Page 46 of A Hint of Delirium

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We arrivedat my apartment a few minutes later. I groaned when the elevator doors opened and I saw Alec standing in front of my door, waiting for us.

Vi hit it right on the money. Trouble was already there.

I slipped my hand in Vi’s and she tightened her grip in mine. I knew she was slightly afraid of my brother, even if she didn’t want to admit it.

I tucked her behind me and glared at him. “What are you doing here?”

Alec shrugged. “Just coming to see young Violet.” He peered around me to get a better look. “Hello, Vi.” He waved, wiggling his fingers and looking utterly ridiculous.

She didn’t greet him with the same enthusiasm.

“I’m assuming you told her,” Alec said with a long sigh. “You seem like the type to blab everything to your little girlfriend.”

“As if you don’t,” I hit back. “I heard Sage is back in town. I’m sure you’ll be telling her all about Vi now, won’t you?”

Alec gritted his teeth. I caught him there. Even though he and Sage had this weird friends-with-benefits thing going on, they weren’t technically friends, per se. More like competitors. I hoped this time would be different and he would keep his knowledge to himself instead of sharing it with Sage, who would run off and get the credit like she’d done so many times before. They pretended to work together, when really, they competed to see who would report to the Unseelie King first.

Alec grunted with a slight smirk that didn’t reach his eyes. “You’re a smart one, Ansel. I’ll give you that. But no matter what you say, nothing will stop me from getting what I want.” He prowled closer.

“I’m not exactly the grand prize you’re looking for,” Vi said as she came out from behind me. Her voice was strong and confident, though I felt her tremble in the hand I still held tightly. “You might want to rethink this whole kidnapping thing before you march me to the Unseelie King.”

Alec tilted his head and stared at her like she was a naïve little bunny he planned to capture in the woods. “And why is that, little human?”

I knew she would drop the bombshell before she said it, but I didn’t try to stop her. If this was how she wanted to play the game, that was how we would play it. I would help her every step of the way, even if it meant protecting her from other fae.

She gave a crooked smile. “Because I’m not human. I’m a halfling.”

24

VIOLET

“You’re … a what?” Alec’s mismatched eyes widened, searching for the lie.

“You heard me. I’m a halfling,” I repeated confidently.

With my hand still firmly gripped in his, Ansel tugged me back behind him to protect me, carefully watching his brother’s every move.

Alec’s shrewd gaze switched to Ansel. “Sothisis what you’ve been hiding? You’ve been hiding a halfling – but not just any halfling – one who has the orb?! You know what this means, Ansel.”

“Alec …” Ansel started.

“She can’t live,” Alec stated flatly.

I tensed when Ansel threw himself in front of me, blocking me completely.

“I told you, Alec, you’ll have to kill me first,” Ansel growled.

His brother frowned. “Are you willing to go that far? For ahalfling? You’re going against our own father!”

Ansel shrugged. “You went against him and you seem fine.”

Alec’s mouth fell open in shock. “Do Ilookfine to you?” he exclaimed. “Are you trying to be like me?”

“No, I’m just trying to save her life.”

“She shouldn’t be alive,” Alec insisted. “Whomever is responsible for this will have to pay the consequences.”

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