Page 37

VIOLET

The words come from my mouth before I’ve considered them further, as the desperation to release the truth since the moment I saw Dorian takes over.

My father doesn’t move or speak but stills in that unnerving way of his.

He’s either the quiet before a storm that will break and consume everything, or the kind that turns and walks away, leaving only silence behind.

Nothing controls Dorian, but the same cold presence as shadows swallows the evening’s warmth. For a fraction of a second, something unreadable flickers across his face—shock, immediately replaced with something deeper and more dangerous

“How?” he asks eventually, voice like the cut glass in my pocket.

“The usual way mortals die. His heart stopped beating.”

Eloise half-chokes a laugh.

“ How ?” repeats Dorian, his blue eyes darkening to the tempest edging around him. “I’m not in the mood for your facetiousness. Were you there? Responsible?”

“Not directly.”

He steps closer. “Stop your games, or I’ll tear apart your mind for the truth. I’m certain the body that disappeared from the morgue was Viktor. How are you involved? Your little gang? How is Cornelius involved?”

I measure the explanation I’ve carefully created. How much can I give Dorian without immediately dragging the others down with me?

“If you don’t tell your father the truth,” says Eloise softly, “I will.”

Everything. I’ll have to tell Dorian everything.

Dorian pivots to face Eloise. “You knew?”

“That’s a discussion for later.” She stands. “I’ll allow you to speak to your father alone, Violet.”

“What the fuck is happening here?” Dorian snaps, grabbing her wrist.

Eloise looks down at his hold on her arm. “Do not put your hands on me, Dorian Blackwood. Ever. Did you not learn that years ago?” He doesn’t release her. “Dorian. I am warning you.”

His eyes go wide, and his grip on her tightens. “You were there,” he says in whispered horror.

“And I shall explain. There’s no need to take a hold of me and steal my thoughts.”

I’d intervene but this isn’t a threat of violence against Eloise—touching her allows Dorian into Eloise’s mind more easily. If he had attempted physical abuse, Eloise would have retaliated immediately, and my other fathers would also do the worst they could to him.

But my mouth still dries as Dorian yanks Eloise forward until their bodies touch.

She tips her chin, and their gazes lock.

“You hid something from me, Eloise. We never, ever do that.” Dorian makes the mistake of baring his teeth, and my hand covers my mouth as his feet leave the ground and he lands on his back in a bush of lavender.

“And you never, ever behave in this way towards me, Dorian.” Eloise stands over him. “Deal with your daughter; we shall deal with my involvement and explanations later.”

I turn my head from the scene, breath speeding at what triggered between them.

This does not bode well for me. Dorian and Eloise don’t fight.

They never fight. I’ve heard them argue before, but the angry voices never last long.

The pair are true equals—two identical hybrids where one could never overcome the other.

What have I done?

I pull a second chamomile head from the bush and focus on the petals again as my mother retreats into the night, and I don’t dare look back until the bush rustles nearby.

“Get up.”

I slowly stand to where Dorian is in my face, but he doesn’t take a hold of me too. He doesn’t need to because the weight of my father’s gaze pins me in place.

“A Petrescu.” He pushes hair from his face. “I saw him in your mother’s mind.”

“Dashiell killed Viktor,” I say.

“Yes. I saw that too. But Eloise had the chance to take Viktor for necromancy before Grayson tore his heart out.” I stumble and grab the edge of the chair as his magic drills into my thoughts. “Elaborate.”

“Viktor had a hold over Holly, and Grayson wanted to?—”

“This isn’t about Holly. You’ve confirmed what you deny.

Grayson is working for his fucking uncle, Violet!

” Dorian shouts in my face, and I wrap my fingers tighter around the chair.

“First, the warehouse where Josef showed up by ‘coincidence,’ and witches died, and then Grayson ensured Viktor died too! Viktor knew something that Josef wants hidden.”

“No. The witch at the warehouse accused Josef of double-crossing him,” I say evenly. “We discussed this: Josef and the witches are rivals.”

For another long moment, Dorian glares at me, before spinning around and walking to the edge of the patio, his back to me. Our isolated estate lies before him, the only light from the night sky, as Dorian blends into the place that created what he is.

“Consider your answer to these next questions carefully,” he says stiffly. “Did you plan to meet Viktor without informing me?”

“Yes.”

“And you intended to kill Viktor?”

“Not at first, but he had a grip on Holly’s and Leif’s minds and?—”

“Who the fuck are you now?” Dorian turns back and yells at me, staying distant this time. “How dare you go against what I told you!”

“I can’t let people harm those close to me,” I shout back. “We’ve had this conversation. Viktor?—”

Dorian strides over and grabs my upper arms, interrupting, and I freeze in shock. “Who is more important than your family?” he shouts.

“The people I love!” I shout back at him as his fingers bite through my sweater.

“That answer should be ‘nobody.’ I warned you, Violet,” he snarls into my face. “I told you to do what I say.”

“You don’t have power over me, Dorian. I’m your daughter, but I am your equal!”

“Nobody is my equal.”

“Really? I just saw Eloise shove you into a bush of lavender with her magic.” I break free from his grasp and add insult to injury by grabbing a sprig from Dorian’s hair.

Dorian snatches the lavender. “Viktor’s permanent death sets back my search for the truth and increases the threat against us. The witch had important knowledge that I needed . I told you he was not to die.”

I bite my lip hard. Do I apologize? But how can I when I’m not sorry that he’s dead, only that others are still wrapped up in the aftermath?

“A Petrescu killed a witness! Josef’s sole purpose is to bring me down, and you helped.”

“That isn’t why Grayson interfered. Viktor would’ve killed Holly.” I take a calming breath. “Eloise can explain.”

Dorian’s face shadows. “Oh, she will.”

“My mother gave me a chance to fix this. She told me to bring Grayson and Dashiell to you and blame them to save myself. I couldn’t do that.

I’ve spent several days searching for evidence to replace that which we’ve lost with Viktor’s death, and I have.

I’ve proof that Cornelius Whitegrove is involved.

Stop focusing on Josef. Yes, he’s connected, but the real threat right now is the witches killing shifters.

Cornelius knows more than he’s revealed because he’s helped with the necromancy!

Threaten to expose the truth about Viktor, and Cornelius will be forced to tell us more. ”

“You have proof? Viktor’s body’s whereabouts?” He snorts when I produce the broken glass. “Are you serious, Violet? That’s your evidence?”

“I found this in the Whitegrove mausoleum, where?—”

“The what ?”

“I was looking for Viktor.” His jaw slackens. “Cornelius has him. He’s frightened his secret will come to light and other information along with it. Get a hold of Cornelius. He’s the key to all this.”

“The man has no connections to Josef.”

“That you know of!” I press. “Josef made money from Viktor. We’re not sure how, but that’s a connection.”

“And how did you come by this information? You know Josef is a lying, manipulative bastard.”

“Grayson said?—”

“Grayson.” He throws his hands upward. “He. Is. Playing you. His uncle controls him. If you won’t remove the boy from your life, I will.

” His eyes hold the familiar hatred but with disgust aimed at me.

“I will not rest until there’re no more Petrescus walking this earth.

I should’ve ended their line when I had the chance and avoided you ever meeting this boy. ”

My jaw slackens. “ That’s the problem. You don’t honestly believe Grayson is working for Josef. You’re worried I’ll give him power to match yours.”

“Grayson is a member of a family who wanted to kill you in your mother’s womb. Did you know that? That’s what his kind are.”

I reel but press on. “Grayson is not Oskar. He is not Josef. I love him and will do whatever it takes to keep him safe.”

“I want you to find the traitorous Petrescu and bring him to me.”

“Touch Grayson, and I’ll kill you.”

Laughter from Dorian echoes around the emptiness he wants to trap me in. “Oh, sweetest girl. Do tell me how you’d manage the impossible.”

The condescension. The name .

I fly forward and smack Dorian hard in the chest. He barely stumbles, triumph on his face at the proof I can’t harm him.

But he’s wrong.

“I know something that would kill you,” I spit out.

“Nothing can.”

I step up to my father and lift my chin. “If I turned Grayson into one of us, that would kill you, Dorian.” He opens his mouth, but I press on. “You couldn’t live with my decision. Imagine your daughter creating a Petrescu hybrid.”

Dorian lunges at me, and I dart backward, moving faster than the other unstoppable hybrid until I’m at the opposite end of the gardens.

“I warned you! You’re not leaving this estate again,” he shouts.

“You can’t stop me.”

Although I sound like a belligerent daughter, Eloise’s actions earlier planted something more in my mind. Hybrids are equal. Dorian winced at our last meeting when I retaliated with my magic against his.

Dorian isn’t stronger than I am.

But the fury. The utter rage blinding his blackened eyes. He has one last power to wield. “I’ll end them all, Violet.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“Try me. I almost killed Leif once before.”

He knocks the breath from me. At the spring ball, Leif told me Dorian killed Oz to protect my name. I’d assured myself and Leif that Dorian would only kill people who were a direct threat. Back then, I still clung to the hope that my father would never hurt people I loved. Now I know better.

“And don’t think that ‘gifting’ them immortality would help, Violet, if that’s a choice you’re considering. Your blood will kill those individuals.” He moves closer and whispers, “ And remember, I can kill immortals too.”

“How can you say this?” I ask and step back. “Everything Rowan, Grayson, and Leif have done was to help me. To help us . They’re not a threat.”

“These people are not part of us and they’re taking you away from your family.”

“I’ve heard of overprotective fathers who don’t like the people his daughter chooses, but this is extreme!”

“I’ve protected you with everything I have, Violet!” he shouts. “I saved your life many times and at risk to myself. I will not have that life end mine.”

“You don’t own me just because I’m your creation that you protected.” My heart thuds louder in my ears. “I’m not a normal child, and you’ve never treated me like one. What father secretly teaches his daughter deadly abilities without telling the rest of the family?”

“One who knows how dangerous you are.” He falters and shakes his head. “One who wanted you to fully accept and control your gifts.”

“ Is there something more, Dorian? Another secret? You keep insisting that my blood would poison Grayson. Why?” Dorian’s face remains stony—he’s retreated but not far. There is . “I understand the risk that my blood could kill Rowan and Leif, but not Grayson.”

“He is playing you! His fucking uncle has the boy under control as much as any necromancer could instruct a construct.”

But Dorian swerved my question by repeating the same excuse he’ll use to kill Grayson. Again. There is more. Something locked away in a past that nobody in my family talks about. And one man is obsessed with keeping that past buried.

“You’re wrong. I have Grayson’s blood. I sense his emotions.”

“Those words alone make me want to vomit.” His face becomes a mask of disgust. “But if that “sensing” happens, you will know how much he dreads his uncle. Fear influences people more than any other emotion.”

“Like your fear that you’re not invincible?” I take a step back as his fists clench.

He sneers. “Go ahead. Create your hybrid and watch him die in agony. But I advise that you distance yourself, or I’ll end them all.”

“You can’t!”

“Then remember who you are and start to make the right choices, Violet Blackwood .”

Would Dorian really follow through on his threat to kill the guys just to assert his authority over me? He’s weaponizing the emotional bonds that tie me to them—exactly like someone else did not long ago.

The ground lurches. In this, Dorian Blackwood is no different from Viktor Whitegrove. Even Oskar Petrescu. They’re all the same. Everyone who craves dominion over the supernatural world shares that same ruthless immorality, willing to destroy anything or anyone standing in their way.

This man is the murderous sociopath Dorian Blackwood who existed long before he became my father. They say he’s changed, that the merciless brutality is gone, but Dorian’s twisted core remains untouched. Nothing will ever erase the malevolence bred into this hybrid.

And yet, I stand as his equal, and I’ll wield every ability I inherited from Dorian to protect those I love.