Page 45

VIOLET

“Cornelius wrote this!” I say, clutching the paper.

“Sawyer’s wealth is linked to witches. Did Cornelius pay to keep Sarah quiet?” asks Rowan.

Grayson grunts. “No. This is a threat. But my uncle knew about Viktor and said he’d ‘made money’ out of Viktor over the years. I didn’t understand but this makes sense now.”

“Blackmail?” Leif frowns.

“No, Josef didn’t make the money by blackmailing the Whitegroves, but from payment as the Sawyers’ ‘lawyer’. The Sawyers paid Josef, a powerful vampire, for his protection against Cornelius and Viktor.”

“Why didn’t Cornelius or Viktor kill the Sawyers?” I ask. “They’ve had numerous chances.”

Rowan gives me a long look. “ Ye t. Someone is targeting one of the Sawyers now.”

“You mean Kai? The ‘kill your child’ revenge? Again, eighteen years of chances,” I say.

“Eighteen years of Josef’s protection.”

“Another bargain?” suggests Rowan.

“Who with?”

Leif groans and rubs his head. “Too many missing pieces. Why would Sarah leave Kai in danger?”

“But, Leif, you know I always fit the pieces together. I only need to find them, and I have plenty today.” I smile, but he doesn’t look convinced.

I flip over each of the photographs to read the back. Somebody noted the dates the photos were taken, including names of those featured. However, three words on the reverse of a photo of girls in the caves differs to all the others.

SPRINTING TENT EXTREME

“What does this mean?”

Rowan compares two photos. “This was written recently, Violet, because the ink isn’t as faded. Something for us to find?”

“How cryptic. Do you think Sarah may be going camping? An extreme hiking experience? Seems unlikely but we should check local campsites.”

“That isn’t what the words mean.” Rowan stands and produces his phone. “ What3words .”

“Sprinting, tent, extreme,” I repeat.

“No. What3words is a website that uses words to pinpoint every coordinate in the world.”

Good grief. He makes no sense. “Where is the extreme tent sport, Rowan?”

“The what?” Grayson looks between us.

“If I type these three words into the website, it’ll locate a place. I bet the site pinpoints somewhere nearby.”

“Do you think that’s where the guy took Sarah?” asks Leif as Rowan types furiously into his phone.

“Or where the bodies are that Sarah can’t reach.” My voice and spirits rise.

Rowan looks up from his screen. “Longdale caves.”

We all look to Leif as our local guide.

“Yeah. I know where they are, but the caves are massive. There’re different entrances all over the place. Some areas are used by potholers.”

I blink. “Potholders? What are the pots used for? Magic. That could be somewhere to search!”

“Pot holers ,” says Leif. “People who like to explore parts of caves that are hard to reach. They need special equipment to get into those areas.”

“Then we should pothole. Where is an entrance? How do we perform this activity?”

Rowan visibly shudders. “I’m claustrophobic. No way. Besides, aren’t we looking for the meeting place in Sarah’s photos? I doubt a group of teens took potholing equipment along with their alcohol. The teens’ cave is our starting point. We should search for an easily accessible part of the rocks.”

“Wherever she went today, Sarah left this because she wanted us to find the caves. This indicates another chance to find evidence of Viktor’s crimes.

” I pause. “For instance, Madison’s body, and possibly Sarah’s brother’s.

Sarah hints at that in her letter: I can’t reach them . Well, we will. Today.”

“Dorian told you to keep out of the case against the Whitegroves,” says Grayson. “Don’t piss him off more.”

“A murder almost two decades ago no longer interests him; he’s tracking down the necromancers. However, I’ll try to call Dorian again and tell him where I’m going,” I say, already digging into a pocket for my phone.

“ Ask him, you mean,” warns Rowan.

Despite my earlier attempts to contact Dorian, he never answered or replied to my message. I tap my foot in frustration, listening to Dorian’s phone ring out again.

Nothing.

I sigh and prepare to text him, but the phone buzzes.

“Hello, Dorian. Did you receive my message? I’m at the Sawyer lodge and we?—”

“Cornelius Whitegrove has gone.”

“Gone where?”

“If I knew that I wouldn’t be bloody calling you back for ideas!”

I hadn’t placed the phone on loudspeaker in case of direct threats against any of the guys, but anybody in the vicinity would hear his loud, furious voice.

“We’ve found evidence at the mausoleum but can’t find him . Do you have any idea where Whitegrove might be?”

Grayson shuffles backward on the rug as if my father might leap from the phone or blood rune himself into the place.

“No. I do not know Cornelius’s whereabouts, otherwise I would’ve communicated this to you sooner. Cornelius belongs to a large coven. He has numerous places to seek refuge.”

“You’ve had no contact with him at all since our conversation last night?” Dorian’s voice continues to rise.

“No. You were perfectly clear that I was to remove myself from all involvement with Cornelius.”

“Somebody bloody tipped him off!”

I hold the phone away from my ear as Dorian’s fury keeps going. Once he’s descended into rage, Dorian’s diatribes can endure for some time. The guys stare as they listen.

“How else would the witch know that I’m closing in, Violet?”

“I don’t know.”

But we do. I side glance at Grayson who chews hard on a nail and stares at the burned, peeling bedroom wallpaper.

“If you don’t know anything, why the urgent message earlier, and now another phone call?” Dorian snaps.

“As I began to tell you before you yelled at me, Sarah Sawyer has left, and I’m at the lodge where we’ve uncovered evidence.”

“What do you mean ‘left?’ With Kai? Nobody told me. How do you know?”

I cringe as the swearing begins again, patiently waiting for a gap in his speech in order to continue.

“Sarah left alone. We decided to visit the lodge and saw her leave but did not intercept. If you recall my text message, I informed you that I intended to come here.”

“But you didn’t wait for my permission or tell me why you’re visiting.”

An argument about his dismissal of my concerns surrounding Madison does not feel wise at this point.

“But I informed you. Now I have uncovered the evidence I have repeatedly told you that Sarah hid.”

“What evidence? Linked to Cornelius?”

“Possibly. Would you like me to share, or would you like to continue ranting at me about something I had no involvement with?”

“Bloody hell, Violet,” mutters Leif. “Don’t talk to him like that.”

Dorian does indeed cease his ranting as I explain the afternoon’s findings, including suspicions about Cornelius’s involvement with the Sawyers. I’m careful to keep the triumph from my tone; Dorian’s silence is enough to tell me of my small victory.

“You bring me everything you’ve found. Do not let those items out of your sight.”

“Naturally.” I pause. “But I’m glad you returned my call because I can now inform you that I intend to visit the caves.”

A loud scoff echoes down the phone. “Not on your own.”

“With my companions?”

His voice cools. “With all of them?”

“With my current companions. Here is the location.” A hush fills the room and the phone call, as I send him coordinates and the name of the caves. “Dorian?”

“I can’t reach that place for another couple of hours, and I’ve never visited so blood runes won’t take me any closer than town.”

“I shall meet you at the caves. My initial investigations will save us time and perhaps even point to more evidence against Cornelius.” I hold my breath for his response.

A pause and not a definitive ‘no.’ “You have my word that I will not interfere with any evidence, and should I discover anything, we’ll retreat from the caves until you arrive. ”

“I’ll know if you go anywhere else,” he warns.

“Yes. I’m aware of the invasive spell you placed upon me.” I grit my teeth at the next words. “Dorian, I would like your permission to go to the caves and search for signs of Madison’s body.”

The following quiet is excruciating, particularly as I won’t be able to take my usual course of action: do what I want anyway, whatever my father’s reply.

“Do. Not. Touch. Anything.”

I take a deep breath and smile at the others.

As the call ends, Grayson runs both hands down his face and sinks back against the edge of the bed.

“I’m not going to those caves.”

“Yes, you are,” I inform him. “We stay together.”

“But… Dorian?”

“You’ll be lower on his priority list, and he’s unlikely to harm you in the presence of others.” He eyes me doubtfully. “Or in front of me.”

“Yeah, until Dorian discovers that Grayson is responsible for Cornelius’s disappearance,” says Leif.

“He won’t. Not yet.”

“Yet,” echoes Grayson and stands. He visibly swallows then looks to the others. “Fine. Pack the box to take to Dorian. I’ll meet you downstairs.”

“Don’t you dare leave the lodge,” I warn.

“Won’t.”

Hmm. “I shall join you.”

We reach the bottom of the stairs, and I stand between Grayson and the exit. He crosses his arms tightly and meets my eyes.

“I said I won’t leave.”

“What have you not told me about your meeting with Josef?”

He blinks away a thought then shrugs. I sigh. Shrugging.

“Is he looking for us?”

“No.” He’s firm, without a hint of anything but the truth.

“Does he know where we are right now?”

“No. Violet, Dorian will discover that I’m responsible for Cornelius disappearing. That’s what’s stressing me out.”

“We’ll find Cornelius.”

“No, we won’t. Josef is going to ‘deal with him.’”

“Deal with? You implied that Josef would warn Cornelius, not…”

“Kill him? What else does ‘deal with’ mean?” Grayson rubs a hand across his forehead. “Look, I’ll come to the caves, but if—when—Dorian arrives, I have to leave. It won’t take him long to get into my head and find the truth.”

“Do you have any idea where Josef might take Cornelius? We could go there instead.”

Grayson shakes his head. “I’m sorry. I screwed up. Rowan’s right. People behave differently if their lives are at risk. But I was always honest with you all about meeting him. What Josef asked me to do. I’ve never lied.”

“And I’ve told you. I’ll protect you.” I take his cool hand in mine. “From anybody.”

His fingers curl around mine, and he holds his other hand around too. “You can’t be by my side 24/7.”

There. Something beneath his dulled emotions. The lurching fear from a memory.

“Did Josef threaten your life again yesterday?”

Grayson scoffs and holds my hand tighter. “He said not to worry because he has bigger plans for me, whatever the fuck that means.”

“You’re his weapon against Dorian,” I murmur. “Through your connection to me.”

“Never.” Grayson moves to hold my cheeks between his long fingers. “I’ll stand by your side, Violet, whatever, because I love you. I will do anything and everything I need to do. For you. Always.”

“Do what you need for you ,” I press. “Please stay alive.”

He smiles and taps me on the nose. “I wouldn’t dare die and upset you.”

Then his mouth brushes mine, slow and careful, just once, before he rests his forehead to mine.

“I mean it,” he whispers. “Always.”

“And I love you, Grayson. Always. And if I have to choose between losing you or changing everything, I’ll choose you.”

Changing everything. The words mean so many things and the undertone lingers between us.

Neither of us speak.

Then Grayson nods.

He’s still hiding something, but I don’t press him. Deep down, I think Grayson already made choices I’ll never be able to undo.