Page 66 of A Hint of Delirium

“Thanks for this, Luka.” I changed the subject and held up the box with the anklet. “I should really get out of here.”

“Sure thing, man.” He came around his desk and led me back out to the bar.

I should have been paying attention. I should have realized it was too quiet. Once we stepped out of the narrow hallway that led to the front of the bar, we realized the place was devoid of patrons, leaving only Sage and a small army of Unseelie behind her.

“Long time no see, Ansel,” she greeted as I came around the bar. I noticed Cael’s ugly mug right behind her.

“Hasn’t been nearly long enough, Sage.” I grinned and stopped a few feet away from her and the others.

“Where is she?” Sage demanded impatiently, cutting to the chase.

I affected an innocent expression. “Where is who?”

“The host,” she growled. “I know you and your brother have been hiding her, but the cat’s out of the bag and it’s time to turn her over. You two can’t share her forever,” she smirked.

I frowned at her stunning intel. “Excuse me?”

She rolled her eyes and laughed. “Let’s not play stupid. I don’t know what kind of power that little human has over the both of you, but if you hand her over peacefully, no blood needs to be shed.”

Now it was my turn to laugh. “You sound like a jealous girlfriend, Sage. Very unlike you. But don’t fret. My brother only has the hots for you.”

She smirked. “That’s whatyouthink.”

My smile dimmed just a bit at her insinuation, but I refused to let her get to me. Sage didn’t know anything about Violet, much less about the dynamics between the three of us. Or lack thereof. Alec and Vi could barely stand each other.

“If you think you can beat me in a fight with these goons,” I pointed to the Unseelie squad bristling behind her, “you’ve lost your mind. I’m way out of their league.”

“I’ve wanted to smash your face in for decades,” Cael growled, cracking his knuckles for emphasis.

I rolled my eyes. “Give it your best shot.”

32

VIOLET

“We have to come to a compromise,” I argued.

Alec and I were sitting at the dining table in his hideaway, still in the cramped basement in an undisclosed location. I’d finally stopped asking him where we were after an hour of needling that garnered absolutely zero answers.

“I’m not going to the Unseelie Court where I’m at a greater risk of dying. You think the Unseelie King might be tempted to use me for his own selfish gains, but he could just as easily decide I’m too dangerous and off me right then and there.”

Alec raised a brow. “And you don’t think I’d protect you?” He sounded hurt, but I knew better.

I snorted. “One thing I’m sure of is that you wouldn’t put your neck on the line for me. Ever.”

He smirked. “Fine. I’ll send a message to the Unseelie King, explaining the circumstances. It might not be as impactful as if I were to bring you to him in person, but since you’re being so … cautious, we’ll make it work.”

“Thank you,” I replied snidely, to which he rolled his eyes.

When Alec left to write and send a message to his king, I decided I should probably send my own message to my mother. I wouldn’t tell her what was happening—she’d have a heart attack if she knew—but at least a precautionary goodbye in case I didn’t make it back. I didn’t know what would happen over the next few hours, but I wanted to say goodbye to the woman who had protected me all these years the best way she knew how.

Once my text message was wheeling through the ether, I debated sending one to Ansel. I didn’t know what he was going through, but Alec’s callous taunt caused worry to claw away at my insides. I realized how selfish I’d been, only thinking about myself instead of all he’d sacrificed for me thus far. I owed so much to Ansel, but I couldn’t live in hiding forever. I also didn’t want to do that to him. It wasn’t fair. Hiding me would pit him against his own people. If I followed Alec’s plan, Ansel would be safe.

Deciding to bite the bullet, I opened a text box for Ansel and started to type.

There’s not much I can say except I’m sorry. I owe you more than you can imagine and one day I hope to repay you for your kindness. But right now, I need to keep both of us safe. It might not seem so, but I promise it is. I also promise that if we both make it out of this, I’ll find my way back to you. -Vi

I pressed Send and blew out a shaky breath. I felt like I was breaking up with him, which was silly. It wasn’t like we were a couple or anything. So then why did my heart feel like it was breaking?

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