Page 96 of Whispers of Wisteria

We were going to have to work on this. But that felt like a mean thing to say out loud. “Insightful,” I concluded.

“Thanks.” Anthony grinned and pointed to his temple. “Iammajoring in the human sciences. I know things.”

“Okay.” I only had the mental capacity for one emergency at a time. Damen’s pettiness was not one of them. “So, back to Miles. Are you stalking him?”

“Yes.” Anthony snapped the notebook shut and pointed it at me. “Well, normally, no one cares where he goes. Tu’s always done his own thing—he leaves the witches alone, and they give him the space he wants. But there’s a rumor that he’s working on something big and it’s scaring the people in his apartment complex. We’re trying to figure out what’s going on.”

My chest grew tight. “Why didn’t anyone come to me?”

After all, it was myjob to look after Miles. He’d told me to trust him.

What in the worldcould he be up to?

Anthony tilted his head. “I am coming to you.”

“Earlier.” I rubbed my temples.

“This isn’t late.” He didn’t seem to understand why I was annoyed. “We don’t try to bother any of you until we’re sure there’s something to worry about.”

I grabbed my chest as my breath caught. “Is there something to worry about?”

Why was I even asking? Of course there was! People were being frightened out of their homes!

But what could I do—bite him again?

“No, not really.” Anthony shrugged. “But you also looked bored, so I thought you’d want to help. Plus, it’s not like we can go to Miles about Julian until we figure this out first.”

“Julian?” I asked. But he’d seemed fine the last time we’d seen each other. “What’s wrong with Julian?”

“He’s always been moody, but it’s getting worse. There are… concerns about his reasoning for pursuing his educational path. I’d been hoping that with Miles back that…” His words trailed off.

Did this mean they went to Titus about me? It didn’t surprise me. I’d told Brayden I expected to be watched, but I still had a lingering question.

“Hey…” I began, shuffling in my seat. “Did Finn monitor my web history because he’s an Officer? Was he even my friend?”

Anthony blinked. “What kind of question is that?”

My stomach twisted painfully. I knew it.

He’d never thought of me as a friend at all.

“We’remorethan friends.” Anthony sounded offended. “The Xing are archetypes. That energy makes people either want to use or hurt you. We train our entire lives, and, when we’re old enough, apply and compete to earn our roles as Officers. It’s a great honor to be chosen. ‘Friendship’isn’t even remotely close to what we feel—it’s more like devotion.”

He sighed and tapped his fingers on the table. “But, no, we don’t generallymonitor your web histories. Finn can be extra in his methodology—as you can see.”

I could scarcely breathe. “As I can see?”

“How he’s acted with you,” Anthony replied. “Also, contracting with Kiania. Finn has an extreme drive to succeed. He did not need to contract with that particular shikigami, but he did it because it would make him stronger forDamen. Even though he knewhe could die.”

“He was going to let a ghost kill me,” I pointed out. So, Finn wasn’t all that attentive. It wasn’t like I hadn’t warnedhim I was being stalked.

Anthony frowned. “He’s also human.”

“What do you all say about me?” I asked, glancing at his notebook.

He didn’t answer, but his semi-guilty expression made the answer clear.

“Come on,” he said finally, standing. “Let’s go find Miles.”