Page 33

VIOLET

My heart jolts again. The mausoleum. I have to get to the mausoleum .

“Dorian, please. Listen to me. I’ve found a connection between Cornelius and all the murders, not just Madison’s.”

Mrs. Lorcan sucks in a breath, and Dorian’s expression blackens. “That is not helpful, Violet,” he says.

I want to shout that Cornelius knows something about the missing body, but Dorian would press me for more. I’d fall into a hole I couldn’t climb out of and lose all my chances to find evidence that might help.

And ‘a diplomatic incident?’ Dorian ceased his investigation into Cornelius Whitegrove and the Circle in order to watch and wait, so why cooperate with him? My father must know something isn’t right about accusations against me regarding this so-called theft.

I take a slow, steady breath.

“I’ve already shared my concerns with your father about your attitude and poor attendance to class,” says Mrs. Lorcan. “There’s no reason for you to attend Thornwood any longer, especially as you’re dragging previously model students into this behavior.”

“Correct. Violet brought two male companions to my offices that afternoon, Mrs. Lorcan. One was that Willowbrook boy. I wouldn’t be surprised if he helped break the wards around my estate later that day.

” Cornelius fixes his eyes on my father.

“The Willowbrook boy is too powerful for his own good, Dorian. I sense trouble for you if he isn’t controlled. ”

“Was the other student the Petrescu?” asks Mrs. Lorcan. “He’s been a problem for some time.”

“I wouldn’t have allowed the boy or any of his family members into my premises.”

“You don’t like Josef?” I ask.

Cornelius rubs beneath his chin. “The man is a shark. He fleeces his clients.”

I splutter. The astounding audacity from Cornelius demonstrates exactly how he climbed to the position he holds in society. In my desperation to help my friends and myself, I’ve misjudged my opponent, and the consequences could be deadly.

“I avoid business dealings with Mr. Petrescu, as I explained last time you stood in this room, Ms. Blackwood. Mrs. Lorcan will remember the entire conversation.”

“Violet. Admit what you’ve done, and we can close this down,” says Dorian in exasperation.

“Nothing is ‘closed down’ until your daughter returns the tiara, and I receive a formal apology for the recent slander against my name. I want the girl removed from the academy and returned to your estate in Scotland. That’s what you promised me yesterday.”

“Dorian, did you really waste time on this?” I ask. “You know Cornelius is lying.”

“Sweetest girl,” he says through clenched teeth. “Let me repeat: I’ve previously asked you to shut down your obsession with this other girl’s disappearance.”

I eye Mrs. Lorcan. I no longer care who hears.

“Mr. Whitegrove. You have a son called Viktor who murdered a girl eighteen years ago. You covered up the crime by erasing him from existence, but he exists, and you hid him. The Circle are corrupt, and the truth shall be revealed.”

“Violet!” Dorian’s raised voice covers the room in a heavy silence.

Mrs. Lorcan gapes at me but doesn’t look at Cornelius.

Cornelius rests his forearms on the desk and leans across. “If this son exists, Violet, where is he?”

Again, I side-glance Dorian. “I don’t know. But I have evidence that he’s your son.”

“Evidence? Such as DNA?” His mouth twitches. “Whitegrove magic residue? Your father presumably investigated the known past whereabouts of this individual.”

“As if somebody like Viktor would be careless enough to leave evidence of that variety anywhere,” I retort.

With a sigh, Cornelius rests back in his seat. “And I suppose you’re accusing my non-existent son of an historical murder to cover up something your father did, Ms. Blackwood? Is that the true reason behind your family’s attempts to besmirch my name?”

“Excuse me?” asks Dorian sharply. “This meeting and the charade yesterday concern Violet’s theft, not our past dealings.”

“Come now, Dorian. Your track record from before you snatched your chance to govern our world is hardly exemplary.”

“I have never killed a woman.” His voice is deadly. “I’ve never harmed a woman and certainly not a teenage girl.”

“What on earth is happening here?” asks Mrs. Lorcan.

“Why is she here?” I ask, and Mrs. Lorcan’s mouth parts at my impertinent tone. “In order for somebody to share what’s spoken about in this room? To spread rumors?”

“I’m here as you are one of my pupils, and in order to facilitate your removal from the academy. I am not a rumormonger.”

“I am not leaving Thornwood.”

“You will return to Scotland with me.”

Every muscle in my body stiffens.

No.

Is this Cornelius’s plan? Plant evidence of a false crime so that I don’t reveal his ?

“That isn’t all you will do,” says Cornelius. “Last time you interrogated me, Mr. Blackwood, I was on the verge of demanding a public apology. If fanciful allegations of murders and coverups reach our world, I will do more than that. I will sue you and share the details of your past crimes.”

“My what?”

Cornelius slowly rests back in his seat. “Dorian. I lived in the Confederacy days. You’re a vicious killer, and nobody knows the half of what you’ve done. Other members of the Circle also lived in the Confederacy past and are… wary of you.”

“Confederacy supporters?” asks Dorian evenly. “ Oskar Petrescu supporters? How interesting.”

“All Circle members supported the Confederacy before we discovered their crimes. Respected witches never supported the Dominion.”

Again, I don’t believe that for a second.

“Should we return to the issue of Violet’s petty crimes?” Mrs. Lorcan’s eyes dart around, the woman pointlessly trying to steer us back to Cornelius’s ploy. “Complete the paperwork for her expulsion?”

“Ms. Blackwood changed the subject with her fresh allegations.” Cornelius shakes his head. “Mrs. Lorcan. I also wanted you to be present because I suspected Mr. Blackwood might threaten me today.”

“I have not threatened you.”

“If anything untoward should happen to me in the upcoming days, the culprit is in this room,” continues Cornelius with complete disregard for my father’s protest.

“Violet. Wait outside,” says Dorian tersely.

“But I?—”

“I think you’ve said and done enough,” Dorian says, his look as sharp as glass.

“Yes, so do I.” Cornelius meets my gaze, and his voice edges with something close to amusement .

“I will prove what I’m saying,” I say calmly. “You’ve covered up murders, used illegal magic, and are involved in something bigger.”

“Not without proof this man exists and is alive.” Cornelius sighs. “Little girls and their silly games.”

Fury spikes darkness in my blood, and I struggle not to reach across the table and seize hold of the man. I messed up. Took a risk too big. All because my fear for four other people’s lives fogged my judgement.

“Are you involved in a plot against me, Dorian?” Cornelius asks. “What reason do you have to interfere with the Circle?”

“There is no plot against you,” he says tersely. “And if there were, you know me well enough. I don’t reveal my hand too soon, Mr. Whitegrove.”

Dorian stares at me as he says the words. He knows Viktor and Cornelius are connected. He intended to keep Viktor alive to build a bigger case against Cornelius or Josef. Possibly both. Not only have I killed Viktor, but I’ve interfered with Dorian’s intention to watch Cornelius and wait.

I’m in a pit created by my own naivety, and I’ve dragged the people I want to protect into it with me.

Cornelius predicted my next move. He created this fictitious crime and meeting to delay us. If Dorian takes me to Scotland, who knows how long before he lets me go?

Act. Now.

“Fine. I’ll leave.” I stand. “Seems you have deeper things to discuss than my petty theft.”

“You admit the crime?” asks Cornelius.

“Wait outside this room, Violet,” says Dorian. “I’ll speak to you once I’ve discussed this matter with Cornelius. I particularly want to ask you about the missing body before we meet the detectives.”

“Meet them? When?”

“Later today. Again, a distraction I could do without when I’m investigating serious crimes of necromancy and shifter deaths.”

My mouth goes completely dry.

“Should I accompany Violet?” Mrs. Lorcan asks.

“No. If Cornelius wants you in this room as a future witness to his paranoia, stay.”

Uncertainty flickers across Cornelius’s face. “You believe your daughter would sit outside and wait? I’ve already wasted time. You should’ve taken her last night, once you established the truth about the theft. The girl might abscond.”

“Not if she knows what’s good for her.” Dorian rubs his cheek. “I will deal with the situation once I’ve listened to your grievances, Cornelius. I’m keen to discover the whole truth, and act.”

Something passes in the look between them. Who is calling whose bluff?

“And you’ll return your daughter to Scotland? Retrieve my tiara from her?”

“I don’t have your tiara!” The words burst from me. “He’s planted memories in people’s heads. You know Cornelius does this.”

“ Mr. Whitegrove ,” Dorian corrects.

Taking a steadying breath, I turn to face Cornelius. “You’re a fool if you think you’re able to deceive my father.”

“I do hope you’ll feel more settled in Scotland,” he replies.

“I’ll wait outside, Dorian.” I focus on poised calm as I leave, even though my heart pounds in fury with myself and Cornelius.

There’s only one place I’m going, and it is not Scotland.

I’ve no time to waste because I don’t know how much I have. Ignoring the long bench positioned outside the office, I stride through the building at a speed that’s against academy rules, phone immediately in hand.

Rowan located the cemetery containing the mausoleum, now I will find the building.

we’re leaving now

Where do I go? How long do I have? I keep moving toward the edge of the campus perimeter as I wait for replies in the group chat.

Grayson

I already left before Dorian got hold of me

Leif

what happened?

Cornelius is here. He’s misdirecting D. Need to get to mausoleum. Will explain

Rowan

V that’s hours away

Which is why we leave now

I tuck my phone away again, and stare up at the cloudy sky, dragging both hands down my face. If Viktor’s body isn’t inside that mausoleum, my gamble failed, and all my efforts will crumble.

As I walk to meet Leif and Rowan, Cornelius’s words bounce around my mind . Little girls and their silly games .

Very well. You made a calculated move, Cornelius, but a risky one if you’re inserting yourself into Dorian’s past. The game isn’t over yet, and even if you beat the little girl , you will never triumph over my father.

If anybody could defeat Dorian Blackwood, the hybrid wouldn’t be in the superior position he is now. Stronger witches than Cornelius have tried and failed.

Cornelius Whitegrove disagrees with Dorian’s governance. That and his connection to Viktor squarely places him in the middle of a movement against my father that we intend to quash.

If Cornelius holds the names and information that we lost with Viktor’s death, he’ll give them up or we’ll force them from him.

You think you’ve made a clever move? No. You’ve set yourself up for defeat, Mr. Whitegrove .