Page 120 of Dance With Death

“Fine.” He shrugs, and Holly’s screaming stops.

I twist my head. “Holly?” She doesn’t respond, expression and eyes blank, locked inside the spell.

“Why did you bring Holly?” asks Viktor curiously. “Rather a stupid move.”

“She followed. I couldn’t stop her thanks to the spell that created her obsession with Dashiell.”

“Spell?”

“You know what I’m talking about!” I snap.

“Oh. I thought you brought Holly as part of a clever plan since the shifter wouldn’t leave Holly and run into the woods away from us.” Viktor moves closer, and I sidestep to prevent him from reaching Holly. He laughs at me and looks over my shoulder. “Hello, Dashiell. Remember me?” He pauses then grins. “I don’t suppose you do.”

Dashiell makes the ridiculous decision to lunge at Viktor, and Holly’s scream pierces the night again before he manages to make contact. Arresting himself, Dashiell swears at Viktor and takes hold of Holly. “Stop hurting her!”

Although Viktor is still blocked from reaching Holly, he doesn’t try to move any closer. Viktor doesn’t need to touch her to inflict harm. The hybrid dances in my veins, trying to take hold as I’m pulled between instinct and thinking. How do I kill Viktor before he can hurt Holly further?

“To be honest, I’m surprised you took my threat seriously, and your hangers-on aren’t with you.” He slants his head. “Although I expect they’ll arrive soon. Shall we get on with our business while we have time?”

“You have Dashiell. Take the spell away from Holly.”

“Technically, I don’t have him since he’s standing with you, the poor guy torn whether to run or protect his little human,” says Viktor, and Dashiell snarls at him. “I don’t want Dashiell.”

I blink. “Then what is this meeting for? You asked me to bring the wolf shifter to you. If you believe you’ve trapped me in any way, you’re wrong. If any of your accomplices are nearby, they won’t survive.”

“But, Violet, I already have you trapped due to your emotional responses to the situation.” I don’t budge as he steps up to meet me, face to sneering face. “Emotions are such tricky little things. They lead to trouble. Downfalls. I have no need to ask for help against you.”

A sharp desire to snap his neck springs into my mind, immediately shoved away by the sound of something hitting the ground.

“Holly!” gasps out Dashiell.

I spin around to where Dashiell kneels beside my friend, who’s clawing at her neck, eyes wide. “I can’t breathe!” she rasps.

“Take the spell away from Holly!” I shout at Viktor, shoving him hard in the chest. “If you harm Holly, I’ll kill you. More than once.”

He stumbles. “Like I said, tricky little emotions. Your father would be disgusted with you. Here I am, inches away from your teeth, and yet I’m untouched. All because you can’t stand the thought that an insignificant human could die.”

Holly continues to choke, and Dashiell talks to calm her as her struggling breaths echo in my mind. I can subdue the hybrid long enough to calculate the best time to unleash on Viktor, but can’t stop every response, and my teeth and nails sharpen.

“If you don’t want Dashiell, what do you want?” I snarl, baring teeth that should be tearing into him.

Viktor’s face moves closer to mine. “Kill him,” he whispers.

“What?”

“Kill the shifter.” Viktor steps back, his malevolent aura spreading to his smile. “I could do it myself, but I want you to. Holly can watch.”

44

VIOLET

The world shifts for a moment as I stare back at Viktor. Words form in my mind but won’t leave my mouth: I can’t. But behind me, Holly’s choking becomes pained whines, and I stare in horror as she rolls onto her side, holding the sides of her head.

The phone call.

Viktor’s threat.

Holly’s mind will break. Do as I ask, and we’ll discuss how to ensure that unfortunate disability never happens.

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