Page 12 of Whispers of Wisteria (The Garden of Eternal Flowers #5)

I tucked my hands under my legs and studied my knees as Bryce weaved through the scarce afternoon traffic. “Don’t you think it’s weird how Uncle Gregory doesn’t want me to work with Gloria?”

Bryce stiffened in his seat and then relaxed before answering. “Only a bit. But I can see why he’s concerned.”

“Why?”

“Gloria was a highly decorated detective who worked her way into that position when women were not encouraged to join the police force, but”—Bryce paused, hesitant, before he added, “it’s been a long time since she’s been in the field, and the work she specialized in was not easy.”

“Like what?”

“She started in cold cases,” Bryce explained. “When she gained notoriety, she moved on to espionage, serial killers, and other violent crimes. Joe, Uncle Gregory, and Gloria were on the same team for a long time.”

Yes, that was probably when Uncle Gregory and Gloria were dating.

“What happened?”

“Their other team member was killed,” Bryce answered. “His name was Michael.”

The words rang heavy in the air. Uncle Gregory had told me about this.

Michael Abernathy.

He’d said he was his best friend, that they worked together, that he was one of the members of his quintet.

But nowhere had he mentioned Gloria.

This added yet another layer to the already complicated story.

“So why do you think he’s concerned?” Shouldn’t he know she was capable if they’d worked together?

“Because if she takes on something risky, he won’t be there to help.” Bryce’s grip tightened on the steering wheel.

“How could he help?” I asked. He was old. “It’s not like he can beat anyone up.”

Bryce glanced at me, frowning. “He’s an Er Bashou.” When I tilted my head, he added, “We outlive humans by two or so decades. The Elders are still capable of fighting so long as they’re in good health. They’re only out-skilled in strength by the Paragons.”

“What about you?” I asked.

His expression turned carefully blank. “I’m suitable.”

What was that supposed to mean?

“But…” My heart was beginning to race. Had I made a mistake? What if… what if she took on a case I couldn’t handle? “She said she’s not doing anything risky anymore. Plus, she’s a wolf. So why would he be worried?”

“I don’t know.” Bryce’s reply was slow—thoughtful—as his attention returned to the road. “All I know is he has an issue with you being in any situation where she’d be forced to protect you.”

I clenched my fists in my lap. “She could probably bite off someone’s face if she wanted.”

Then what was his real reason?

A surface-level assessment might suggest that Uncle Gregory disliked Gloria due to their past. But I didn’t think that was true, even though she seemed to loathe him.

What made more sense, to me at least, was my original theory. Uncle Gregory and Gloria had been embroiled in a scandalous love affair, and he still harbored feelings for her. It explained his overbearing—but protective—nature.

Explained. But did not justify. She’d been furious to learn that he was interfering in our arrangement.

“Love makes people do crazy things,” I mused.

“Love?” Bryce scoffed, glancing at me with a raised brow. “Who’s in love?”

I frowned at the blind fool—anyone could see it. “Uncle Gregory and Gloria.”

He barked out a laugh, and the humor made him seem a little less tired than before.

“You’re joking. Uncle Gregory doesn’t have a romantic bone in his body, and Gloria glares at him during faculty meetings.

Once, she was sitting by the copier, and he had to go near her to pick up his prints.

I thought she was going to skewer him with her knitting needle. ”

“There’s a fine line between love and hate,” I pointed out, recalling Finn’s words.

“I thought your theory was that Uncle Caleb was her long-lost beau,” Bryce continued sarcastically. “That’s why you claimed it wasn’t such a big deal that you’d trapped him in her office. What happened to that?”

I chose to ignore the reminder of my mistakes. Bryce still wasn’t seeing the bigger picture. If I was correct—and I was almost sure I was—we had a conspiracy. Who better to clear up this misunderstanding than us?

We could help them rekindle their flame, and I wouldn’t have to feel guilty about abandoning Uncle Gregory.

“I originally thought there was a love triangle.” I cupped my hand around my mouth, whispering even though no one would overhear us.

“But now I think she was involved with both of them. I think they had a polyamorous relationship.” It was only thanks to Uncle Gregory’s earlier comments that it’d occurred to me.

Bryce’s arm jerked so harshly I thought he might swerve the vehicle off the road. Then he looked at me and burst out laughing.

This was the second time. I had no idea the man knew how to laugh, and it was strangely pleasant to hear. But I was still offended. I leaned back in my seat and frowned at him.

“Uncle Gregory said that having more than one love interest isn’t uncommon among the fae,” I reasoned.

“It’s not.” Bryce’s laughter died. “But you’re forgetting two critical things.”

“What’s that?”

“Gloria isn’t fae. A shifter being involved with more than one person would be a scandal—shifters have only one mate,” Bryce pointed out, shrugging his shoulders as if this declaration made my analysis any less accurate. “Secondly, even without that pressure, you must consider location.”

I pressed my fingers into my lap. “Location?”

“Shifters cannot live in our realm—where this is not frowned upon—so they’d have to be here. If you’re right, it means Uncle Gregory and Uncle Caleb would have put Gloria in a position where her people would harshly judge her. That doesn’t sound like love.”

I bit my lip—it was a good argument, and Bryce surprised me with his sudden insight into love and relationships. He was wiser than I’d previously thought.

But…

“I still believe it,” I finally replied as Bryce pulled into Damen’s driveway. He hadn’t been there. He hadn’t heard the way Uncle Gregory had sighed her name. “There’s more going on than we know.”

“Isn’t there always?” Bryce shrugged, not bothering to argue with me. “But don’t worry about it. Whatever they do isn’t our concern anyway.”

Wasn’t it? Something pulled at the edges of my awareness, and my fingertips grew hot.

I had a feeling that their saga would affect us very much.

But we were home now, and I wasn’t up to arguing.

“Okay,” I agreed, opening my door. Bryce moved to do the same. “Never mind.”

“Why do I get the impression you’re not listening to me?” Bryce asked.

Because he was wrong, and he would need to learn to trust me sometimes. But for now, my skin was starting to itch, and I needed to breathe.

The cold air brushed against my face as I exited the car. Why was this bothering me so much? Why couldn’t I let this go?

Why did thinking about it make my head hurt?

A door slammed shut, echoing through my ears as static fell over my thoughts. The sound of my name reverberated through the air, and lightning flashed across my vision. The world swayed, and I stumbled sideways, falling to the ground onto stone and moss.

Hazy shapes shadowed across my vision as my breathing hitched.

“Bianca?” The voice sounded slightly more panicked now, and a hand pulled at my arm, snatching me from the scene. My eyes blinked open, and I was on the gravel driveway, resting against Bryce’s side as he snapped his fingers in my face. “Bianca, are you okay?”

My skin felt clammy and cold, and my stomach cramped and churned. The earlier pain had returned with a vengeance, and a red shadow hovered in the corner of my vision.

“F-fine.” I shuddered. “Just cramps.” It wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t my menstrual cycle causing me to feel nauseous.

What just happened?

“Cramps that make you faint?” Bryce asked in disbelief.

“Yeah.” I waved my hand weakly. “Happens all the time. ‘Tis normal,” I muttered, trying to right my thoughts.

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 can he do—”

“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!”