Page 9 of For Dear Life

My gaze drops to her chest, the wound now covered in a fresh black sweater. The idea I’d lost her tore into my own heart. How can one girl walk into my life and change everything in a matter of weeks? And for me to want her to?

As with the moment I saw Violet’s lifeless body, these seconds in front of Dorian drag into an age, the deathly silence choking the atmosphere when nobody responds to Dorian’s announcement what I am.

Now, Violet stands between me and Dorian while I brace myself for his reaction. Somewhere on the fringes of my awareness, words are exchanged over who stays in the room and who leaves.

Dorian remains and all but Violet leave.

Violet tugs on my hand to sit and Dorian leans against the closed door, his hands sliding into his pockets, an unnaturally casual stance. At least he doesn’t kill Petrescus on sight. Small mercies.

“How very Petrescu of you to tear out a heart.” Dorian glances at my hand, and although it’s clean, I wipe my fingers against my jeans. “Who are your parents?” he asks coolly.

“Roman and Genevieve. I’m only distantly related to...” I trail off as the growing black now spiders across his irises. “Oskar.”

“And the Sawyer’s attorney?” he barks.

“Uncle,” I say quietly. “Josef.”

My mouth goes completely dry, and time pauses again when Dorian’s glacial blue irises disappear into black holes. Shit. I stagger as he appears in front of me, fingers wrapped in the shirt Zeke handed me, and I’m yanked forward.

“What mind control are you using on my daughter?” His tone is savage, teeth sharper than moments ago.

“None,” retorts Violet from beside me. “How weak do you think I am?”

I moisten my lips but stay quiet.

“You’re a Petrescu. Your uncle associates with Christopher Sawyer. Christopher Sawyer associates with necromancers involved in murders. Murders designed to implicate Violet.” His face moves closer. “Do you see my problem, Grayson?”

“Grayson’s uncle hurts him, Dorian,” says Violet calmly. “Josef killed him once. Grayson hates his uncle and isn’t involved.”

“Oh? So, Josef wouldn’t be averse to killing Grayson again if he didn’t perform whatever task given to him?” snarls Dorian.

“I’m willing to take the fall for everything,” I say evenly. “If this all comes out, I’ll deny Violet was with me and tell whoever that I attacked both the witch and shifter.”

“Grayson, don’t be ridiculous,” says Violet.

Dorian finally drops his grip and I take a long breath as he steps back. “Why?”

“Why?” I ask.

“Why protect Violet? What do you want from her?” His eyes narrow. “Her hybrid blood? Looking for power, as all Petrescus do.”

“Grayson isn’t you,” retorts Violet and Dorian jerks his head to look at her. “That was your original attraction to Eloise—her powerful blood. At least Grayson doesn’t want to kill me.”

“Doesn’t he?” scoffs Dorian.

“I care about Violet and want to help her.”

A muscle twitches in Dorian’s cheek. “Care?” He scoffs. “If you so much as touch Violet, I’ll end you.”

And I one hundred percent believe him. Violet really will be the death of me.

“I’ll thoroughly investigate your family, including you and your parents. They will be under constant surveillance and if there’s even a hint that you’re involved on any level, I will deal with you personally.”

Hairs raise on my neck, and Violet steps forward to almost meet her father nose to nose—the man the supernatural world fears and who she’s scared she’ll become. “I understand that the Sawyer connection doesn’t help, but you were once acquainted with Oskar Petrescu’s grandson, and you accepted him,” she says.

Dorian’s stance changes as he cocks his head at Violet. “You are mind controlled. You would never stand up for somebody else in this way. Anybody. The Violet I know has no time for others.”

“Ah, yes, well. Are you only averse to Grayson touching me or does that threat extend to Rowan too?” Violet looks him dead in the eye. “Or Leif?”

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