Page 7 of For Dear Life

Grayson winces and Dorian’s eyes narrow before he spins back around. Swearing softly, Grayson rubs his temples and my stomach flips. Dorian broke into Grayson’s head. Has he seen the truth?

“Someone is threatening my council and my daughter,” he says curtly. “All supes are registered. We find this Maxwell guy’s full name and who he’s linked to. And we get this Petrescu lawyer to see me stat.”

“I want to return to Thornwood this evening. As you’ve said yourself, my absence arouses suspicion,” I say.

“I’m not happy about that,” says Eloise.

“The boys can go. You can’t,” announces Dorian.

“Wrong. We stick together,” I retort.

Eloise’s mouth parts. “You’re very different, Violet.”

“These guys are my companions.” I straighten. “I require their help.”

“You don’t need help, Violet,” says Dorian, voice lowering. “I’ve taught you that.”

“Rowan assists with my research, and Grayson helps me with…things, and Leif...” I pause and glance at Rowan, who arches a brow. “Has a good memory.”

Rowan snorts out a laugh.

“I see nothing amusing here,” snaps Dorian. “Your actions today could cause my council a lot of trouble.”

“Violet’s kind of right, though,” says Zeke. “If somebody discovers the results of everything they’ve described, and the four are missing, it’s hard to deny they’re involved in the fire. And that could lead to Kai, maybe more.”

“I’m concerned whether Rory’s wake went ahead and whether there’s an injured or deceased shifter,” I add.

Dorian turns to Zeke. “I’ve little contact with shifters, as you know, but considering the possibility a witch—or witches—created a shifter construct, I’ll need to involve my council more. You and Ethan will need to up your efforts to speak with that particularly awkward set of elders.”

One thing about Dorian, if he does think before he acts, he thinks quickly and precisely. I pull out my phone to make notes, happy that the thing didn’t suffer the same fate as my chest,

“I need to investigate Sawyer’s activities and family history on both sides, his wife’s too, and ascertain any other connections to supes. Then, I intend to conduct a thorough review of the academy, staff, and students, including your roommate, Violet,” says Dorian.

I look up. “Holly? She’s just a clueless human.”

“With a lot of witch friends.”

“Holly has a lot of friends, period. She’s that type of exhausting person,” I protest.

“Your missing potion?” says Eloise and arches a shaped brow.

“You think Holly took that?” I’d never once entertained the possibility. “She has no motive against me or you.”

“I don’t trust anybody,” says Dorian. “And neither should you.” He nods at Rowan. “A witch could want your magic, a vampire your blood, and a shifter...” Dorian tips his head. “Well, he’ll have a reason.”

“That’s unfair,” I say.

Dorian turns towards me. “If you’re choosing to be a detective, Violet, tune out of your interfering emotions.”

I choke. “I don’t have interfering emotions.”

“Your responses since you arrived in the house tell us otherwise,” says Eloise.

I suck on my teeth and stab words into my screen as I type. They have no idea what they’re talking about. I am the one in control here—of everything.

“Kai is the main problem currently,” says Zeke. “And they burned down a house.”

“It’s a lodge, and we didn’t set fire to the building. Granted, the place isn’t an idyllic retreat anymore, but parts of the lodge remain.” I look up. “The Sawyers might need to fix the fence, though.”

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