Page 109 of Dance With Death

“What the hell are you going to do with Dash?” asks Rowan as he closes the door behind us.

“Put him in the basement.”

“And Holly? Will you put her in the basement too, when she loses her shit if you separate them?”

“That is a problem. I must persuade Holly to speak to Eloise tomorrow, alone. Tonight, we need to keep her away from Dashiell, or remain with the pair at all times if she makes a fuss.” I look at Rowan. “With any luck, Viktor now knows I have Dash and shares my urgency.”

“You think he’ll know because Leif is with us?” I nod. “But you can’t do what Viktor is asking, Violet! It’s too dangerous. Wait until Eloise has had a chance to look at Holly’s mind. There could be another solution.”

“I am not having this conversation again. Eloise did not break Leif’s spell in one session. I will not risk Holly’s life.”

Rowan’s displeased expression tells me this is a pause in the ongoing debate rather than the end of it. He frowns at the mug in my hand. “Are you about to wash the dishes?”

“Somebody used this mug recently, and the state of the contents indicate it has resided in the lounge room for a number of days. I’d like you to try psychometry on the item and didn't want any distractions from the others.” I thrust the dirty mug at him. “There could be residual magic if the item has been in the presence of a powerful witch, and residual energy from whoever drank the coffee.”

“But no images unless something happened to create strong energy, Violet. Dorian will have taken anything suspicious.”

“Yes, he did, but we can search for clues too.” I glance at the doorway. “For instance, I’m positive strong emotions happened in the basement, from a captive girl.”

Rowan sits on a wooden dining chair at the scratched circular table and cups the mug in his hands. I rest against the sink, watching expectantly. Rowan’s brow tugs deep, eyes closed, and his own magic tinges the space immediately around him.

Murmured voices continue in the lounge room, and when Rowan takes longer than expected, I stare at the curtains instead. What next? I haven’t thought the situation through, especially how Dorian will react. But didn’t he want to ‘let Dashiell loose’?

I’ve finally found my chance to talk to the shifter, but will stick to pertinent questions only. I don't want to see him as anything more than an individual who deserves punishment for harming Holly.

“Yeah. Viktor was here.”

I pull myself from the thoughts at Rowan’s voice. “And?”

“I can detect magic that matches Viktor’s energy from the night we met him, but there isn't anything specific to a spell,” he says, and I purse my lips. “At least we know Viktor came to the house.”

“Well, obviously, if he put a spell on Holly.”

“We can't be a hundred percent sure that happened here, Violet,” retorts Rowan and twirls the mug in his hand. “But he must’ve met Dashiell at some point because someone also messed with his memories.”

“And performed this ridiculous spell linking him to Holly.”

“Yeah. And there’s something else,” says Rowan. “Dash fought with someone. Not a bad enough fight to imprint images, but, again, his energy is attached. Red and angry. Did Dash have any injuries when you first saw him?”

“No. Not even from his fight with Sam in the woods. Dashiell said Sam didn’t have time to retaliate.”

“Which means the fight Dash had must’ve happened at least a day before we found Holly, because shifter injuries heal quickly.”

I take a moment to process Rowan’s words and then march from the room, where nobody has moved from their locations. “Who did you fight with?” I demand as I stand in the doorway.

“Shush!” Leif nods at Holly, curled up on the sofa, Dashiell beside her with a hand on my friend’s side. “Holly fell asleep.”

“I fought with Sam,” says Dashiell quietly. “You know that.”

“No. Who did you fight in this room?”

“Violet. Take advantage of Holly sleeping, and get Dashiell away from her,” says Grayson, and walks around the sofa to face him. “I’ll take him down.”

Dashiell immediately stands. “Take me down? I’ll fucking fight you,” he growls.

“Down into the basement. I hear it’s a great place for hiding people,” Grayson says icily. “But, yeah, I could take you down in the other sense. You know not to bother fighting us.”

“I’m not that stupid.” He looks at Holly whose face has softened with sleep. “Violet. You have to return Holly to Eloise.”

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