost jumped out of Titus’ lap in surprise.

I craned my neck, glaring at him. But he said nothing in response to my surprise. He was perching on the back of the couch, watching the five of us.

He twisted his neck in that particular way birds can do, before speaking again. His voice seemed to grow even happier. “I cannot wait for our first hunt together.”

“That’s just wonderful.” Julian raised his head wearily. “But thankfully we were aware ofyoualready. I had time to mentally prepare. And for the record, you don’t sound seductive at all.”

Kasai settled his beady eyes on Julian. “I am pleased. I am aware of your record, and that means you’ll stay far away from me. Following that, we’ll continue to get along splendidly.”

“This is not the time for this nonsense.” Miles stepped forward, holding out his hand. “Besides, you remark on his voice? Weren’t you going on about me?”

Julian covered his face with his hand once again. “I’m extremely stressed right now. Just give me a moment.”

The anger that had consumed me only moments ago had been locked away in the recesses of my mind. I was scared.

They were unhappy, and I wasn’t certain why. All I knew was this appeared to be more than my medication. It had something to do with my abilities themselves.

Something to do with a xing—whatever that was.

Finally, my voice broke through the room. “What’s going on?”

Chapter Twenty

Miles

Balance

Her voice was small. But it had the same effect on us as if she had shouted.

Unlike the earlier time she asked this question, there was now a desperation lacing her voice. Her frightened eyes had all of us overcoming our own panic—for her.

“What’s the xing?” Her voice shook, her eyes watching us. The fear in her gaze tore right into my heart. “Did I do something wrong?”

I felt like the worst person in the world. She and I had just discussed her triggers, and now we made it seem as though there was something wrong with her.

“No—” I started forward. But Julian—who had been closer—beat me there.

Titus wouldn’t give her up, not now. And he still sat on the table, holding her in his lap. And now Julian, who was protective in his own way, remained behind her. Sitting on the couch, his knees basically touching Titus’ and his hands barely touching her back.