Page 121 of Dance With Death

“You want me to kill Dashiell to stop this from happening to Holly?” I ask hoarsely and point at her.

Dashiell’s pupils dilate, and he freezes, one hand on Holly still. “You brought me here to kill me?”

“You could run, wolf?” suggests Viktor. “Though I doubt you’d get far if Violet chases you.”

“No!” I shout at Viktor. “This wasn’t the agreement. I bring you Dashiell, and you take the spell from Holly.”

A huge gasp from Holly tears me away to look at her again. “Violet.” She’s breathing easier, her cries now softer, and I crouch beside the trembling girl. “Don’t kill Dashiell.”

She’s only lucid briefly before the screaming starts again, and Viktor raises a brow at me. My stomach turns over and over, and I’m unable to meet Dashiell’s eyes. Why isn’t he running? If anything, his furious look suggests he’s about to launch himself at Viktor.

“Stop this!” I shout.

“I want to see you kill, Violet,” he says calmly.

I can’t. Can I? I swallow hard when the tears in Holly’s eyes spill blood onto her cheek, and I dip my head, taking calming breaths. How fast could I move from Dashiell to Viktor if I kill the shifter first? Killing Dashiell quickly would allow me a short window of time to murder Viktor before he can register my movements and retaliate.

“Why did you come, Holly?” I whisper to myself as much as to her as the scream rings painfully in my ears.

If Holly wasn’t here, Viktor couldn't manipulate her to force me to back down. I would’ve torn him apart minutes ago—as soon as I saw his face, and before he had a chance to react.

“If I killed Dashiell, you wouldn’t stop, Viktor,” I say, eyes on Holly. “However many people you ask me to kill, you won’t let go of Holly’s mind.”

“You’d take the risk?” He wrinkles his nose, and Holly’s scream stops, but she continues to whimper.

I’d go to Holly, but don’t want to move from my place between her and Viktor.

“You’ll never let Holly go!” I yell. “Not until you die!”

He sighs. “All I want is for you to leave me alone, Violet. Misdirect your father and allow me to go underground again. Kill the shifter who has memories of me in his mind. Then I promise to leave Holly alone.”

I stand. “Stop lying! I’m not the only person looking for you due to your crimes, and your intentions to commit more.”

“No. But you can protect those you love by not helping against me.”

Viktor stumbles against the stones as I dart forward into his face. “I can protect those I love by killing you.”

“Violet, Violet, Violet.” He smiles condescendingly then lifts his hands to create an exploding motion around his head. As if on cue, Holly’s shouts out in pain again. “Kill the shifter, and you and Holly can walk away. Perhaps try to unpick the spell from Holly’s mind, but, like Leif's, it's buried so deep the damage may be permanent.”

“Holly and Leif can't live with you harming their minds,” I snarl.

“I can’t harm Leif in the same way. He’s safe. Holly isn’t unless you stay the fuck away from me.” Viktor slants his head as he shifts his attention. “Dashiell, what do you think?”

“I think I’m dead either way,” he says flatly. “If you don’t stop doing this to Holly, I’ll spend my final moments doing to you what Sam did to her.”

Viktor clutches his chest. “How touching. I used a spell and wiped your memories, Dashiell, but I never expected this mutual infatuation with the girl.”

“There’s no spell holding them together?” I ask in confusion.

“No, Violet,” says Holly weakly. “I keep telling you. We care about each other.” She manages to push herself up on shaking arms, and Dashiell helps her to rest against a tree trunk.

“But this has to be a spell! Nobody would sacrifice themselves for a half-stranger!” I say to Dashiell.

“Listen, this is all taking longer than I’d like. Kill Dashiell, and Holly walks away with you. I’ve told you what will happen if you touch me—now or in the future.” He waves a hand. “Please don’t make me show you that I’m serious.”

My fists clench, sharper nails digging into my palms. “And what if I kill you and don’t care about the consequences for other people?”

“That’s hardly likely. You’re too much like your mother now.”

---