Page 123 of Iris
“Icy!”
“Coming,” I say putting perk in my voice and step.
But that step’s interrupted as my phone buzzes again. And my heart crumbles down into something like a mix of love and relief. Violet.
“Hey—”
“Where are you?” Violet says, cutting me off, her panic surging.
It’s so palpable I can almost taste it over the phone.
“I’m at?—”
“Don’t say Pen’s,” she whispers. In the background, Stephan urges her to sit down. “Mari filled me in already.”
Of course she did.
“Heath’s just been to Penrith’s and no one’s there or answering the phone. I’m trying to remember if she’s out of town this weekend or next, but I can’t check and ask Stephan. He’ll want to know why.”
“You didn’t tell him?” I grip the phone hard as Emmie starts to pout, and I offer her a big smile as I point to the phone. Guilt eats at me. Lying to her mate will stress Vi out. “Vi, I?—”
“If I ask, he might say something. He’s Heath’s friend.”
I squeeze my eyes shut a moment. “I don’t want you stressed or lying, Vi.”
“Things are fine,” she says, firmly as she can. “He knows something is up, but he said, with whatever’s going on, it’s a don’t ask, don’t tell situation.”
My sister would cover, but I’d be the one causing problems. Stressing her out.
And I can’t do that.
“What do I do?” I ask. “If Penrith’s is out. Any suggestions.”
“You could?—”
“No,” I say, “I can’t say I’m with you.”
“But—”
“Violet, this is my mess, and I’m not messing with you, Stephan, and the baby.”
“You wouldn’t be.”
Killian throws me a dark look as he goes to Emmie and admires her picture, and I look to the door, my heart twisting as those shocking blue eyes of Xavier burn deep.
Okay?
I hear just one word in my head, and I nod. I’m still unsure how we’re able to do that, but I’ve concluded it being the mark’s doing.
I wonder if Violet and Stephan can communicate this way, too. They do always seem to be on the same page with things.
Why couldn’t school teach us shit like this?
“What about Quinn?” Vi says. Then she lowers her voice. “Where are you?”
It’s all like a punch to my guts. Killian gives me one more dark glance before returning to talk with Xavier.
I edge to the end of the bar where Freya’s now distracting Emmie.
