Page 61 of Violet

“Ashford left a while ago, Vi,” Heath says.

“Oh.” I frown. “I’m just going to go home then.”

Heath sighs. “Go with Mom and Rue?—”

“She can come with us,” Iris says as she and Quinn stride over to us. “We’re going to Quinn’s.”

“I’m really tired, Iris,” I say. “I’d rather go home.”

She gives me a sharp look. “No, you’re going to want to come with us. Believe me.”

“You and the little red-headed harpy better not be planning trouble.” Heath’s gaze hits Quinn.

“Better than being a bore,Heather.” Quinn sniffs. “You make watching paint dry exciting.”

“And you make death by firing squad seem like a good time.” Heath looks at Iris. “Behave yourself.” Then he stalks off.

“We’re going out, Vi,” Iris says. “And you’re coming.”

“No way.”

“It’ll be good for you,” she says. “Believe me. You deserve a break from…from all this.”

They take my hands and lead me out to a car that belongs to the Hydes. But as Quinn opens the door and Iris climbs in, I spot Stephan. He’s in the shadows, near the edge of the house, partially illuminated by a gas lamp.

My pulse immediately picks up pace. He didn’t leave. Maybe he was just waiting for me to finish with Heath’s Alpha meet-and-greet.

“Give me a second, okay?” I tell Iris and Quinn and shut the door.

As I hurry over to him, I notice that he’s talking to someone—he’s not alone—and my next step falters. It’s a blonde. A blonde in gold and white.

It’s Alicia. And they’re a little too close.

“I know you want to,” she says. “Using your Alpha voice on me earlier? You can do that again if you want.”

“You know why I did that. Because you can’t seem to take no as an answer,” Stephan whispers angrily.

“Then I’ll tell your stupid boring Violet about us.” She moves a little more into the lamp’s orange glow, and there’s something like a mark on her neck. Like a bite mark.

Oh no.

No. No. No. No.

I can’t move. Stephan and Alicia?

Since when?

All this time?

A growl vibrates in his throat. “You dare, and I’ll do more than use my voice on you. I’ll?—”

Stephan turns, seeing me frozen in place, and horror flashes on his face. He says something, but the world is in freefall and all I can do is spin around and sprint back to the car.

CHAPTER

EIGHTEEN

Stephan

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