Page 29 of For Dear Life

“Holly is going on a date with Chase and has invited me and…” She pulls a face. “One of my guys. But not Grayson.”

“Not Leif?” She looks at me, unblinking. “I’m your first choice?”

“You are my choice because you’re a witch and if I need help you can use subtle magic. And I mean, subtle, Rowan. No indoor earthquakes.”

“Okay. Back up.” I run a hand through my hair. “What are we doing?”

“I believe this is an opportunity to watch Holly.”

“You still think she’s up to something?”

“Yes. I checked her closet again this afternoon and someone removed the magical items. Holly is definitely a suspect. She’s friendly with a few witches and there’re a few on this dance committee. Including her best friend.”

“Marci?” She nods. “Again, I doubt that, but Marci is powerful. The other witches on the committee aren’t focused on their studies at all; they can barely make a simple potion. Their parents would be pissed if they knew they’re wasting time on human traditions and not studying.”

“Human traditions? You’re not attending the Spring Ball?” she asks.

“Why? Are you? Is this an invite? I’ll need to get back to you because I may have other offers.”

“I highly doubt that, Rowan.”

I snort. “I’ll ignore the insult and accept your offer.”

Violet’s cheeks go pink. Pink. “I am not going to the Spring Ball.” Whoa. Okay. The snarled vehemence thrown at me means the pink isn’t embarrassment. “Stop pushing your luck, Rowan.”

I shrug. “Tonight. Bowling. It’s a date.” Another glare. “I’m still confused. What do you intend to do tonight?”

Violet blows air into her cheeks. “I want to watch Holly, but she knows that when the four of us are together we’re up to something. Therefore, we go somewhere as two. You can be my date if that’s what you insist on calling the evening. I want to watch everybody Holly speaks to outside of the academy, especially humans connected to the Sawyers.”

“Maybe Kai will be there tonight too?”

“Oh, how joyous that will be, considering how his party ended.”

“And the little incident where we almost burned down his father’s lakeside lodge with him inside?”

“I didn’t set fire to the lodge, the witch did.”

“The dead witch.” I scratch a cheek. “This is all a distraction that we don’t need.”

“Dead witches?”

“Bowling. Holly.” Violet shakes her head and mutters something. I lean across the desk towards her, hands clasped together. “Any updates from Dorian?”

“I spoke to him earlier. No recent complaints about supernatural behavior,” she says. “And still no mention of anybody hospitalized—shifter or Kai. I believe our mental magic has worked on an uninjured Kai, but why hasn’t Sawyer reported anything?”

“I don’t think we’ll understand anything about Sawyer until we figure out who Maxwell was and their connection. And who’s pulling the strings.” I consider my next words. “And if there’s Petrescu involvement.”

“Hmm.” She switches focus to her phone. “Grayson.”

“Is Grayson bothering you?” I carefully consider my words. “Do you suspect him again?”

“No, but he’s a touch unstable.” Violet concentrates on typing.

“Yeah. A vamp with control issues who occasionally pulls out witches’ hearts,” I say quietly.

She looks up. “No. Grayson’s suffering from panic attacks.”

“Panic attacks?”

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