Page 36 of For Dear Life

“Is there an accolade for the winner?” I shake my head. “No. Therefore, futile. I’ve ascertained what I need about Holly, ensured she remains clothed tonight, and there’s nobody else relevant present. Now I want to visit this arcade to note who else is attending in case there’s a death.”

He grins, showing dimples. Why did I never notice Leif has dimples? “Any particular reason you brought me? Are you and Rowan fighting again?”

“I require you to speak to people. Humans from town. You’re the only one of us they’ll speak to, I imagine.”

“Oh. Okay. Well. Not if they know I’m with you.”

“As I said, people seem to like you.” I wave a hand. “I saw them greet you when you retrieved those awful shoes. Talk to someone—find out if Kai is alright. Unless Kai’s in the arcade, he isn’t here. Dale’s around. They seemed close at the ill-fated party. Talk to him.”

He blinks at me. “You definitely want to check out the arcade? Cool. I wanted to win you something.”

“Win me something?” I continue to study passersby. Seems the place becomes more popular as the evening grows later. “In what capacity?”

“Have you never visited an arcade?”

“Do you never catch up to the ‘Violet spent her childhood away from the world’?”

“Good. I like being the first to show you new things. Your reactions are priceless. Come with me.”

I point at the long-haired young woman dispensing fizzy drinks into the bowling alley’s branded cups from a machine. “I’d like a soda.”

A short distance away, a guy in bowling shoes leans on the counter talking to her. She’s disinterested in his attentions, her smile falser than the ones I use.

Leif snorts in amusement. “Because Dale is over there and I can conveniently speak to him?”

“Yes.” I point at one of several red plastic seats arranged around a circular table that’s covered in empty burger wrappers. “I’ll wait here for information.”

How odd—Leif has the same tendency to mutter beneath his breath as Rowan does when we’re together and does so as he walks away.

Tonight’s teenage activity bore more fruit than that ridiculous party. Holly’s unexpected companion means this evening could be a more useful one than I thought. I knew there had to be a connection inside the academy, and Marci’s link to Holly makes perfect sense. Now to figure the connection between Marci, any professors in the academy, and who her family is.

I’m close to the entry into the arcade’s ear-splitting noise and eye-watering illuminations, and I wince every time glass doors slide open and close. Some kids walk from the bowling lanes towards this attached area, others straight through the door after completing their night of pointless fun.

Holly’s amused when I call things ‘pointless fun’ and tells me ‘isn’t fun the point?’ as if having fun is a necessary aspect of life. Then we held a conversation about what ‘fun’ means to me. I told Holly I’d get back to her with an answer. My murder investigations were fun, as was the solitude and focus on magic permitted at home, but both are constrained by a different reality now.

Leif returns with an oversized cup of soda and a straw which he sets on the table. “Arcade?”

I suck the straw and pull a face at the artificial sweet orange fizziness, ignoring what’s happened a few times now—food isn’t particularly pleasant tasting any longer.

Why? Dorian and Eloise don’t sustain themselves with blood—I share meals with them on occasion. I’m unfortunately aware that they enjoy each other’s blood, and that Eloise isn’t averse to sampling my other fathers’. Is that enough? And does she do this for a physical thrill or to satiate a thirst?

I stare at Leif’s pulse point, subtly inhaling his freshly showered scent.

Not the same appeal as Grayson’s.

Or Rowan’s, but I’m increasingly avoiding thoughts about a possibility arising from our bond—I haven’t admitted to him I lied and that his blood is more appealing. But isn’t that inevitable for a vampire and witch, even a hybrid? Especially if Rowan became more attractive to me since the bond snapped into place?

And I kissed Rowan, which was strangely pleasant, although disconcerting. Again, perhaps encouraged by the bond? His affection and care come from more than what the bond prompted in him, as does our attachment, since I’m drawn to Rowan in unexpected ways.

Fortunately, I’d no desire to bite when we kissed—as I promised—but the two desires will entangle should they grow. Therefore, I must take care. I highly doubt Rowan would appreciate the move from hesitant lip touching to raging hybrid.

Or maybe he would.

“Violet?” asks Leif. “Did you hear me?”

“Excuse me. No.”

“I spoke to Dale. Kai’s fine. Apparently, he’s under curfew for stealing a car that he crashed and was arrested for DUI.”

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