Page 105 of Dance With Death

Holly straightens and her determined eyes meet mine. “We’ll prove to you this isn’t a spell. We’re destined to meet and fall in love. Dash is my soul mate.”

I can't take any more of this. Humans and shifters can’t be mates, let alone soul mates. Whatever that human ridiculousness means.

Dashiell engulfs Holly again, and the pair’s breathing becomes the only sound in the room. Who is this shifter? He must have secrets nobody has yet uncovered—nobody knows where he came from.

I study him. I only feel safe with Dash. Not only does Holly’s comment hurt, but it isn’t true. Even though I subjected Holly to all this due to our friendship, I’m the one who can help.

I have Dashiell. I will fix this.

But am I faced with the solution to a problem here? Or am I about to create a new one?

36

ROWAN

I have mixed feelings about Violet staying in Scotland without me, although I’m not upset that I wasn’t invited. The less time spent around Dorian, the better. Whatever Violet thinks, I’m sure her father noticed the shadows’ aura when he interrogated me that day. If Dorian didn’t, he will soon.

If the trip away helps Holly, that’ll calm Violet down—about one thing at least, since she won’t stay distracted from Dashiell and Viktor for long. Violet agreed to contact us if she hears from Viktor again; whether Violet passes on the contents of the contact is another issue.

Violet doesn’t want us to visit the lodge without her, and rather than waste the planned time, we meet in my room to go over the information Kai gave us today. Earlier, Violet called with a clipped report of her afternoon: the long journey to Scotland, a walk on the estate, an awkward dinner, an unhelpful meeting with Dorian, but mostly annoyance that she may miss her chance to speak to Dash.

She still doesn’t know where the shifter is.

What information is Violet hoping to get out of Dash that nobody else could?

Leif asked after the zombie duckling and was met with a stony silence before Violet continued and outlined Dorian’s latest theories, and of course asked if we had any more information for her.

The call ended with “I’ll see you shortly”. I’m worried whether that shortly refers to tonight, and not tomorrow. Does Violet have plans to abandon Holly and visit the lodge after all?

Or there’s a worse possibility. “I bloody hope Viktor hasn’t contacted Violet,” I say.

Leif looks up from his position on my floor, where he studies copies of Kai’s photos on my phone. “What should we do? Violet can’t go to Viktor alone.”

I rub my temples. I’ve had this conversation with the guys a few times, and we’re lost. If we follow Violet, would we endanger Holly? But if we don’t, Violet could be in danger herself. Viktor might lie about not bringing anybody with him. Might? More than probably.

“Arguing with Violet is useless,” says Grayson from my desk chair. “Always.”

“But we can’t let this situation happen!” I protest.

“If Violet tells us where her and Viktor are meeting, we could follow but stay distant?” suggests Leif.

“Viktor would know where you are,” I protest.

Leif blinks rapidly. “Fine. I can stay even further away. But we can’t leave Violet to do this alone.”

“Leif is right. We follow, but not immediately,” says Grayson. “Fighting Violet would take all of Viktor’s focus, and he’d be less aware of who’s in his surroundings by that point.”

I bite my lip. “And Dorian?”

“We can’t risk telling him,” says Leif.

“How pissed will he be if Violet kills Viktor?” I ask. “If Dorian knows we didn’t tell him about all this, I don’t want to imagine what he’d do to us.”

“Eloise?” suggests Grayson.

I gawk at him. “She’d tell Dorian!”

“But would she? Eloise never told him about me. She knows when Dorian needs controlling.”

---