Page 150 of Whispers of Wisteria

“Meanwhile, Dr. Ducharme and Miss Maria went to meet a Guild defector, Albert Yates. They were captured as well. Under normal circumstances, it wouldn’t alarm me, but Dr. Duff knows Dr. Ducharme’s games, so this was almost certainly a trap.”

I inhaled slowly through my nose.

“Five of us are gone,” Gregory continued, voice sharp. “We don’t know where the Guild is headquartered. Additionally, Bianca and Dr. Ducharme’s whereabouts are not monitored.”

Gregory’s attention shifted to Julian. “The Quintet Bond between the Xing has been restored, and it’s been revealed that Bianca is in active physical distress—we do not know the full extent or reason.”

The heat was rising to my head. I clenched my fists in an attempt to control it.

“We can assume that Dr. Duff will become aware of Bianca’s identity. He’s too intelligent to be fooled for long,” Gregory added.

I glared at the table. I knew that—I’d known it from the beginning. But I’d been avoiding facing it.

I could feel Gregory’s attention heavy on me.

“The Guild cannot have both Bianca and Dr. Ducharme. It would be catastrophic.”

I locked my jaw.

There was no way for Titus to get out of this. Not with Jameson involved. And Bianca must be so scared.

I should have said no.

“There are three Officers with them,” Brayden offered. “The Guild recruits rogue wolves. Maria and Ada can fight, but they shouldn’t need to. Gloria is there.”

“Gloria is but one—” Gregory began, voice slightly off, and my attention jumped to him.

“Yeah, but,” Brayden interrupted, waving his hand, “she’s an Alpha. That gives them an advantage. Between three shifters, one of whom is a wolf, and Titus, they have a chance.”

I might not have noticed before, but right now, every nerve in my body was on high alert. Gregory’s shoulders had tightened, and he, Joe, and Lee glanced at each other.

“Assume that Gloria is unable to fight,” Joe said.

Julian froze as his attention narrowed on his grandfather.

So he’d noticed too.

My heart began to pound.

I’d never thought about it before—never cared. But…

“Why did Gloria have Cécile?”

Everyone looked at me, but I kept my attention on the Elder Tongjun.

Lee, in return, frowned. “That’s not relevant—”

No. It was.

Gregory’s earlier words rang in my head: ‘It’s not the shikigami that concerns me.’

“Onmyoji do not keep their shikigami on their shifters,” I told him. “Instead, yours has been condensed into something physical, like a pet. I always thought it was just something weird you guys did, but you’re protecting her. Why?”

Lee looked away and my dread intensified.

“Well?” Something was wrong.

“Gloria cannot shift,” Gregory answered, and my stomach sank. “She will not be able to subjugate the other wolves.”