Page 94 of Dance With Death

Holly nods and strokes the duckling’s head. “Do you know if Dash is okay? Dorian hasn’t… hurt him?”

Of course, Dashiell is on her mind too, as always. “Why the continued concern for one of your abductors?”

“Dash wasn’t an abductor. Not really. He got mixed up in something he never wanted to.”

“Dashiell told you this?”

“Yes.”

I make a derisive noise. “You may not be mentally damaged, but you’re not thinking straight. Dash isn’t an innocent bystander.”

“But—”

“I don't wish to talk about him,” I interrupt.

No. I only want to extract Dashiell from wherever Dorian hid him and take the shifter to Viktor before killing that murderous witch. I’m not as naive as Holly, perfectly aware that this meeting won’t be a simple exchange of shifter and unpleasantries between Viktor and I, then everything tied up. Even if Viktor doesn’t bring associates, it will take more than handing over Dashiell to save Holly.

Viktor wants to give me a reason to walk away from him rather than continue to pursue him, but if there’s the remotest chance handing over Dashiell might help, even if it’s just locating Viktor in order to kill him, I will. Although I’m confident that Eloise will succeed in helping, Holly’s mind contains a timebomb that Viktor controls.

What if Holly is in his grip for life?

Nobody has found anything inside Holly’s head yet; the spell is more entangled than Leif’s. Viktor proved Leif’s still exists even after his time with Eloise. One session wasn’t enough.

Dorian is attempting to contact somebody who’s talented in mind magic—more so than Eloise’s hybrid spells, and he grew annoyed when I suggested that he’ll need to ask the person nicely rather than make demands. I’m worried that Eloise is the only option. She wouldn’t deliberately hurt Holly, but Leif didn’t fare well after Eloise examined him.

I can’t wait. Viktor could act at any moment. Last night, the witch confirmed that he knew Leif’s whereabouts, and so was aware Leif would be at the hospital. My guts twist further to think Viktor may’ve prompted that painful, frightening episode for Holly. Was this staged as proof that he isn’t lying about the spell on my best friend?

The door opens and someone slips inside before quietly closing the door.

Eloise’s warm expression cools, and the smile that she walked in with slips. “Violet, sweetheart, what is that?”

“A gift for Holly?” I suggest.

My mother walks over and holds out her hand, and a pink-cheeked Holly gives the duckling to my mother. “When did you use necromancy?” she asks stiffly. “How many more constructs are there? Please don’t tell me you reanimated a whole family again.”

“A family?” squeaks Holly.

“A family of ducklings and their mother.” Eloise remains looking at me. “Violet?” I shake my head. “And do you have any other animals hidden in your room at the academy?”

“No.”

Eloise examines the duckling more closely and her lips purse. “And this one’s… undamaged?”

“Yes. Why does that concern you?”

“Because your magic is improving.” I smile but Eloise doesn’t. “Do not tell your father.”

“I don't understand what is wrong with practicing necromancy!” I protest. “I didn’t kill the duck.”

“Wow, Violet,” says Holly softly. “It’s unnatural. Dangerous. Wrong.”

“As is much in this world,” I retort.

“I’d hoped your new connections to the living would sever some of your obsessive link to the dead.” Eloise sighs and hands the duckling back to Holly. “Bring the bird with you to Scotland.”

“My parents agreed?” Holly asks.

“With some persuasion.” Eloise glances at me. Mental persuasion? “You will accompany us, Violet. I’d like to keep an eye on your activities since you’re making unwise decisions such as this. Your boys can stay away. Dorian isn’t in a good mood recently.”

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