Page 11

Therefore, since my Proxies refused to acknowledge me, I’d spent most of the previous night and the entire day reading and re-reading the order that kept Bianca tied to the Griers and under their medical jurisdiction. There had to be something, somewhere, that I could use.

“Did you see Professor Dubois’s face this morning?” an indiscreet whisper drifted to me.

I looked over my pile of books and spotted the speaker. A group of undergraduate witches were sitting at a nearby table, biology books among their items. They must be Bryce’s students.

One of the others watched her with wide eyes, her expression pained. “Stop it, babe,” she whined. “I can’t talk about his face. I’m so upset.”

I pressed my lips together. I never understood why so many students liked him. It wasn’t like he was nice—or even hid the fact that he held nothing but disdain for most of them.

But regardless, it was true that Damen had done a number on him. The last I saw him, late yesterday afternoon, he had two black eyes and a giant bandage over his nose.

“I’ll bet it’s her fault,” the sad girl continued, pouting. “They left campus together the other day, and he’s sent her to his office before.”

“I want to be sent to his office too,” one girl cut in with a sigh.

But the sad girl ignored her and raised her finger as she looked around the group. “Haven’t you noticed the way he watches her? He’s so in love.”

“Professor Dubois is not the only one,” the first girl leaned forward and waved her hand around the circle. “She watches him too! It’s so romantic—a forbidden affair between professor and student.”

“But wasn’t she hanging around Finn Abernathy?” a third girl chimed in.

“Obviously Finn found out and tried to ruin everything.” The sad girl nodded. “I would have loved to see a fight between Er Bashous! But Professor Dubois won, of course!”

“I don’t know.” The third girl touched her chin. “Aren’t onmyoji stronger than fae? I doubt even fighting for love could change that.”

I was almost choking at the utter stupidity. There was no way they were talking about—

“What was her name?” she continued, leaning forward. “Bianca, right?”

What the fuck?

“I bet they’re married in secret. You can just look at the way they watch each other and feel their chemistry.”

What chemistry?

The blood left my head as this ridiculous conversation echoed through my mind.

This was the rumor going around campus ?

Were people that idiotic? The only way they looked at each other was with visible animosity—at least on her end. Bianca was clearly plotting his death while Bryce was just… being Bryce.

I moved behind their table before I could stop myself.

Their gossip silenced, and they stared at me. I could have probably done this without scaring them, but there was no time for niceties. I was onto something.

Their stupidity was giving me an idea.

“Excuse me,” I interrupted. This was worth stepping outside my comfort zone. “I couldn’t help but overhear. Is there any more to this rumor?”

The witch who had initially made the announcement was shaking. “Miles!” her voice squeaked. “I—I’m so sorry. We didn’t mean to offend you.”

“I’m not upset.” I waved my hand, stopping the barrage of apologies before they began. “Just tell me, what else is there?”

The third girl responded. “Well, it only makes sense, you see.”

“How?” I pressed.

“Well—” She seemed hesitant but continued.

“This Bianca girl has been spotted with you and Professor Abernathy around campus. She knows Finn, and she’s roommates with Jiayi Chou.

We’d wondered how she knew everyone since you’re all…

you. Then, she and Professor Dubois began to make their affection more obvious.

While it’s against the rules for a professor to date a student, it doesn’t stop it from happening. ”

A strange sound echoed in my ears. Despite my horror, a plan continued to form in my mind. It was a terrible idea, but at the same time, it might work.

The problems this could solve.

But it would be really, really irritating.

“There’s also—” She wavered as she glanced at the others, but apparently, she’d become their spokesperson.

“Well, they say it makes sense that she knows your circle then. She can’t be with you ,” she said boldly, looking me up and down.

“You’re not like that. And she can’t be one of Professor Abernathy’s girls.

She’s been seen with him too many times. ”

I was desperately fighting the urge to hold my face.

“So,” I ventured, needing to make sure that I had this perfectly straight, “people think that Bianca and Bryce are together? What’s this about a fight?”

“Finn got jealous!” the sad girl spoke up. “He challenged Bryce when he found out, but Bryce won.”

Finn could easily defeat Bryce, but that wasn’t important. How in the world did people come up with this crap? Did everyone have nothing better to do?

But… this was helpful.

I hadn’t considered this approach, but it might work. We could transfer the conservatorship. Ideally, Bianca would be established as able to make her own decisions, but that would take a while. We needed to get her out of there first and deal with the legal matters later.

Bianca was going to kill me.

Or maybe she wouldn’t. The last time I saw them, she didn’t seem to hate him nearly as much. Besides, if my theory was correct, it wasn’t like this would be legally binding anyway.

But nobody had to know that part yet.

“Have you lost your mind?” Bryce placed his hands on his desk, his shock so evident that his eyebrows nearly rose to his hairline. “I can’t marry her!”

Finn scowled. He clearly took personal offense to this suggestion. “Why not me? ”

“Because—” I half-heartedly gestured toward him. “Right now, she hates you more than Bryce. And it wouldn’t be legal. This is temporary. Besides, she might not even agree.”

“How does that make me the better option?” Bryce put his hand to his chest. His offended expression was almost comical when combined with the swelling and bruises. “How am I a less horrible choice?”

“Don’t be stupid.” I crossed my arms. How much longer did he plan to deny it? “It’ll be easy. We’ll play into the existing rumors about the two of you, and once people learn you’re actually siblings, the marriage will be annulled anyway.”

Bryce’s face lost all color, and he fell back into his seat. His shocked gaze stayed steady on mine. “What are you talking about?”

Finn’s expression was blank, but he didn’t appear surprised. His hatred for Bryce was beginning to make a lot more sense.

Damen’s was different. Though, from his recent reaction—the way he blamed Bryce for Bianca’s abuse—he clearly suspected.

However, suspicion was different than knowing. And now I was sure—the confirmation was written all over Bryce’s face. Newfound horror flooded my emotions.

But not toward Bryce.

“There was no way this was your idea, you were only five,” I said, holding his gaze even as his face twisted. “Why was she sent away? Wasn’t she wanted? Because of that, she—”

“You don’t need to repeat what she’s been through,” Bryce hissed, his fists clenched on the desk. “I was there when we were told. And as for your questions, I don’t have the clearance to divulge that information.”

“Don’t have the clearance?” I couldn’t believe the stupid words coming out of his mouth. Even Finn, who had begun leaning forward, watched Bryce in suspicion. “You’re an Er Bashou. You have almost all of the clearances that a person can have.”

“I don’t have clearances for everything,” Bryce said, his gaze unwavering.

Alarm clouded my thoughts. It was too soon for the Council to know about Bianca. I thought we’d have more time.

But if someone there had known about her all along?

She was in even more danger than we suspected. And no fake marriage would throw them off.

“The Council knows?” Finn asked, his voice alarmed. “But—”

“No, they don’t know.” Bryce rested his chin on his hand. “Only a retired member knows about this, and they wouldn’t say anything.”

People didn’t generally leave the Council. That’d only happened twice in recent history.

It couldn’t have been Gloria. Despite being Alyssa’s godmother, she wasn’t at the Dubois residence when Bianca was born.

But Gregory had been.

“It was Gregory?” I asked. But he’d shown no indication that he recognized Bianca. However, sometimes, he wasn’t the most observant. “Do you think he knows who she is?”

“I don’t think so.” Bryce frowned. “Something was blocking her aura until recently, so she was hard to recognize. I don’t think he’s really paying attention to her. He only mentioned her in passing. Also—” Bryce continued, stroking his chin. “He doesn’t know her name. I named her beforehand.”

Bryce named her? That explained his possessiveness.

“Who is Bailey then?” I asked.

Bryce’s shoulders stiffened. “The point is, they don’t know. Yet.”

“This gives you even more incentive to work with the plan,” I said. “This will get her out of there. We can help her, and she’ll have a legitimate reason to be near us.”

“I can’t marry her.” Bryce rubbed his forehead. “I’m her brother.”

“Anyone who knows won’t call you out, they’ve been trying to keep her hidden for too long,” I pointed out. “Besides, the marriage would only be on paper until we sort out the conservatorship situation. And Bryce—” I pointed at Finn. “—if you don’t do it, he is still an option.”

It was an empty threat—Julian would murder Finn before seeing him marry Bianca. But Bryce needed an incentive.

Finn sat up, barely containing his eagerness. “I don’t mind—”

“No,” Bryce interrupted, glowering in his direction. “While I owe you a debt, I can’t allow that . Your feelings are too obvious, and this needs to be a facade.”

“A Xing can’t get married,” Finn pointed out. “It would still be fake.”

“No, we can legally get married,” I reminded him. “It’s the consequences if we do so that are the problem. Besides, we agreed to follow these rules. Considering that, it’s better that she isn’t actually married when the truth comes out.”

“This is stupid,” Bryce sighed. “She hates me. She’s not going to say yes.”

“Fine,” I shrugged. “I can ask Brayden. He knows who she is, right?”

“Don’t ask Brayden.” Bryce rolled his eyes. “And of course he knows. But Brayden doesn’t know how to be subtle. He hides behind sarcasm, but he’s already planning on hurting the lot of you any time you get near her.”

“He’s better at subtlety than you are with sensitivity,” Finn said. “Remember, she’s been through a lot. You cannot be horrible around her. ”

“Are you reciting a line?” Bryce narrowed his eyes. “Why are you suddenly being so helpful anyway?”

“I didn’t think she was ready for this,” Finn said, glaring at the floor. “I still don’t. You’re in over your heads, and you will hurt her. But it’s too late for me to stop it; I can only try to contain the damage.”

“We would never hurt her!” I frowned at him.

“On that note…” Finn ignored me as he addressed Bryce. “You must make sure she stays on her medication.”

Bryce scowled, distrust flashing through his eyes. “Why?” When Finn didn’t respond, Bryce added, “Does this have anything to do with Julian’s accusation that Bianca’s medicine somehow affects you?”

Unlike Bryce, I had seen the recording from Daniel Cole’s archives and wondered the same thing.

“Finn,” I began, “where’s your shikigami?”

A muscle in his jaw jerked at my question. “Why?”

“That’s a good question,” Bryce said. “In fact, why don’t you call it here?”

“No.” Finn’s pale face grew even whiter. “There’s no need. What, exactly, are you accusing me of?”

Nobody was accusing him of anything.

I’d gotten rather good at reading people, and Finn was close to panic. However, he did not have a malicious vibe—nor did he carry the look of someone evil.

He was, however, afraid for his life.

“I don’t think you did anything,” I told him honestly. “But you’re not the one who lost Damen’s trust. Kiania has been a problem in the past. Did it do something?”

“Can we talk about this later?” Finn glared. “Like when Bianca isn’t stuck alone in an asylum?”

“All right, but this conversation isn’t over,” I said finally, turning my attention back to Bryce. “Do you agree with the plan?”

Bryce sighed, looking defeated as he rested his forearms on the desk. “I guess I have no choice. Are you going to tell her about our relationship first?”

Like I would make it that easy for him.

“No. I’m not doing your job for you. I can get you in there, but you must tell her,” I replied, watching him evenly. “I’ll start on the paperwork. If she agrees, you can act on it right away.”

“She’ll never agree.” Bryce covered his face. “She’ll never forgive us. It’s our fault she wasn’t home.”

I paused, my mind reeling through our past conversations. Bianca had been determined to find the truth, no matter what.

“I don’t think so,” I mused. “Bianca wants a family, and you are her family. She’s a logical person. Just be honest and see what happens.”