Chapter 2
Miles POV
There was something about the natural world that embraced an individual once civilization had been left behind. Each day, my connection to the earth deepened; the subtle energies spoke to me in ways I’d only vaguely recalled in distant dreams.
I pressed forward along the thin, overgrown path as the scent of damp soil filled my senses. I had to be careful and quiet while following the trail that might lead to my purpose. This had to work. I couldn’t bear the thought of returning to the others, to Bianca, without making any progress.
Things were at a critical point—I had to impress her. After all, she relied on documentaries to show her what a real witch could do. I couldn’t let that stand.
Such inaccuracies almost made me feel bad for subtly steering Bianca to read dragon books to learn about Titus. On one hand, it was hilarious. On the other…
My situation was probably worse.
I was running out of time, though, and I had to hurry. Halloween was almost here. I had no time to brew the potion— therefore, my only other option was to face my final hurdle as I was.
I paid no mind to the path behind me—my trail was marked. My priority was to find the creature so I could complete this trial, graduate, and finally be useful to my quintet.
A branch grazed my cheek, and I absently wiped my face, belatedly remembering the ritual markings. The paint smeared, and I sighed softly, forgetting, for an instant, the furry beast that was my target.
The slight sound alerted my quarry, and the dark mass before me froze as a low growl rumbled through the area.
My heart raced, but I straightened, gripping my walking stick—a poor substitute for my bo staff, but it would have to suffice. I was so close now!
The creature rose, and my hopes sank as I realized it was just a bear. I hadn’t been able to get a clear view earlier, and now I was face-to-face with a far more immediate concern.
“It’s all right,” I murmured, as much to myself as to the bear. “We don’t need to fight.” Animals typically responded well to witches. We shared a special connection; historically, those we deemed worthy were allowed to turn into humans.
Like Titus. I might not have remembered much about my existence as Tu, but I did recall that Jin was so much more pleasant to be around as the cute white lizard who loved me.
He was the perfect little sidekick. Then Mu had to go and ruin everything by giving my pet a frightening name, and Jin popped up as a dastardly general, started eating people, and grew an ego too large for even the continent to contain.
That was another story, for another time. But needless to say, Mu—and now Bianca—would never be permitted to name another creature of mine again.
“I apologize for disturbing you,” I told the bear. “I’m searching for a different creature. Perhaps you’ve seen it? Fur-covered, large, bipedal but hunched?”
The bear regarded me silently, then yawned widely. I couldn’t help but empathize—this journey was indeed exhausting, physically and spiritually.
For a long moment, we held each other’s gaze. Then, mercifully, the bear lowered itself and ambled away. The forest sounds gradually resumed, and I released the breath I’d been holding.
As the adrenaline faded, hunger gnawed at me.
The trip was taking longer than anticipated, but I’d packed emergency rations.
The fasting was an integral part of this trial, though, and I was determined to see it through unless absolutely necessary.
I had to succeed; it was the only way to face Bianca and the others with my head held high.
This journey wasn’t just about finding a mystical creature; it was about proving to myself that I had the discipline and strength to be a true asset to my quintet, to be the kind of partner Bianca deserved.
“Focus, Miles,” I whispered to myself. “You can do this.”
I had no choice. I was in very real danger of falling behind.
With renewed determination, I adjusted my grip on the walking stick and continued on my quest. The path was uncertain, but I was committed to seeing it through, no matter the challenges ahead.
Bianca POV
I ditched dinner and hid for the rest of the night. Julian was concerned, but it was difficult to explain this need pressing against my heart.
Hiding in Miles’s room wasn’t the best long-term plan. After I cleaned everything, there was no longer an excuse to linger, so I had no choice but to retreat to my own space.
But I didn’t leave empty-handed— Sinful Response had found a new home with me. Besides, it wasn’t like I was stealing it or anything. Miles would have wanted me to read it.
Therefore, I was content for now, snuggled on my beanbag chair under a thick, fluffy blanket and armed with a thermos of hot chocolate and Pepperidge Farm Milano cookies.
Still, why did I feel guilty? It wasn’t a big deal; it wasn’t like the books were a secret chronicling of actual events.
Or at least, I hoped not.
So far in the story, Bernard spent most of his time in his treasure room, comparing Caroline’s physical attributes to food: mainly baked goods, fruits, and various cuts of meat.
Meanwhile, Caroline—the peasant maiden who was previously nameless—pined away in prison for her captor; for some reason, she was already madly in love with the earl that she’d only glimpsed once.
The whole thing was somewhat illogical. If she’d been brought in as a prisoner, she should have been filled with panic and despair.
So how could she be breathless from the memory of his handsome face? Why was she so heated at the thought of the dark, wise glint in his eyes?
Honestly, the whole story was unbelievable. She should at least be a tiny bit concerned over her impending death at the hands of an untried ruler. This story wasn’t even remotely close to historically accurate.
It was correct, though, to say that Sinful Response was, by far, the worst thing I’d ever had the misfortune of reading in my life. Yet I persevered through the tripe… for Miles.
There had to be a hidden message somewhere.
Even the naughty bits held my attention—as Bernard was blessed with quite the imagination even though the hero and heroine hadn’t seen each other since their initial encounter. It was so hard to be upset about body parts resembling pastries.
The others thought I was depressed. I saw them whispering about it earlier. But that was far from the truth.
For some reason I couldn’t explain, this book was helping. In fact, even though it sounded pretty crazy, the further I got, the more familiar it felt—as if I was unraveling a long-forgotten mystery about our shared past.
At last, unable to bear the torment a moment longer, the Earl made haste to the dungeons, his periwig askew and his cravat in disarray—a testament to the depth of his perturbation.
“Miss Caroline!” he called out, his voice echoing off the dank stone walls. “I must speak with you forthwith on a matter of the utmost urgency!”
“My Lord Bernard,” the raven-haired maiden gasped, pressing herself against the cold stone wall, her delicate hands fluttering to her bosom. As the nobleman closed the distance between them with great haste, she scarce had time to marvel at his familiarity. “Pray, what distresses you so?”
“Your very essence has taken possession of my faculties,” he declared, clasping her trembling hands in his own. “We must unite in holy matrimony forthwith!”
“But sir!” She endeavored to cling to reason, yet found her resolve weakening under his penetrating gaze. His reputation for honor and dependability was known throughout the realm. “Our acquaintance is but in its infancy.”
“I am a man in the winter of his years, and life is fleeting,” the five-and-thirty-year-old nobleman pronounced. “Yet upon beholding you, I am reacquainted with the tender stirrings of the heart.”
“I too am overcome with affection,” she admitted, her last defenses crumbling before his stately demeanor and perspicacious eyes. “But what of those who would seek to rend us asunder? I am but a lowly commoner, while you stand amongst the pinnacle of society.”
“We shall trounce all who dare obstruct our union,” Bernard avowed. “Never shall the world witness a love of such profound depth as ours. I hereby make a solemn vow.”
“A vow?” she inquired, gazing up at him with eyes as rich and warm as finest cocoa.
“Recite these words with me,” he beseeched, his voice thick with emotion. “As my lifeblood courses freely, our souls entwine as one.”
She repeated the sacred phrase with reverence, and he knew his choice was true. “As my lifeblood courses freely, our souls entwine as one.”
“And thus do I pledge to honor this covenant betwixt us,” he intoned, and she echoed his words. With this utterance, their fates were inexorably secured.
“Are you still reading that stupid book?” Finn’s snotty accusation cut through the passion of Caroline’s and Bernard’s newly discovered bliss. To be honest, this was my first time reading a male/female romance. I’d thought it’d be more disturbing than this.
However, after many paragraphs of cringe-worthy peasant-girl daydreams and Bernard’s obsession with sweets, things had finally become interesting.
But now, my solitude had been infringed upon.
I lowered the book to my nose. “What?”
“What’s so great about it anyway?” Finn asked, bracing his hip against my open doorway. “You’ve been reading that thing nonstop since you stole it from Miles’s room.”
I closed the book, hiding the cover under my blanket. How dare he spy on me. “It’s called Nunya.”
Finn cocked his head to the side—clearly not understanding the insult.
“What?” he asked. “I’ve never heard of that before.”
“It means it’s nunya business.”
He rolled his eyes before pushing away from my door frame and stepping into my room.
“What do you want?” I asked, pulling the blanket over my mouth. How did he even get this close without Julian swooping in on him? “Where is everyone?”