Page 180 of Whispers of Wisteria

But it really wasn’t up to them. Plus, I wanted to help Titus. Could I make such a huge sacrifice? They would be mad…

A vision of Titus, tied and helpless, rushed through my thoughts, and I bit my lip.

Yes. I could do it.

Sure, my companion seemed to be a bloodthirsty megalomaniac who had no idea how to hold a sword properly and might accidentally cut off his own head, but there were worse things.

Belial had held his left hand out toward me, weapon still held loosely over his right shoulder and eyebrow raised in haughty expectation as he waited for my answer. My mouth went dry.

He wasn’t even really asking—he already knew what my answer would be.

I swallowed and raised my hand even though all I wanted was to run away. “Oka—”

“What are you doing, Belial?” The sand shifted, and, suddenly, a tall woman with long midnight hair stood between us.

“Kiania.” Belial dropped his hand back to his side and stepped back, eyes narrowing on the shikigami. “What areyou…” He sputtered, face turning red for an instant, but then his surprise masked over with annoyance. “This isn’t your concern.”

I was transfixed by the woman as a rush of relief washed through me.

Most times I’d seen her outside of my dreams, she’d been a white tiger. It was strange meeting her like this.

“I’m making it my concern.” She moved closer to me, robes swaying as she fully blocked the Overseer from my view.

Her words were strong and her tone firm, but Belial seemed to find them amusing.

“Really, now?” He laughed. “Doesn’t this sound familiar? The tables have sure turned.”

“And who do you think you’re bargaining with?” Kiania ignored Belial’s taunting, and I shivered despite the heat. “You cannot claim a dragon’s mate.”

I’d curled forward, face to my knees, and my pulse echoed in my ears. I wanted to speak, but the fire I’d been trying to suppress was spreading over my skin, and I could only clench my teeth against the pain.

But it didn’t stop my racing thoughts. Could she hear me now, in this place? Because I really wanted to know…

Was she stupid?

Belial clearly hated Damen, and probably the others. Why would she tell him about me and Titus?

“Mate?” Belial barked out a laugh. “Now it makes sense. Yet another ‘prophecy’, misunderstood.”

He pushed Kiania, and she stumbled as the Overseer pointed his sword in my direction. “Still appealing to humanity’s interest in divination, I see. As usual, you’re up to no good.”

Me? Up to no good? How untrue. My palms sweated as I stared at the edge of the blade.

I hadn’t done anything.

“I’ll set your dragon free,” he said.

What?

He grinned, eyes shining in barely restrained excitement. “The fact that you’re Jin’s mate has to be eating Huo up inside. I can’t wait to witness his unraveling.”

Why would Damen be bothered by me being with Titus? That made no sense. They said this was how things always were.

But…

I’d been growing rather suspicious of that same thing. He’d kind of made it obvious when he’d punched me in the face.

Kiania rubbed her arm and frowned at the demon, and his grin faltered as his attention moved somewhere over my shoulder.