Page 10

VIOLET

Holly returned to our room after her prolonged farewell with Dashiell.

She had no choice because I waited close by ready to intervene if she tried to abscond.

I’d already explained in detail the pain that I’d inflict on Dashiell if he took my friend and endangered her life.

Thus, I ensured he’d prevent Holly leaving with him.

I now have one extra reason why Holly must not leave the academy and why I’ll keep her under closer surveillance.

If she’s unsupervised, Holly is likely to follow her obsession, Dashiell, and the pair will disappear into danger.

Holly’s parents won’t be able to protect her from that or any supernatural intervention, and I simply can’t risk her life.

Fortunately, Holly wakes with the same determination to remain at Thornwood, and similarly I’ve no desire to return to Scotland until I bring Dorian some of the secrets that Viktor died with.

Whether he knows about Viktor or not, he woke yesterday morning with three people missing from the estate, and he’ll track me down.

Oh, how things have changed since our argument about forced enrollment at Thornwood. But that’s precisely the point — if we take everything back step by step, I’d identify the root of the problem as my arrival here.

That exercise by Dorian in asserting paternal superiority over his daughter backfired spectacularly.

I did not fit into the academy. Neither did I intend on planning anything but to leave.

Yet, I learned that mixing with other supes, however inferior, revealed a commonality I never found at the human schools.

If I’ve changed, he started the process. The original murders were designed to implicate me and thus reveal ’what I am’ to the world—to expose their leader and his family for the vicious, out-of-control people we are. I’ve learned that I am not.

My reprieve from Dorian ends with a message from Eloise.

I stopped him yesterday but couldn't stop your father any longer. He's coming to the academy this morning to look for you

I blink at the message. I’m impressed she held him back until now.

Eloise adds to her message

he's unhappy that you took Dashiell and Holly. Is she safe?

we came straight to the academy after leaving Scotland

If I refer to any part of the murder in this message, and Dorian sees, his wrath will equal what Eloise described

good

My shoulders relax. Eloise kept her word and hasn't told Dorian. Yet.

Rowan and Leif were happy at my return

Grayson?

I haven't seen him

A pause that sends a prickle across my scalp.

That's unfortunate. I do hope you find him soon

As do I. Are you not accompanying Dorian to the academy?

Another pause.

I'm spending time with Ethan. We're away from Scotland for a couple of days

I breathe out relief. She’s away from Dorian along with the one of my fathers who doesn’t have the skills to read her state of mind.

I hope you enjoy your vacation

I will see you in two days. I hope you complete your assignments in time and good luck in explaining to your father why you allowed Dashiell to escape

Eloise isn’t talking about an academy assignment.

How long do I have before Eloise informs Dorian about everything ? Or will the human authorities beat her to it by discovering Viktor is a witch? Because if his DNA isn’t human, authorities will head straight to my father.

Holly walks from the bathroom, towel drying her hair, and nods at my phone. “Who's the message from?”

“Eloise.”

Her body goes rigid. “What did she want?”

“Don't squeak. It irritates my ears.” Holly looks at me expectantly, face drained of color again. “Dorian is coming to the academy today.”

“Omigod.”

I cringe at the high pitch. “Eloise hasn’t told Dorian about the death. However, my father will want to know why we left Scotland and what happened to Dashiell. We should've expected this.”

“Please don’t leave me alone with him!”

“Oh, I imagine I’m the only person Dorian will want to see alone .”

“Or Grayson. Has he contacted you yet?” I shake my head, ignoring how tight my heart squeezes. “Do you think something happened to Grayson?”

I fix Holly with a steely glare. “No. He's hiding. That's all.”

Holly wanders across the room and takes her uniform from the wardrobe. “Grayson is sensible. When Dorian discovers that?—“

Another slicing look from me cuts her dead. “Why are you dressing in your uniform?”

“Because I'm staying, and my parents will need to drag me from this place if they want me to leave.” Her lips press together, determination in her eyes.

“As long as that isn't Dorian's plan.” I stand and tuck my phone into a blazer pocket. Or worse—a plan to invade Holly’s mind for answers.

Rowan and Leif's response to the news about Dorian’s imminent arrival matches Holly's, but in a less high-pitched way.

I reassure them that Dorian believes that they never left the academy the night Holly and I absconded from Scotland, and that Eloise is allowing me time to fix the problem before Dorian discovers the truth.

I've considered carefully and firmed up the direction that we will take to deal with the matter, and I’m expecting resistance from the guys once I share these options.

Especially the part involving Cornelius Whitegrove.

I've explained to Holly that if Dorian asks to meet her, and I detect his magic, I’ll use mine on her mind before Dorian has a chance.

Holly’s eyes filled with tears, and unable to cope with anymore of my best friend's distress, I hastily marched her to Mrs. Lorcan's door.

I will assist in persuading the woman to allow Holly to stay before my father catches me.

I sense two things through that door: my father's dark presence and Mrs. Lorcan's nervousness.

The door swings open—no need to knock when my father instantly detects me too.

As I give him a rare smile, the blond-haired man's elegant features cover in black anger that spreads to his darkening eyes.

Holly hides behind me as, without a word, Dorian pulls the door open farther.

I lift my head high to walk past him, Holly still edging along behind me.

Mrs. Lorcan stands behind her desk, face inscrutable, and Holly’s increased heart rate thumps in my ears.

“Ah, there you are, sweetest girl,” he says in a not-so-sweet tone.

“Good morning, Dorian.”

“I’ve finished my meeting with Mrs. Lorcan regarding the upcoming full moon issues, and Holly’s unexpected arrival.

” Dorian’s eyes rest on the girl hiding behind me.

“One of many concerning events in the last twenty-four hours, but something Mrs. Lorcan and I will cooperate on fixing.” Judging by Mrs. Lorcan’s sour face, cooperation involves following Dorian’s instructions.

“Shall we leave Holly to discuss the matter with Mrs. Lorcan?”

“Please,” says Holly breathily. “I definitely want to stay here.”

“Evidently much more than you wanted to stay in the safety of my home in Scotland.” Dorian smiles at Holly, and I look down as she curls fingers around my arm.

“Don’t worry, Violet can explain what happened yesterday morning.

” He doesn’t have a smile for me. “Shall we leave and discuss certain matters of importance, Violet?”