Page 38 of Whispers of Wisteria

This had never happened before in this particular way, but Finn had once mentioned that I might be able to see the future. Could this be…

I needed to talk to an expert.

It was difficult to focus, and my fingers and arms were numb.

Bryce hooked his arm under my legs and moved to his feet, and I fell against his chest as spots exploded in my vision. “I’m taking you to the hospital.”

“No!” I kicked out and pushed at his arms as nausea choked me. “Let me go. I want to see Finn!”

“Finn?” Bryce almost dropped me in shock, but all too quickly regained his bearings. His grip grew firmer as he stared down at me, brows drawn together and expression thick with caution. “What in the world canhedo—”

“Just put me down!” I tried to control my short breaths but failed. Now, my panic was for a different reason. “I’m not going anywhere. It’s fine.”

He couldn’t take me to the hospital. We’d been over this already!

“No.” Bryce held me against him and nudged the still-open passenger door open wider. “If you’re fainting,then there’s a problem. We’re going. Don’t worry, I’ll stay with you.”

“Stop it!” Panic clawed at me, and I struck out, my fist connecting to his jaw. I didn’t even feel the least bit guilty about it. “You promised you wouldn’t make me go!”

Bryce finally met my eyes, and his jaw locked. “I know, but—”

“What’s going on?” Finn called. He was wiping his hands on a white dishcloth as he stepped off the patio. The domestic sight, however, didn’t match the sharp tone of his question or the wary way he regarded me and Bryce.

Bryce, in response, grew still.

My pulse soared. I’d never been happier to see Finn in my entire life.

“Finn, help me!” I reached for my savior—my last hope to save me from this monster.

Finn’s pale expression whitened further, and he dropped the rag and started across the short distance between us. “What’s wrong?”

I pushed against Bryce once more, but he held firm. “He’s going to take me to the hospital.”

“What?” Finn leveled furious eyes at Bryce as he reached for me. “You can’t do that!”

Bryce finally responded, holding his arm to block the blonde as he grunted. “Like you’re one to talk.”

“That was a completely different situation.” Finn’s eyes narrowed, and his face turned red. His hand brushed my arm, but Bryce’s spazzing was enough to keep Finn from reaching me. “Stop doing that and fight me like a man.”

“I’m not going to fight you,” Bryce replied, squeezing me closer. His awful, scratchy shirt brushed against my cheek, and his heart was beating rapidly under my hand.

“Because you know you’d lose.” Finn grabbed my ankle, halting Bryce’s retreat.

“Will you just stop?” Bryce snapped, finally allowing his frustration to color his voice. “She needs to be seen by a doctor.”

“I’m fine!” I poked Bryce’s hard chest, hoping that the pressure hurt him more than it hurt me. Who was Bryce to speak for me? But at least my protests had finally gotten Bryce’s attention. My brother raised his eyebrow at me while waiting for my explanation.

“I just…” I looked at Finn. It wasn’t like I could talk to him about this in front of Bryce. He was already overbearing enough, and we were learning to deal with each other.

The last thing I needed was for him to learn about Finn’s theory that I was manifesting onmyoji abilities.

“Then what was that?” Bryce finally asked, sighing in exasperation.

“N-nothing.” I pressed against his unyielding arms, trying to squirm free. “Please just—”

My statement ended in a sharp inhale and wince as, at the worst possible moment, a sharp pain radiated through my lower left side, and I wrapped my arms around my stomach.

“See what I mean?” Bryce was saying with smugness—or was that concern—heavy in his voice. “She needs to be checked out.”