Page 11

VIOLET

Matters of importance.

Although I’m unable to read my father’s mind, I’m capable of sensing his moods and anger levels from both his presence and how dark the blue in his eyes becomes. Dorian doesn’t know about the death otherwise he would have shifted into hybrid fury the second he’d set eyes on me.

My father doesn't say a word until we reach the meeting room at the opposite end of the administration center. At least if I’m alone with him in the middle of the academy, he may not raise his voice too much in case he inadvertently reveals what he does know.

Not that Dorian needs to raise his voice to menace people or keep them at bay.

I've prepared myself for this moment since I left the estate with Holly and more so since Viktor's untimely death. On the walk through the academy, I capably store away thoughts to ensure the only ones available for Dorian to read end the moment I left the estate with Holly and Dashiell.

We enter the room and Dorian slams the door.

“Sit.”

He jabs a finger at the sofa that I sat in the day I told Eloise I'd bitten Grayson. Oh, how the world—and my relationship with a Petrescu—has changed since then. I obey Dorian and smooth my skirt. Remaining standing, Dorian studies me carefully.

“Eloise requested I be lenient with you, but she's as angry as I am.”

Yes, but not about this.

“Where is my mother?” I ask innocently. “Not joining us?”

“With Ethan. Where is Dashiell?” he shoots back. “Why isn’t he in Scotland?”

“He left,” I say, as if Dorian had asked about a random guest.

Dorian's bares his teeth. “ Left ?” My posture grows straighter, not shrinking back as he leans down to speak to me. “You allowed the shifter to escape?”

“You informed me Dashiell wasn’t any use.” I flash my teeth in a smile. “I merely wanted to talk to Dashiell about Holly, did so, and allowed him to leave. If you’ve changed your mind, I'm sure you can track him down.”

“That was not your decision to make. Where did the shifter intend to go?” I shrug. Dorian moves back and slides hands into his jeans pockets. “Do you understand what you've done, Violet?”

I tense, slamming up a mental barrier as his magic pervades the room.

“Aided and abetted Dashiell and Holly in leaving?

The shifter and Holly's strange connection prompted an attempt by Holly to free Dashiell herself, and I intervened. The guy will not stay away from Holly forever, so I can watch the academy for him?”

Dorian leans against the door, a subtle indication I’m trapped until I give my father what he wants. “A shifter attacked someone in the woods yesterday, close to the spot where one attacked Holly. The person died. This is not a coincidence.”

“How unfortunate. And the authorities are certain this was a shifter attack?”

“The murder is clearly an assault by a shifter—the injuries are in keeping with a wolf, although more severe than those inflicted on Holly.”

“Clearly, since this victim didn’t survive the attack.”

His jaw clenches. “Do you not understand how severely stupid your decision was? Dashiell killed because you freed him.”

“How can you know Dashiell killed this person? Have you seen the body to confirm this?”

“No. I’m not officially involved yet, but Sawyer informed me since the death increased his concern for Kai’s life.”

“But you’ve asked for access to the deceased?”

“Humans won't let me near the body until they've conducted their own investigations.” His eyes blaze. “This whole incident has caused yet more distrust toward me and my council.”

“So, the victim is human?” I fight to keep my voice even.

“I have to presume so, although there're no local missing persons reports. Therefore, I can't rule out a witch. If he is, the humans will involve me once they’re sure.” He slants his head. “Do you have information, Violet?”

“Me?” I stand. “Are you joining the rest of society in accusing me of murder?”

“No. I am asking if you saw Dashiell attack this man.”

“No. I brought Holly straight to the academy after releasing Dashiell.”

“Is Viktor part of this?”

As he throws the question into the conversation, Dorian invades my mind, a crushing sensation inside my skull. Immediately, I hit back with a lance of focused magic, and he winces.

Winces.

Dorian never expresses pain.

“What aren’t you telling me, Violet?” he snarls. “Do I need to examine your friend?”

“And damage Holly's mind?” I retort. “You're not capable of gentle mind magic. You'll need to wait for Eloise’s skills.”

His eyes grow uncomfortably darker. “Explain, in detail, the reason you chose to free that shifter and take Holly with you.”

“Have you told her parents?”

“No. Explain. Now.”

“Holly informed me she no longer wished to stay in Scotland. The girl bothers about ‘vibes’ and found the estate disturbing.”

“Flimsy excuse, Violet. There’s more to this than you’re telling me.” Dorian jabs a finger against the top of my chest. “If I discover you've had anything to do with this death, I’ll remove you from Thornwood and return you to the family estate. I will ensure you never leave again.”

I slap his hand away. “Don't threaten me with the impossible, Dorian.”

“Excuse me?” The energy in the room thickens with danger, and Dorian's eyes finally blacken fully. At my physical retaliation or words? Both?

“Don't threaten me. I own my life and shall live it as I want. You have no right to lock me away, nor would anybody else in our family allow you,” I say quietly.

“Is that right?” His voice becomes a whisper laced with menace. “Your disloyalty to the family is causing issues. We will not allow you to roam loose in our world if you're out of control.”

“Out of mine? Or yours? You don't control me, Dorian.” I hold his gaze.

“I run the supernatural world. I control everybody,” he snarls.

“That sounds like a line from Oskar Petrescu's playbook.”

Too far. Last time I disparaged Dorian in this way, Eloise stood nearby, and Dorian controlled his temper. This time, I brace myself, but Dorian doesn't strike out at me as expected. His disgust twists into malevolence never aimed at me before.

“If you ever say anything like that to me again, I will take you and subdue you in such a manner that you won’t be able to leave the estate.” I balk at his threat. “You may be my daughter, but you do not disrespect me or go against my wishes.”

“And you forget I'm equally powerful,” I bat back. “If not more.”

“Oh, but you have a weakness, sweetest girl,” he whispers. “A weakness you'll wish I'd trained out of you.”

“I'm half-Eloise, I know,” I retort, “but she's half you . Whatever weakness I have, you both have.”

His brow pinches a moment then he looks at me in the way I hate. If I dismiss that this man is an immortal who’s over twenty years older than me, I'm looking at a young guy with a mocking smile and more secrets in his shining eyes than I could ever hope to discover.

“How are your… boys?” He smiles tightly. “Do they ever worry about associating with you?”

My heart skips a beat. “Why do you ask?”

“The three need to consider the consequences. Legal trouble, injury…” He pauses. “Death.”

“Are you threatening them?” I ask through gritted teeth. “You're not allowed to harm anybody. How long do you think you'd keep your position as leader if you killed another human or supe?”

The unblinking stare continues. “Do you honestly believe I haven't killed anybody in the last fifteen years, Violet?”

“Not someone that anybody would miss, maybe. But this is different.” I step up to him. “If you hurt my guys, you'll be sorry.”

He barks a laugh. “ Sorry ?”

Is Dorian’s threat against Rowan, Leif, and Grayson serious or is he attempting to rile me? Exert his power?

“Eloise, Ethan, and Zeke wouldn’t allow you to,” I reply.

“So, you think there's a chance I might?” He arches a brow. “You claim that I can't control you, but I can control what happens to others. Please bear that in mind, Violet.”

“I can't believe you’re saying this,” I say hoarsely. “That you'd go this far to?—“

“Protect myself?” he interrupts. “My family? There are plans against me that I need to quash, and a reputation to uphold. If I discover that you have any involvement in this mysterious death, there’ll be consequences for you all.”

I pull the black veil further across my thoughts as he tries to sneak in rather than hit my mind this time.

“There’re far, far too many coincidences, Violet. I will discover the truth.” He pauses. “If that body is a witch who I’d demanded stayed alive, and there’s even a hint of your involvement, the consequences will be deadly.”

In typical Dorian style, he turns away, confident he's silenced his opponent with the last word. He shoves the door handle down hard as he pushes it open.

“The night you fought Josef at Kai’s birthday, and Josef told you that even immortals can be killed, you said ‘you'll never kill my daughter,’” I call out. Dorian pauses, hand on door. “Was that fatherly protectiveness or the truth?”

Although I'd prefer an answer, it would seem I get the last word as Dorian walks away, his imposing figure striding along the hallway.

If Dorian’s reacts to the possibility Viktor died due to my involvement, Dorian can never, ever know that the dead man in the human morgue is Viktor Whitegrove.

I have to act. Today.