Page 48 of Hidden

“Fuck.” My vision turned red, and I threw the bottle against the wall, where it shattered. “Fuck!” The destruction wasn’t making me feel any better, even though it’d worked in the past.

She’d panicked from a touch to her stomach. No matter how many more lives I lived, I would never be able to forget the look on her face. Her whimpers still rang through my ears.

I kicked at the cart, causing the drinks and dishware to crash to the floor.

I shouted—not even sure what, at this point—reaching for whatever was in reach. How dare things be so orderly. Not when I wasthisclose to losing my sanity. It was unacceptable.

How dare that man still be at large.

I had to call in Kasai. It was time to act. The vows we’d made were for times of peace, but this was war. I would gladly unleash the fires of hell to get vengeance.

The thought excited me.

Then something tugged at my awareness, pulling me from the seductive call of destruction. I tried to hold on to it, but the addicting sensation of fire and victory faded. A cold sense of reality settled in its place.

“No.” I gasped when awareness slammed into me.

I was pinned under Julian. His now solid black eyes peered down at me. He’d reached into the deepest part of himself in order to restrain me. His power continued to wash over mine, stripping away the familiar hum of my abilities.

The longer his hand pressed against the mark on my chest, the weaker I became.

“Stop,” I grumbled. “I’m fine now.”

But Julian gave no indication that he’d heard me. Instead, his eyes remained steady on mine.

“I’m fine now!” I pulled from Miles, who’d been holding back my arms, and he released me at once. Only to—before I could do it myself—place his own hand on Julian’s shoulder.

“Julian.” He watched the other man warily. “You can stop.”

The darkness scattered, and Julian ripped his hand away a second later, pushing back to his knees. “Good.”

Shame washed over me. The others silently watched me, disappointment heavy in their gazes as I pulled myself to sitting.

The air was thick with judgement. I’d really screwed up this time.

“Whoa!” A familiar voice suddenly broke through the room. “What the hell happened in here?”

Brayden Dubois stood in my double doors. There was a suitcase on the ground next to him, and he was looking around my living room as if he was witnessing a train wreck.

“What are you doing here?” My voice sounded rough. I tried to ignore the broken dishware, the spilled liquid, and the broken wooden cart. “How did you get inside?”

“Your front door was open.” Brayden shrugged, stepping into the room and making toward one of my chairs. “So, which room is mine? Where’s Bianca?”

I opened my mouth, but Julian touched my arm.

“Bianca is taking a moment,” he said calmly. “I wasn’t aware you were—”

“I’m moving in!” Brayden flopped in the chair and crossed his legs at the ankle. “Bryce already told me what’s going on. I came right over. We’ve so many years to make up for. There are so many things we can do to Bryce together. It hasn’t been enjoyable to prank him on my own. I have a feeling she’ll be all for it.”

Julian was frowning, disapproval etched into his face. “This isn’t a game. Bianca is in a delicate—”

“I know,” Brayden interrupted. He leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. His tone grew somber, and his expression menacing. “There’s also that.” For the first time in my recollection, he resembled the warrior he was supposed to be. “I’ll need you lot to stay away from her.”

Julian groaned, hiding his face. I was stunned in silence, and Titus continued to scowl at Brayden.

So it was Miles who replied, watching him incredulously. “What?”

“You can’t be surprised.” Brayden’s fierce gaze was unwavering. “After all, look at what I’ve arrived in time to witness—another one of Damen’s famous tantrums.” He waved his hand in the air, gesturing around the room.