Chapter 23 #2
“You’ve already forgiven Finn. Therefore, you’ve already established that you can grow,” Miles said. “Which means you can move on from this.”
The earth fell further with every passing breath.
I gritted my teeth—why didn’t he understand? “ I’m used goods .”
Miles tilted his head. “Is that why you showed Huo your scar? Did you honestly believe it would make him lose interest?”
The world swayed around me. “N-n-no!” I touched my throat. My tongue felt thick, and my throat burned.
I was not that obvious. I opened up to Damen so he could understand…
“It is.” Miles frowned, focusing on my mouth. “You thought it would make him give up on you. That will never happen. You’re beautiful no matter what happens or what scars you have. You’re the same person you’ve always been.”
My vision blurred. How could he say that?
“Yes.” Miles nodded, squaring his shoulders. “You’re the same terrifying, violent, stubborn—”
“Hey!” Now, this had better be Tu.
“—gentle, trusting, and selfless person in every lifetime.”
I pressed my hands over my warm cheeks. A sudden rush of self-consciousness flowed over me. “How can you be both violent and gentle?”
Literature was obviously not Miles’s strong suit.
“Did you ever look up the meaning of ‘mon rêve’?” Miles placed his hands on his knees. His accent slightly colored his voice once more.
“W-who’s asking?” My heart fluttered dangerously. “Miles or T-Tu?”
“I’ve been myself the whole time,” Miles replied. “And also Tu. This is a strange experience.”
I nodded. I understood. Having Mu in my head was disturbing.
But mostly annoying.
“You didn’t answer the question,” Miles noted. “Did you look it up?”
I nodded, covering my mouth. But he wasn’t having it. He grabbed my hand and held it between us.
“And what does it mean?” he asked.
I glanced away, willing the night air to cool my skin. “… my dream ,” I muttered, too embarrassed to speak it much louder.
He moved to his knees and touched my palm to his chest. “Because that’s what you’ve always been.
How you see the world and your ability to inspire loyalty from the people around you.
You’re what I’ve always wanted to be. I admire you beyond words, and that’s how you’ve earned my loyalty; no matter what happens, I’ll always be here to bring you back to earth. ”
The ground beneath us softened as the morning light cast playful shadows through the trees. Miles looked up toward the sun and said, “We’ll talk more.” He helped me to my feet. “But first, let’s find the others, and we can all go home.”
A flush crawled over my skin, and it felt like I might float away as a weight was lifted from my shoulders. However, Miles’s steady presence kept me anchored as he held on to me, and I could only nod in response.
Julian POV
“I can’t believe I’m saying this,” Damen began. His breathing was heavy, and he paused as he wiped his forehead with his arm. “But I’m kind of getting tired of killing that thing.”
I grunted in response. I hated to agree with him, but so was I.
It’d been an hour since we’d left the Snallygaster—killing it for the umpteenth occasion. Titus had ripped off its limbs while Damen had done the beheading this time. However, if the pattern held, it would return to life again and continue to chase us.
At least it stayed dead longer each time we killed it.
On the downside, it was becoming harder to kill.
“Let’s keep moving,” I said, grabbing one of the bags. We still had to put some distance between the monster and us. That was the only way we had time to look for Bianca and Miles. We couldn’t afford to be distracted by the ugly beast.
“Have we heard anything more from the drama club?” I asked.
Damen glanced at me. “Who?”
“The idiots.” I frowned at him, and when he still looked confused, I added, “The two dunces and your moron of a brother.”
“Oh.” Damen pressed his mouth in a line. “No.”
Titus, however, was ignoring us as he looked at the sky. “I’m going to shift,” he said. “Maybe I’ll be able to hear something.”
“Don’t bother.” Damen sighed, cracking his neck. “I just sent Kasai and Kiania. If they couldn’t find her, then you won’t. Since she’s connected to Bianca, Kiania’s range reaches beyond your senses.”
“Not all of them,” Titus muttered.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
I didn’t expect him to answer. However, when he turned his face from us, his neck turning red, the alarms in my head sounded.
“Titus…” I said slowly. Damen, who’d moved ahead, stopped and looked back at us. I ignored him, focusing on the dragon. “Just how are you attempting to track Bianca?”
The dragon’s shoulders squared, and his voice was tight. “I’ve never had a mate before.”
Wariness filled me. What was he hiding? “I know that—”
Damen was already analyzing the dragon’s behavior. “So, what’s changed?” he asked, narrowing his eyes.
Titus shrugged. “I’m still trying to figure it out…”
“Well—” Damen was relentless. “What is it?”
“I should talk to her about it first…” Titus wouldn’t meet our eyes.
My conscience tore between continuing this conversation or allowing Titus to keep his secrets. If it were something between them, prying would be an invasion. We’d all agreed to stay out of each other’s business.
But what if what he was hiding could help find them?
“Titus…” I started, but the dragon snapped.
“I can hear her inner dialogue!” He kicked at the dirt. “I know what she’s thinking. I don’t know why or how close we have to be. It only started after we got here.”
Damen gave the dragon a disapproving look. “And she doesn’t know?”
“When would I have been able to tell her?” he asked, waving his hand in a circle at the treetops.
I tapped my chin.
“What does she think about me?” Damen asked, not forgoing any opportunity to make everything about him.
I rolled my eyes and pushed past him.
“Ow, shit, Julian,” he protested. He stepped back and pressed a hand against where my arm had brushed his chest. “Are you sure you’re not trying to kill me?”
“No,” I replied. I’d find a much better way to kill him.
Besides, I’d just spared his feelings.
Titus’s face was easy to read, and so was Bianca’s… After all, one of my favorite pastimes was watching her when Damen was acting like a moron. It would be almost cruel—and not as fun—to clue him in this early.
I turned to Titus. “Okay, try it,” I told him.
Titus was already shifting before I’d finished speaking.
His large, reptilian body twisted through the space, tail swishing behind us as he stood alert and closed his eyes.
Even Damen, who’d been about to butt in, remained silent as we watched the dragon suck in a breath, whiskers swaying with the movement.
A long moment passed. Even the air stilled, and the rustling leaves quieted. My heart began to race in excited unrest for the first time since our journey began.
It hadn’t taken him this long before—and now that we knew what he was doing, hope began to swell in me. This was a good sign.
But then blood-red eyes flashed open, and my heart sank as his face lowered to the ground, defeat heavy in his frame.
Nothing yet.
Damen grumbled, glancing away. My stomach twisted. My disappointment wasn’t only for my sake and worry but also for Titus’s crumbling and spiraling state. Of course, I wasn’t a shifter. But from what I’d heard, an unsealed mate bond created a painful time of unrest for both parties.
Whatever we were going through, he had to be feeling Bianca’s loss ten times worse. I hoped we’d find them soon: an unstable dragon was dangerous for everyone.
Bianca POV
Miles was dragging a branch in the dirt as he trailed after me as we followed the river upstream. Initially, when he’d chosen the walking stick, I assumed his injury was acting up. However, his pain seemed forgotten due to his sudden interest in being overly communicative .
“—and that was my first kiss,” Miles rambled as he drew a line in the dirt behind him.
“I was only eleven, but my grand-père said it was good for a young man to gain experience, especially in kissing. She had a pixie cut and blonde hair. Did you know that’s my usual type?
It’s odd—you have long hair, and you’re a brunette.
Maybe it means something. I also prefer my women to be tall, but you’re kind of—”
“Miles, what is your point?” I interrupted with a sigh.
My ire had been steadily rising over the last thirty minutes, which was approximately how long it’d been since he’d started reminiscing over all his past crushes.
And we hadn’t even gotten to the teenage years yet.
I’d thought Damen had been bad—I’d even requested not to know about his past fraternizing. I might have to establish similar boundaries with Miles.
And since when did he talk so much? Was it a family trait? Colette had been the same. Usually, I loved the sound of his voice, but my head was pounding.
Not to mention, I had no idea where we were.
But my annoyance at being lost evaporated under his relaxed demeanor.
Although he’d mainly returned to his usual self, sans the abundance of conversation, there was something different in his mannerisms. There was a change in him now—his aura was softer, more relaxed, and the uneasy lines of his face had lifted.
Miles had finally found his confidence.
He’d always been attractive, but there was something irresistibly appealing about a man who carried himself with assurance. His large, imposing form seemed stronger somehow, and currently, his grin was causing my heart to flutter dangerously.
“But don’t you want to know everything about me?” he asked. “We’re together now.”
The puppy dog eyes caused my heart to twist with guilt.
“We’ve always been together…” I muttered. It was true, in one way or another, and in ways I didn’t fully comprehend; we had always been together. “But yes, I like hearing about your life.”
He perked up. “Good.” Contentment once again hung heavy in the air. “So, here’s the deal. The last time I got laid—”
I jumped toward him and slapped my hand over his mouth.