Page 19

VIOLET

Holly’s weird smile won’t leave this morning—one she continuously bestows on me as I wait impatiently for her to eat breakfast in the academy cafeteria. She chews on her bacon sandwich and stares at my neck. Again.

“Why do you keep doing that?” I ask.

Again, the smile, but this time she leans across the table and lowers her voice. “Grayson returned to the academy.”

“Yes. I didn’t expect such a joyous reaction from you.”

“He stayed with you last night. In our room.”

Oh. Good grief. “Correct.”

“Did he… you…” She waves a hand. “You know.”

“I do not know.” Her brows both rise. “Are you asking if we partook in sexual activity?”

“I’m not asking that . I’m curious about the blood thing. I heard that’s part of the vamp/witch attraction, and I don’t know any witches who’ve… you know.”

This I do know . “I am not a witch,” I say curtly. “And if you’re asking if Grayson took and enjoyed my blood, he did not.”

“I bet he enjoyed other things,” she says to herself quietly, and gives me an innocent look when I slice her a disparaging one. “How does it work?”

“Have we not had this conversation once before? You are perfectly aware from your own experiences of sexual escapades.”

She splutters a laugh. “Well, you answered one question, but, no, not sex—I mean with you and the other guys.”

“Rowan and Leif weren’t with us.”

Her mouth parts and her voice drops to a whisper, “Are they with you sometimes?”

“We’re often together. Less so with Grayson’s recent absence.

” Her jaw slackens further. “Oh, good grief. Not in that way. And in answer to your question, speak to Marci about how witches and consorts work . My relationships may be a source of curiosity to you, but your input and judgement aren’t welcome. ”

I sip my coffee, irritated by her banal human reactions to the subject.

Holly snorts in derision. “But you’re allowed input into and judgement of my relationships? Especially the recent one.”

“Your dalliance with Pursuit?” I ask, perfectly aware this isn’t who she means. “He isn’t worth your time or tears. The witch is shallow.”

“ Chase .” She huffs. “No. Your interference in my relationship with Dash.”

My fingers grip the coffee cup harder. “Relationship? Has he contacted you again?”

“No, and that’s partly your fault,” she says, taking a bite of her bacon-filled bread, more savagely this time.

“Dashiell made the decision to stay away from you, Holly.”

“And what would you do if Dash returned, Violet?” Her brown eyes challenge me in a way that’s growing more frequent of late.

“I’d ask him if he lacks common sense and possesses a death wish.”

Holly huffs and sinks back. “I know Dash will come back to me. I can feel it.”

“It?”

“Like you and Rowan. Grayson. Leif. That ‘it’.”

With a sigh, I resume my coffee drinking.

“You were beyond weird the whole time Grayson was missing. The same as when the police had Leif. Something different to normal ties you to them.”

“I’m reliably told that ‘weird’ is a natural state for me.” I place the cup down. “Naturally I’d become ‘beyond weird’ if I worried Grayson could be dead. Are you worried that Dashiell may be?”

Holly’s cheeks tinge pink. “No. I’d know if he was.”

“Because of this ‘it’?” Her lips thin at my tone. “Really, Holly?”

“Don’t patronize me!” Holly snaps. “How about you? Did you feel inside that Grayson was alive? I bet you did! What makes you so different?”

I blink at this little bundle of growing anger. “That is an unnecessary question.”

“I don’t mean because you’re a supernatural hybrid. Why should you sense Grayson was alright, but won’t accept that I know Dash is?”

“You’re human.” I shoot back. “There is no ‘knowing.’”

“Maybe I’m not human!” Her voice rises and the group of witches on the adjacent table stare then pretend that they didn’t, focusing on their empty plates and cups.

Empty . My jaw clenches at their decision to remain in the cafeteria and eavesdrop—and Holly’s loud-mouthed decision to make the process easier for them.

“You’re human. There’s no indication otherwise,” I say quietly. “The experience with Viktor, and his interference with your mind, may have a longer lasting effect than we expected. Time will tell.”

“Well, that’s just great!” Holly’s chair scrapes loudly as she stands, causing the whispering at the adjacent table to stop. “I’ll be sure to let you know if I experience any catatonic episodes. See you later.”

“Holly?” She stalks away and I push back my chair to hastily follow. This girl’s mood can shift unbelievably quickly sometimes. It seems supes and humans share some traits.

“Don’t worry! I won’t leave campus!” she calls back, blending into students heading toward us.

“What’s happening?” Rowan stands beside me, several books in his arms, watching Holly.

“I’m not entirely sure.”

“I’m not entirely sure what happened to Holly either, or why she stayed in Scotland with you before mysteriously returning to the academy,” a voice says.

I raise my eyes to the hanging lights above, take a calming breath, and pivot to face Marci. She pulls herself taller as she looks down at me.

“But I do know that whatever happened messed with her head.”

“What?” I ask sharply. Holly promised not to say anything . “How much?—”

“Marci means that Holly isn’t herself,” Rowan puts in quickly.

“Mmm.” Marci’s eyes narrow. “Something changed Holly.”

“Yes. Being half-killed by a shifter would cause ongoing mental trauma.”

“No, Violet. Something else.” She glances between me and Rowan. “There’s magic around Holly. Mind wiping to protect somebody? Your father seemed overly interested in Holly’s situation when she stayed in the hospital.”

“Perhaps returning to find her boyfriend in the arms of another girl upset Holly?” I suggest.

“Uh huh.” Marci pushes her tongue against her top teeth. “At least I’m looking out for Holly—and I am because if Holly does remember what you’ve done to her, and confides in me, I won’t keep the information to myself.”

I press my lips together, again meeting her challenge. “Holly can tell you whatever she wishes. I have not touched her mind. Charmed as I am by this conversation, Rowan requires my attention.”

She chokes a laugh. “Like a pet?”

“Marci,” warns Rowan.

I hold her gaze, impressed how Marci rarely backs down from our little tête-à-têtes. “I notice the humans still wear their magical talismans.”

Marci straightens further and lowers her voice. “The brooches are no longer for sale.”

“Uh huh,” I mimic. “And has anybody inspected these talismans for authenticity?”

“Keep your voice down,” she urges.

Rowan tugs on my hand. “Let’s go. Ignore Marci.”

The witch’s floral perfume fills my nostrils as she leans too near to me. “I saw Holly with somebody two nights ago, and he wasn’t a student. A guy important enough that you were speaking to him too, Violet. Perhaps Holly will tell me all about the guy some time soon—they looked close .”

I keep my expression neutral as Marci steps back, smiles sweetly at Rowan, then walks by us. Jaw clenched, I track where she goes, itching to follow and discover who she speaks to next. Has she shared these theories with others?

“Returning to Thornwood with Holly was not the solution I’d hoped,” I say.

“Yeah, but she’s safer here.”

I slide my eyes to his. “But is she?” Rowan doesn’t respond. “Is everything okay? You’ve adopted an expression familiar of late. Disturbed.”

He scratches his cheek before pulling me to one side. “There’re rumors about a murder cover-up and that the body went missing from the morgue.”

“Rumors are common, as are murders of late.”

“Bodies missing from morgues less so.I’d lay bets that the human detectives willwant to speak to us.”

“Why? Becauseif there’s a missing body, the local necromancer took it? I’veexplained to the humans numerous times: a dead body has no use to a necromancer without the internalorgans intact. Plus, the witch died too long ago to reanimate, even if he did still have a heart.”

Rowan blows air into his cheeks. “Yeah, buta missing bodycomplicates thesituation with humans.”

“Complicates this more than Dorian discovering Viktor’s body?” I shake my head.“We’re safer now, and we have leverage over Cornelius. I believe that’s known as a win-win.”

“That’s a simplistic Violet Blackwood view of the situation.”

“Grayson came back,” Iannounce to avoid this unwanted discourse.

Rowan’s eyes bug. “When?”

“Last night. He wasn’t in a good state mentally and had injuries. Dorian cannot, and will not, discover his role in Viktor’s death.”

“And where was he? Why didn’t Grayson contact us?” Rowan darts a look around. “Is he still here? Staying?”

I don’t answer immediately, because I don’t have an easy response. The fact that Grayson came back at all means more than I’d admit or allow Rowan to read on my face right now. I’m also certain that Rowan will not react well to my answer.

“Where was he?” repeats Rowan.

I look over his shoulder at the students eagerly—and some not so eagerly—making their way to class. “Josef found him.”

Rowan gawks, and we’re knocked by a hurrying Sheridan student. “ What ?”

“That’s what I need to speak to you about.

I would’ve involved Holly, but she’s upset with me since I disparaged her feelings for Dash, therefore we can meet in the library without her.

We’d better convene quickly and decide where to go.

There’s a missing body, thus, we need to leave campus before the detectives, or my father, inevitably arrive.

” Rowan doesn’t move. “Come along, Rowan.”

“Like a pet?” he mutters darkly as he follows.