Page 46 of Return to Garoureve

“Violet?”

Violet’s mouth opened as her eyes locked onto Ansa Ellis. It had been fifteen years since she had last seen the woman, but it had been far more than time that had aged her. All of the signs of loss and life were clear in her face and stature. This was a woman who had known such pain...

“Violet, hunny, is that really you?”

“Oh, Gran,” Violet sobbed, a sense of relief flooding her. “Oh, Gran!”

Her eyes were filled with tears immediately as she rushed forward, eyes open to pull the older woman into a hug. She had heard Ariana say earlier that Flora and Ansa were both alive and well, but to actually see Henrik’s grandmother in front of her, breathing, standing, well...

Ansa was the first one to welcome her as Henrik’s mate, even before they had confirmation it would be so. She was the one who encouraged their companionship, even when they were too young to understand. She was the one who had yelled at Mabel for the spell, for stunting their bond. She was the one who encouraged Henrik to keep knocking at her window, even when things became impossible.

Ansa hugged her back, tight. There were no other words to say, nothing else to do, other than hug one another. Oh, Henrik was going to be... ecstatic. Particularly after he realized Nan was dead and they had just missed her goodbye.

“Oh, hunny, it is so good to see you again,” Ansa whispered, still clinging to her. “But this red in your hair. What happened to that pretty brunette?”

Violet laughed, her heart hurting a little as she did so. Right. The color in her hair. “I promise, it washes out sometimes, but I like it. It makes me feel like I have a little control over my life.”

“A little control?” Ansa asked as she pulled back slightly. Ansa had always been a taller woman, but now, the two were nearly of equal height. “What do you... hunny, why are you covered from neck to toe? Even your hands. Why would you be covered like that, unless... Oh, hunny...”

Violet pulled away slowly, nodding, and waited for the judgment. Waited for... something. Some sort of cross word or anger.

There was a reason she liked Ansa, and that was because she was no nonsense, quick to anger, and quick to judge, much like Violet.

But right now, she was the one having judgment passed over her.

“All this time, you and Henrik haven’t figured it out yet? I curse that witch you call your mother. She should be hunted in the moonlight for what she did to the pair of you. For what she did to this town.”

“Gran, it’s not like that. We’ve... she and I have made peace, although, until I figure out what she did to the town line, I can’t say how much longer that peace will last.” Violet’s accent, something she normally tucked away, was slipping out slightly as she was around Ansa’s drawl. It was too familiar, something she herself had emulated more than once. Henrik, she loved to listen to, but Ansa, she wanted to copy.

“She left this town, takin’ you with her. Takin’ you from where you were meant to be.”

“She was afraid I would be blamed for the fire,” Violet began to try and explain.

“Fire? If she had stuck around for ten minutes, she could have helped us put it out, saved more lives. You and your fire, that was nothin’ like the hell this town endured. But enough about that. Where is my grandson?”

No, that wasn’t enough about that. She needed to hear more, needed to know things. She needed the truth of the matter. She needed to know everything.

“Ran off with Mardoc the moment we arrived,” Violet answered with a roll of her eyes. “Colburn joined them, and a few others, I think. Cole’s dad, he—”

“Gone. Not in the fire, but a little time later. Lost a lot of them.”

“How many?” Violet’s voice cracked as she asked, but she had to know. She really had to know.

“Oh, hunny...”

Oh...Oh.

“Come on. You climb on up and bring that truck to my place, alright? I got plenty of room for the pair of you. Henrik will find his way back to you. I know that boy is never far behind.”

Right... yeah. That was a good idea.

“Hello, Ariana,” Ansa said, her voice suddenly hardening. “Scarlett. I do know you are back there.”

Oof, the harsh tone of a country wolf that doesn’t like you. She couldn’t imagine what either woman had done so wrong...

“It was nice to meet you, Ariana, and you as well Scarlett. Perhaps another time.”

Ariana gave her a tight, unsure smile, and there was no response from Scarlett, but Violet would take it all as a farewell. It was a small town, though. She would see them again soon.

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