by Lyla Oweds
He could? I hoped not. That would be embarrassing.
“In any case”—Julian reached past me, buckling my seat belt—“we’ve a stop to make.”
He had said that earlier. “Where are we going?”
“A supplies store.” Julian put the vehicle into gear. “You’ll see when we get there. You’ll probably like it.”
Chapter Seventeen
Bianca
Ivy
Julian ended up driving to the next town over, but I didn’t mind the distance. During the trip, I’d continued to learn new things about him and the others.
He loved classical music. And I also learned that he and Damen also played instruments. Damen, the piano, and Julian, the violin. There were some questions I wanted to ask, but didn’t. For example, what was it like living in a world without bacon?
I couldn’t even imagine.
The information flow halted when Julian pulled into a parking space. A row of quaint, brick storefronts stood along the well-kept road. I studied the building in surprise—this wasn’t what I’d expected when Julian said we were going to a witch supply store.
Everything about this place was perfect. The charming window displays of dried herbs, the cobblestone sidewalk. Even the bright, welcoming colors of the building.
A black and white sign hung over the door, The Ivy Garden displayed in cursive. And outside of the shop were wooden tables displaying various growing things in little clay pots.
It was cute, and I loved it.
“What’s this?” I hugged my jacket to me.
Julian stood beside me on the sidewalk, looking at the building. “Miles has a lot of things on his plate right now. He doesn’t have time to grow and make his own supplies. So, he purchases most of them from here. This establishment is run by his Jiangjun. The owner lives above the shop.”
“I like it.” I began to walk toward the building. When Julian didn’t immediately follow, I grabbed his hand and pulled him along, making a beeline to the outside tables. I had noticed some rare plants not native to this area. This required further investigation. “Let’s go see.”
“Wait a moment.” Julian grinned as I released him to touch some of the baby lavender. “I need to go inside to get Miles’s order.”
He wanted me to leave? But I hadn’t touched everything yet.
Julian noticed, shaking his head. “You can stay here and play with the flowers. I’ll be right back. Just don’t wander away.”
Why would I leave this glorious place? But then the feverfew caught my eye, and I no longer cared. “Okay, bye.” I walked to the other end of the table, leaving him behind.
He chuckled but didn’t say another word as he entered the building.
After a few moments, the desire to see what was inside the shop overrode the contentment of remaining outdoors with the cutest rosebuds known to mankind. I was tempted to steal them, to be honest. If would be so easy. Miles’s car was nearby and everything.
If I did that, I’d feel guilty. I didn’t want to be a bad person. There was no price on them, but it didn’t matter anyway. I had no money.
My only income had been my potential earnings from house-sitting and my allowance from Finn. And now I had to scrimp from what remained because the boys kept breaking things around the house. I was going to have to replace everything.
This sucked.
My mood darkened as I trudged toward the doors. However, as I neared, I spotted a small blonde woman on the other side of the paned glass.
She wasn’t looking at where she was going, watching the bundle in her arms instead. I hastened to open the door for her before she ran directly into it.
I thought I had moved out of the way, but she changed direction at the last minute and brushed against me. The effect was jarring enough to jostle the paper-wrapped package she carried.
She gasped, stumbling slightly, and only just managed to prevent the bag from falling. Once she’d regained her balance, she turned to me, her eyes flashing. “Be careful! You could have broken this!”
She was right. I should have made sure she had more room. “I’m sorry—”
“You ran into her,” a familiar voice interjected. “You should be the one apologizing.”
Norman stood some feet away, leaning against a black sedan that Julian and I had passed on our way across the street.
“You’re still following me?” The woman groaned, glaring at the redheaded man. “I told you I don’t need your help.”
Norman shrugged. “I’ve been given a job to do, and by the powers-that-be, I will perform that job to the best of my ability. I won’t risk my position because you won’t cooperate.”
Wow, Norman had been busy. And not only that, he seemed to hate this lady more than he hated me. In fact, I was almost touched that he kind of stood up for me just now. Perhaps our working relationship wasn’t doomed after all.
“I don’t care who told you to follow me.” The woman—who could only be Michelle Nolan—narrowed her eyes as she hugged the bag to her chest. “And even if I happen to be killed, that’s my business. Not yours.”
Norman crossed his arms. “Oh, you think that?”
I glanced between them. Norman looked annoyed, and Michelle, angry. Perhaps this was my opportunity to get on Norman’s good side.
Turning my attention to Michelle, I braced myself I could so play mediator.
“I was there. Damen did tell him to follow you,” I explained. “They care about people and want to protect them. Think about it this way, Norman is Damen’s sidekick. If you help, you’ll be seeing justice prevail.”
Michelle looked unimpressed. “I still don’t care.” She turned from us, moving down the sidewalk. “Don’t follow me,” she called back, addressing Norman.
But Norman didn’t respond to her, nor did he follow her right away either.
Instead, he was staring at me as if I’d grown another head.
I stepped back. “What?”
“Are you trying to embarrass me?” He sounded incredulous, but not hostile. “Or are you that naive? I don’t know what to think.”
What did he mean? Although this sudden camaraderie made sense, considering his feelings toward his employer. It seemed as though my defense of Damen had touched his heart.
And why had I helped him? I was already on shaky ground. Clearly, Norman was the better assistant. Yet that didn’t feel right.
If anyone had the right to work with Damen, it was me. That position was mine.
Even so, as I studied the redhead, I couldn’t see myself hating him. Not like Bryce. Instead, I felt sad for him, and I wasn’t sure why.
“You know what’s really annoying?” Norman asked. “Despite your weepy face and grating voice, I’m finding that I can’t dislike you. Imagine that.”
“I know.” I tugged at the sleeve of my jacket.
Michelle was long gone. Now Norman and I were alone on this quiet street. The last time we’d interacted, we’d been with others. But even though I couldn’t dislike him, I was near my limit for the day.
I could come up with a plan to impress him later. “Michelle Nolan is gone,” I offered as a distraction. “Shouldn’t you go after her?”
Norman, still studying me with a serious expression, only scoffed. “Don’t you worry yourself. I already have. I’m well within range.”
My anxiety vanished as I grasped his meaning, curiosity taking its place. “Where is it?”
Norman raised an eyebrow, his expression unchanging. “Where is what?”
“Your shikigami!” He was an onmyoji! His relationship to Daman was beginning to make sense. “Is it a bird, like Kasai? Is that how you know Damen? Is there an onmyoji school?”
Instead of being happy, Norman gave me a dark look. “He’s told you what his shikigami is?”
“Um…” Would this be a bad time to mention I could see it? I didn’t think it was supposed to be a secret.
“What else did he tell you?” Norman watched me with suspicion.
“What did he say about me? Is he still trying to replace me?”
Damen was trying to replace him? I couldn’t imagine why. “Why would he replace you?”
“Because he doesn’t want anyone to risk outranking his precious brother,” Norman growled. “He coddles him, and lets him get away with murder.”
“Finn?” I asked, surprised that he’d brought him up. “You know Finn?”
“Of course, I know Finn.” Norman narrowed his eyes. “How do you know Finn? So, Damen did say something.”
“No…” I answered cautiously. From his expression, and voice, I suspected Norman might not like Finn very much. “Finn was my best friend for a long time. And now he’s not.”
Norman seemed to grow more suspicious at my words, and when his mouth opened, I had already braced myself for his reaction.
But his response surprised me.
“When did he have time for a friend?”
My retort died on my lips, and I tilted my head. “Don’t you hate Finn because he’s a terrible human being, a condescending jerk, and a lying liar that lies?”
“No…” Now it was Norman’s turn to draw out the word cautiously. “I hate Finn because he’s abandoned his responsibilities. He’s left me to deal with his duties while he did whatever the hell he wanted. But despite that, he became Er Bashou while I was demoted to Jiangjun.”
“You’re Damen’s Jiangjun?” The pieces were falling together.
“Yes.” Norman continued to watch me with distrust. “The better question now is, who are you? I’m getting the impression you aren’t one of Damen’s girls. You’ve already been around too long for that.”
But I’d barely been around a week…
“Bianca.” Julian called my name as he stepped to my side. He, like Michelle, was carrying a paper-wrapped parcel. He nodded his head at Norman in greeting. “Hello, fancy seeing you here. Are you visiting?”
“I’m working,” was Norman’s much more subdued response. “And it’s time for me to move along anyway.” He walked back to his car, pausing before he got inside.
His focus was on Julian now. “Tell Damen she’s squirrelly, and her abilities have made her superstitious. But that’s it. I don’t know why he continues to distrust her, but he’s wasting my time.”
“Why don’t you tell him yourself?” Julian shifted, moving closer to me. “He’ll want to know why I’m intervening.”
“He won’t listen to me.” Norman shot Julian an almost pleading look. “I’m asking in hopes he’ll see reason with you. Can you at least do me a favor since I’ve entertained the munchkin?”
Julian hummed in response before finally sighing. “I’ll see what I can do. But if Damen thinks he’s on to something—”
Norman waved him off. “I’m only asking that you mention it. Thank you, Julian.” He glanced at me, his lips thinning before he also nodded in my direction. But he didn’t say anything else before getting into the car and driving off.
I waited until we were in the car before asking, “Why was Norman asking you to talk to Damen?”
Julian began to drive, and he was silent a moment, considering. Finally, he glanced at me out of the corner of his eye. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but Damen can be a little…”
He paused again, as if unsure how to continue.
I wanted to be helpful. There were many things we could say about Damen. He was extremely attractive. Also, a tad bit obnoxious. He was a terrible flirt.
But none of those sounded like things Julian would say, so I waited.
“Damen is brilliant,” Julian said finally. “He’s the brightest of us, except for Titus. He’s smarter than me, in any case. But he’s also impulsive and eccentric. His mind is always active.”
I watched Julian in surprise. Damen was smarter than him? But Julian was in medical school—that made him basically a genius. And what was he saying: Titus was the most intelligent one of them all?
My world was imploding.
Julian laughed softly. “Yes, Bianca. Titus is scary smart. He has two doctorates right now, and he’s working toward a third. Dragons like to collect things, including knowledge. He’s book smart, and he is well versed in fighting. But he’s socially awkward. Especially with women.”
What in the world?
“But…” So many questions came to mind: What were his doctorates in? What was his end goal? I thought he was twenty-three, so how was this possible?
“Ask Titus yourself. He’d probably like it.” Julian was still grinning. “But back to the topic at hand. While Damen is extremely intelligent, his weakness is that he overestimates himself.”
I watched Julian quietly.
“He’s oblivious to things happening in front of him. He focuses on the larger picture, and sometimes overlooks details if he’s not careful,” he continued. “It’s a trait that can hurt people.”
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“I’ll tell you a secret. I didn’t always like Damen,” Julian admitted. “Even now, we still butt heads. We grew up together, but I wasn’t sure how to approach him. He never paid attention to things I thought were important. In another life, I’m certain I hated him. He’s impulsive. Once he decides on something, he’ll go after it regardless of the consequences.”
My heart was thundering, and denial stirred inside me. It was an instinct to defend Damen. I wanted to tell Julian he was wrong. Damen was my savior. He’d brought the others into my life and was helping me now.
But at the same time, I knew Julian wasn’t wrong. Besides, there was nothing wrong with what he was saying. Damen wasn’t perfect. None of us were. And that was okay.
So why did I want Damen to be different? I knew he was pushy. He’d stalked me in the library when we first met. He tricked me into letting him help me. I’d already admitted he was overbearing and commanding.
Yet, having this pointed out made the illusion shatter.
“Don’t misunderstand,” Julian interjected, studying my face. “Damen can be patient. Once he’s aware of a situation, he remains focused. Contained. But fire will also consume everything if unchecked. He doesn’t intentionally push limits. He’s excitable. And stubborn. It’s my job to keep him in line. I can stop his moods.”
“So,” I said slowly, “Norman doesn’t think Damen will listen to him, so he’s asking you to talk to him instead?”
Julian nodded, and I sighed, slouching into my seat as I stared out the window.
“But now it’s not only me.” Julian’s voice was almost imperceptible. “I’m meant to control him, so he doesn’t harm himself or others. But consider what you know already. Who do you think has the greatest influence on the direction of his passion?”
I wasn’t sure how to respond to that.
It was one thing to coach Miles, to make sure he went to classes and cleaned up. But this… This sounded like a different level of responsibility.
So, I didn’t say anything at all.
Chapter Eighteen
Bianca
Presumptions
“Are you ready to witness your first exorcism?” Damen paused mid-action of striking his knife against the black sharpening stone. “It’s not pleasant business and sometimes upsets empaths. Since Bryce will be here, would you like to leave?”
Damen and I were sitting cross-legged in the middle of the living room floor. Damen and Miles had changed their pajamas from the night before. This time Damen wore burgundy bottoms and a white, sleeveless shirt. Miles was wearing tan bottoms. When we’d arrived, Miles and Julian disappeared into the kitchen with the package we’d picked up.
Considering the seriousness of Damen’s words, the casual atmosphere was jarring. But to not feel overdressed, and upon Damen’s explanation that it was best for the practitioners to feel comfortable, I’d also changed. I only had Finn’s clothes, and the lace nightgown that had gotten Damen so worked up.
So, I was stuck wearing Julian’s clothing, looking ridiculous since he was so much talle
r than me. I hoped Bryce and Brayden wouldn’t make fun of me.
During my absence today, Damen and Miles had been working. Chalk circles had been drawn on the dark wood floor, candles arranged in a circle around the room. Salt. And something that looked like blood was painted in strange symbols.
I hoped this mess was easily cleaned. I was well on my way to losing my favorite-student status.
But first, Damen had asked me a question. In fact, his knife was still paused in the air as he watched me over his glasses. “Bianca?”
“I don’t know,” I answered honestly. “But I do want to stay.” I would die before Bryce was present while I fled in fear. “Why would it upset empaths? Does it hurt?”
Damen frowned, placing the rock and knife beside him on the floor. “If necessary, we’ll be exorcising Rosanne and James Cole. They’ve attacked you multiple times. It’s likely they’ve had something to do with Lily’s death too. But even if they didn’t, they are preventing her from being at peace now. Considering that, why do you care if it hurts them?”
I wasn’t sure. But all this time, I’d been afraid of the spirits in this house. I never hated them. I only wanted to help.
“What if they didn’t mean to be evil? What if something happened to cause them to be this way?” I voiced my doubts. “Didn’t you say that exorcism is a thing to be used only rarely? That it wipes the soul from existence entirely? What if we could help them instead?”
“Why, baby girl, are you showing an interest in my field?” Damen’s brow had lifted in surprise, and a hint of a smile touched his face.
“Your field?” I was only asking a question.
“Forensic psychology,” Damen responded. “I work with the police, that’s true. But my passion lies in analyzing why criminals act the way they do. Studying the behavior of the living fascinates me. What makes someone choose certain things? What causes a person to want to harm another living being?”
“Living?” He’d repeated the word twice now, so it wasn’t a coincidence. “What is it that you do when it comes to the paranormal?”
Damen’s grin widened, and he was about to respond when Julian, who’d just arrived, interjected, “Damen works with the underworld.” He dropped to the floor beside me. “It’s where souls wait before they move on to the afterlife.”
