Page 112 of Dance With Death

“Do you want Holly to die—or worse?” I hiss.

“Do I want you to die—or worse is a better question.”

I don’t falter, and neither does he. Behind me, Rowan urges Grayson to be quiet.

“I am taking Dashiell to Viktor,” I say harshly. “Alone. I won’t risk your safety, or Holly’s.”

Grayson pushes his tongue against a canine. “I’ve died once. Almost twice. I’ll take the risk.”

“And Holly?” asks Rowan. I look over my shoulder at him. “How will she react if you take Dash?”

“Once the spell breaks, Holly won't care.”

Grayson pulls my hands away with a warning look to calm down, and I step back. Our eyes remain locked. I’ll need to be careful about when and where I go if the guys are all watching me.

“And what if Holly’s feelings for Dash aren’t a spell?” asks Grayson.

“Are you remotely serious?” I ask. “People do not develop deep affections for each other immediately, and not when the person?—”

“Saves her life?” Grayson’s mouth tips into a smile. “All I’m saying is, Holly might genuinely care. You’d betray her.”

“I am not betraying anybody.” I shove at Grayson and step back, turning to an unimpressed Rowan.

And what of Rowan? Our conversation on the academy rooftop? He wouldn’t think twice about putting himself in danger—the bond overrides the logical conclusion that I’m able to protect myself.

Rowan glares at Grayson. “Way to make Violet less likely to tell us when Viktor contacts her.”

Grayson says nothing.

39

VIOLET

What should I do? Remove Dashiell to a different location and hide with him? Why won’t the guys understand that they can’t join me? I value Holly’s life and theirs. Viktor will not stop at Holly; he already has a grip on Leif that we’re struggling to break too.

I almost killed Viktor once, and I will succeed this time.

So, Viktor doesn’t want me to bring others and will detect if I do? As will I if he brings accomplices, and I could take down a lot at once. Yes, my potion prevents me sensing and desiring witch or human blood strongly, but that isn't a problem—I won’t take the preventative measure while waiting for contact from Viktor.

I’d deliberated whether I should stop the potion and take the risk of bloodlust or not, but the decision is out of my hands, anyway. I don't have any of the potion with me and I won’t return to Scotland or the academy to collect some while I have Dashiell.

I leave Grayson with Rowan, positive the pair will continue to discuss me, and return to Holly and Leif. He placed one of the brown sofa throws over a sleeping Holly but isn’t asleep in the armchair as I’d expected. He stands close to the window, and the only light comes from the yellow streetlamp filtering through the curtain gaps.

The entry into the house leads straight into this room, and the only other door out leads from the kitchen to a concreted yard. Nobody can get in undetected.

“Come here, Violet,” says Leif, turning his back to the window.

I pause before walking over. Leif must require a hug.

As I reach him, he doesn’t touch me, merely looks at me with an oddly intense expression. “Are you also going to suggest we allow Dashiell to leave us?” I whisper.

“No.” Large palms engulf my cheeks as he tips my face upwards. “Violet. Don’t kill anybody.”

“I can’t respond to that without lying,” I say.

His thumbs brush my skin. “Killing would change you.”

“Change me, or how you feel about me?” I remain still. “Do you want to keep pretending I’m the delicate girl who needs protection?”

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