Page 115 of Whispers of Wisteria

The shock wore off, and the necromancer jumped to his feet, which caused Finn to drop his homework as well.

“What happened?” Julian had crossed the room within a second. He pulled my hand from my face. “It looks like someone punched you!”

Finn stood as well, expression ashen as he hovered. But I couldn’t be bothered by him. I was more concerned about Julian’s reaction.

Miles and I were going to have to stop him from murdering Damen. Miles had even stated such on the way home.

“They did.” I winced as he touched my cheek. My jaw tingled where his fingers lingered, and a soothing coolness radiated through the place.

“Issnot so bad,” I told him. Whatever he was doing caused my mouth to feel funny.

“Not so bad?” Julian was furious. “This has an onmyoji’s touch to it. Who?”

“Now, Julian.” Miles stepped closer to me, voice soothing. “There’s no need to make this a bigger deal than it is. He feels horrible. We both lost control for a little bit. Bryce already went to deal with it.”

“Damen.” A wave of deadly intent radiated from Julian as he looked toward the door. “He hityou.”

“Actually,” I mumbled. “He didn’t see me. He was tryingto hit Miles. I jumped in front of him.”

“It’s true.” Miles nodded. “He thought he could take me. It was fun until Bianca got hurt.”

“You two were fighting?” Julian asked, then looked at me accusingly. “And why?” he began. “Whywould you jump in the middle of a fight between two men?”

I wanted to point out that they had been acting more like teenagers than men at that moment, but Miles still looked excited, and I didn’t want to burst his bubble.

“It’s not like it’s anything new.” Finn had returned to his seat. He sounded bored, but his leg bounced. I knew him well enough to know he was upset. Julian and Miles both glanced at him, and he continued, “She’s always jumped into my fights.”

“Why are you fighting people?” Miles asked.

Finn didn’t answer his question but continued talking about me. “She won’t listen and stay away.”

Julian was frowning at him. “When—”

“There were a few memorable occasions.” Finn crossed his leg over his knee. He appeared to be deep in thought. “The school roof, another during swimming lessons, then another when she ignored me and tried to befriend someone who held less than pleasant intentions toward her.”

“Wait,” Miles seemed confused. “Were you starting these fights?”

“You know he did,” Julian glared at him. “Why do you think—”

“Wrong,” Finn replied. “Nobody’s stupid enough to try anything withme.” He looked at me, and my breath caught. “They were trying to hurther.”

Julian and Miles leveled their gazes at me, and I could feel their questions.

“Why—” Julian began, but I cut him off, glaring at Finn.

“How could you tell them that?” I wanted to scream at him. “I was trying to help you!”

“I didn’t ask for your help.” Finn shrugged. “I don’twantyour help. It’smyresponsibility to protectyou. And if it takes them seeing it for them to intervene, then so be it. Stay out of other people’s fights.”

Miles and Julian stared at Finn, eyes wide.

It was too similar to something he’d said once, something that’d shaken the foundation of our friendship: ‘She’s my responsibility.’

And that was how he’d always seen me.

“I hateyou!” I snatched the ice pack from Julian’s hands. My vision was blurring, and the only indication that he was affected by my words was the way his leg suddenly stopped moving. But he didn’t even look at me; his gaze was stubbornly set on the wall.

I fled from the room, ignoring Julian and Miles’s attempts to call me back.