Page 47 of A Hint of Delirium

“Please … brother. If there’s still an ounce of you that cares for me, please help me,” Ansel pleaded.

Alec grimaced and looked at his younger brother in disgust. His gaze trailed from Ansel to me where I stood behind him, and they narrowed. If he didn’t like me before, he certainly didn’t care for me now.

“If you get him killed, I’ll kill you myself,” Alec snarled at me. I straightened from the vehemence in his threat, but before I could utter a word in protest, Ansel spoke.

“I’m responsible for my own life. Don’t put this on her.”

Alec snorted and rolled his eyes. “Yeah, we’ll see about that. So what’s your game plan, genius? Because at this very moment, Sage is looking into Marisol Santos’s family tree and searching for relatives. Your girl will eventually be discovered, and by Sage, no less.”

Ansel shook his head. “They changed their names. There’s no mention of their connection to Marisol Santos anywhere. She won’t find her.”

“Oh, she will,” Alec said confidently. “Sage finds everything. And she’s already curious about your girlfriend.”

Ansel did a double take, turning to glance at me before turning his attention back to Alec. “When did she see Violet?”

Alec nodded. “She came to the piano bar while I was there … investigating.” He grinned. “She said Violet looked like someone she knew. She said they had the same eyes.”

Ansel glanced back at me curiously and then turned back to his brother. “Do you recognize her?”

Alec frowned. “Why would I?”

Ansel sighed. “Since we’re in full disclosure now, I might as well tell you that her father is an Unseelie.”

Alec’s brows rose practically to his hairline in shock. “Son of a bitch,” he murmured. “That could spell trouble.”

“Why?” I finally said, cutting into a conversation that swirled far over my head. I was damned if I would stay in the background like a … well, like a shrinking violet, and let them talk about me like I wasn’t there.

Alec peered down at me without trying to hide his annoyance. “Your father is an Unseelie, and you’re what? Twenty-three, twenty-four years old?”

“Twenty-five,” I corrected.

“Whatever.” He rolled his eyes. “There were only a few Unseelie in the human realm during that time, all of whom were seeking the orb, and they all happened to be high-ranking officers.”

“No wonder Sage thought she recognized her,” Ansel murmured.

“It won’t be long before she pieces it together, Ansel,” Alec warned, glancing at me warily. “And it won’t be long before the Ancient Order of Leviathans finds her, too.”

“My mother has already gone into hiding,” I added quietly. “They won’t find her.”

“But they can findyou,” he said. “You’ll be easy to find, I guarantee that.”

“Maybe we should be having this conversation inside?” Ansel motioned toward his door.

“Not tonight,” Alec said. “I have a lot of thinking to do.” His heated glare turned in my direction yet again. It was obvious how he felt about me.

“Alec!” Ansel barked, approaching his brother with hurried steps. “You have to keep this a secret!”

“I don’t have to do anything except die,” he grunted. “And I’m not giving up my life for your girlfriend.”

Ansel exhaled loudly. “I’m not asking—”

“You don’t have to do anything,” I cut in. “Just pretend you don’t know anything. We won’t ask for your help. You can stay perfectly blameless.”

Alec’s glare deepened. “And let you get my brother killed? I don’t think so.” He shook his head.

“I thought you didn’t care about Ansel? You were willing to kill him yourself.” I shrugged. “Why the sudden change of heart?”

Alec pressed his lips into a straight line and his nostrils flared as he stared me down. “Idon’tcare,” he gritted out, “but if anyone’s going to kill him, it’ll be me.”

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