Page 62 of For Dear Life

Air hisses through his teeth. “What’s happened to you, Violet? You’re not the girl I left at the academy that day.”

“Yes. I am. Only now I’m embracing that girl in order to do or not to do what I want.” I smile. “Thank you for insisting I attend Thornwood Academy. I’m learning a lot.”

I do love when I render my father speechless.

It’s a talent only my mother and I share.

21

VIOLET

Grayson doesn’t return by the evening.

I spend the afternoon with Rowan and Leif talking through developments with Dorian, Sawyer, and Josef. As I suspected would happen, Leif’s lost the memories that intruded last night, and I silence them with my frustrated outburst. We both know I’ll need to invade Leif’s head again, but today our concern surrounds Grayson—and Oz.

Although we know it’s too late for Oz. Realistically.

I may’ve ignored some of what Dorian said, but did stay on campus to wait for Grayson and remain in the public eye. Dorian appears to miss one major point here—what if the next murder is on campus? Our investigations so far show there’s no immediate threat to witches—especially with Grayson absent—and it’s unlikely vamps will be targeted either.

One meeting today ended with no movement forward, but I can work on Holly. Dorian requested I follow up the Marci and Holly leads myself since his interference would be more obvious.

More than happy to.

I saw Holly earlier but had no time to talk, when she returned to our room following another stay at Marci’s and felt the need to stammer out an apology for yesterday evening. I informed her I don’t expect apologies as I don’t hand them out myself. She left, worried she’d be late for class.

I’m now confident that Marci was the witch with Holly who sought a scarf while I sought to avoid contact with Grayson.

I snooped in her closet again shortly after I returned from my meeting. At first, I convinced myself that Holly added the new layer of clothing to the floor to make my search more difficult. Five minutes into a deep dive beneath pants and sweaters, I discover nothing but Holly’s lack of organization and untidiness. As with last time, the mess niggled, and I resisted temptation to replace clothes on the hangers.

Where are the runes and spellbag?

And what do I do with my potion? Because this room isn’t a sanctuary any longer.

I’ve no time for pointless classes this afternoon and return to the notes I’ve now removed from the wall. After half an hour, I’m happier that I have a ‘to do’ list:

1. Attend meeting with Sawyer

2. Find Kai

3. Persuade Dorian to share all his findings with me

4. Discover Holly’s secret

I don’t notice Holly return until she speaks.

“Are you busy this evening?”

I turn in my seat and gesture at my work on the desk, then turn back. “Yes. Why?”

“I’ve a Spring Ball committee meeting,” she says.

“You don’t need to inform me of your movements, Holly.” I slide out the paper with the code I’m still working to decipher. Dorian and Eloise now have a copy but no helpful solution.

“You should come with me to the meeting,” she continues.

“Repeat those words to yourself and consider how non-sensical you sound.”

“I need you to come, Violet,” she urges.

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