Page 148 of Whispers of Wisteria

It was the first time I’d used blood in my magic—at least, in this lifetime. I’d been so proud.

I still had a faint scar in the middle of my palm.

No.

“What did you do?”

“Ididn’t do anything,” he replied, and when I didn’t move, he grabbed the chalk and began to write out the inscription. “Youdid. You did what is asked of all necromancers—whatever it takes to protect the rest of the quintet.”

“You had me dampen the connection.” I could hardly speak through my horror.

“So you do know what Veilcraft is,” he said dryly.

“She needed help.” I stared at my knees, dimly noticing the pressure of my shaking hands. “For years, she needed help, and we didn’t know becauseI sealed the Quintet Bond.”

“Technically, your first statement was more accurate,” my grandfather rebutted. “It’s more of a masking. It’s still there. Besides, your proximity to each other in recent weeks has begun to weaken the magic.”

A rising ice in my veins numbed my skin as her memories echoed in my ears—an aftermath from when I’d invaded her unconsciousness to pull her from the trauma loop.

Just hearing her screams had been enough.

“There were orders,” he said, and I lifted my eyes to meet his. He pressed his lips together, tightening his posture, as he continued, voice firm. “And she would have died had we not followed them. Do you understand? If you hadn’t done it, she would have been killed within days, and you’d have nothing left to protect. She wouldn’t be here at all.”

He was right. I knew he was right.

“How?” I asked instead, touching my head.

I vaguely recalled the bloodstone. It’d been the size of my hand, but other than that. I didn’t understand.

“Gregory was given the task—only to do if Mu was born female. He didn’t like it and refused. But he was then convinced it was necessary and that it was temporary.” My grandfather’s voice droned through the room.

“Who ordered it?” I would track them down.

There were only a limited number of people who could order an Officer—let alone an Er Bashou—to do anything.

Plus, “What even made anyone think she’d be a girl?”

We’dalwaysbeen born as males.

“I don’t know.” He shook his head. “But Gregory came to me regarding the issue of your Bond. You all needed to believe her to be dead until it was safe. I created a puppet. Once I had your part, I only needed to add a piece, combined with part of her essence, and it became Bailey. That was who we buried—along with the heart of the connection.”

“But…” My lips felt numb.

Mu admitted he’d been born into this form on purpose. And Gregory had prepared for his arrival… as Bianca.

The picture was becoming clearer—and I didn’t like what I saw.

“Mu planned this,” I muttered. My muscles strained as I pressed my fingers against my thigh.

He’d give orders upon orders, and he’d make overlapping plans. The person who gave Gregory his instructions might not even know the whole story.

Only one person would know the whole truth.

“Why didn’t he trust me?” This was too big to hide. It affected all of us.

And she’d suffered in the aftermath.

“Mu has always trusted Shui,” my grandfather said. My attention snapped up. “That’s how he’s successful. He knows you’ll always support him no matter what, that you’ll perform your role, even if you don’t fully understand why.”