Page 116 of Dance With Death

She drops into silence, and her heart beats faster, sending blood closer to the surface of her skin. I can smell her. The urge to taste Holly’s blood doesn’t come, but the attraction to the scent concerns me.

I can’t go without taking my potion for too much longer.

“And what do we do? You won’t want to see your father. I don’t want to.”

“Return to the academy.” I smile. “Then we can ask Eloise to visit. I’ll request all my fathers join her to temper Dorian’s response to my actions.”

Although that will be impossible if I kill Viktor. Once the deed is done maybe I should abscond until Dorian calms down?

“Can we get an Uber this time?” Holly squeezes her fingers into a fist. “Not use that horrible spell.”

“If you wish. And we shall leave soon in case we are tracked here.”

“You think that’s likely?”

“In our lives? Always.”

She swallows hard, quiet for a few moments, before whispering, “Do you think Eloise can break this spell? Will I ever be safe?”

“Soon, the spell in your mind will no longer exist.” Because the witch won’t. Her stiff shoulders relax slightly. “As for your safety, we should consider terminating our friendship.”

“The way you said that sounds so awful.” She wraps her arms around herself. “And no.”

“And perhaps this is a discussion for another time?” I suggest, as the dawn edges toward daylight outside. “We must leave soon.”

“Where are the others?” Holly cranes her neck. “In the kitchen? There’s a weird vibe around you all.”

Vibe. I take a steady breath. “The guys worry about Dorian’s response to their assisting me.”

“Oh. I heard a disagreement about taking Dashiell somewhere. Don’t you all agree?”

“Holly, your eavesdropping skills are worthy of supe hearing.” I sigh. “And when do the four of us ever agree?”

“True. Then I guess the outcome is that you choose when and where Dash goes.” She smiles sadly. “Can I say one last goodbye? You won’t just sneak him away?”

Oh, how grateful I am that Holly struggles to read my body language and can’t read my mind.

I smile and pat her leg again.

42

VIOLET

5.45AM.

I fidget as I wait in the lounge with the others, plotting the best moment to visit Dashiell and draw the runes. Holly sits with the brown throw wrapped around her shoulders, darting a look between us, as if attempting to read our minds.

“I want to sit with Dash,” says Holly.

Good grief. Could this get any more difficult?

“We should order that Uber,” Grayson says abruptly and stands.

I stand too. “Yes.”

“And Dash will join us?” Holly asks.

“If that stops you sneaking away with him, yeah,” says Leif.

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