Page 18 of Dance With Death

“Picnics.”

“For a picnic.” I gesture at yet another couple, resting against a wooden fence and eating unwrapped food bars. “Or do people merely stop anywhere, once they’re weak with hunger?”

Laughing, Leif wraps an arm around my shoulder and hugs me tight to him, kissing the top of my head. “I love you, Violet. You’re so... you.”

“And I’m happy that you’re happier,” I reply.

“Right.” His arm slackens.

Oh. “And I have great affection for you too.”

Leif snorts a laugh and pauses. We’re at the top of a sloped area that offers unremarkable views of the town below, but that many seem transfixed by. He removes his jacket and lays out the thick green material on top of the stone-strewn, grassy ground. I frown as he crouches down and unfastens the pig-adorned backpack before peering inside.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

“We’ve no blanket. You can sit on my jacket.”

“We require a blanket?” I glance around. Admittedly, the other hikers nearby sit on checkered blankets. The nearest family placed theirs amongst a patch of buttercups that a small boy insists on ripping from the ground.

“Blankets aren’t in the rules.” Leif smiles again as he pulls items from the bag. “How did you know what to buy?”

I don’t sit, watching as he places paper bags with pastry-wrapped meat alongside shiny bags of potato chips and cans of soda.

“Acceptable food?” I ask.

“Violet...” He looks at me through eyes filled with life again, which sends a weird squirming sensation through my stomach. With so much stress and unhappiness swarming round us, I’m happy and slightly shocked I’ve managed to carry out my plan to cheer up Leif.

Admittedly, Rowan did assist in suggesting food choices, but said nothing about picnics. I’ve finally and adequately reciprocated Leif’s gift giving because his delight continues to glow.

I almost don’t want to bring up the topic we can’t avoid.

Leif remains kneeling as I wrap my arms around myself, watching him. “Sit,” he says. I pause and he raises a brow before patting the material.

I’m finding today an extremely odd experience.

Meeting Leif’s requests, I pull my knees to my chest. Leif closes a hand around my leg. “Thank you.”

“For?”

“Being here.” He pauses. “I know everything’s messed up right now, but I’m glad you’re taking time out while we wait for news.”

“Right.” I shake my head when he offers me one of his highly processed potato snacks. “But we do need to discuss the issue with your mind.”

Leif doesn’t reply, gazing at the hills as he slowly chews. “Yeah.”

I sigh at his monosyllabic response and shift to face him. “I want to assure you that whatever spell Viktor used, we can counteract the effects.”

“How?” he asks, still focusing on his food and scenery.

“Viktor revealed he’d used a spell that splintered your memories and tracked your thoughts. Now that we know what we’re dealing with, we can locate a witch capable of a counterspell.”

“Dorian’s witches checked my mind the morning after Holly disappeared, before we found you. They could only detect the splintered memories. No other spell.” Leif pauses. “I’m not a construct, but this change... invasion makes me feel like I am.”

“Viktor isn’t influencing your actions.”

His curls fall into his eyes as he looks down. “Viktor controlled my actions at the reno house.”

“Leif.” I pause until he looks at me. “Viktor’s an extremely powerful witch who’d touched your mind once before. He can apparently manipulate you, but not from afar, like a necromancer and their construct.”

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