Page 10 of For Dear Life

How often do they stand off like this—Violet Blackwood, the hybrids’ hybrid. Is she actually more powerful than they are? Or is he just incredibly self-controlled around his daughter? Because I wouldn’t risk punishment from this guy if he was my father.

“Ah. Yes. This imagined witch bond,” Dorian says quietly. “Eloise told me.”

“Of course, she did,” mutters Violet. “And I assure you, the bond isn’t imaginary.”

“We’ll see about that,” says Dorian darkly. “I bet the witch craves your power too.”

“Dorian. Pay attention—Grayson stopped me from killing twice. A human at a party and a shifter today. The reason he needed to? Rowan’s magic—the bond—is changing me. She’s with me now. The Violet we suppress.”

“Aha! So, the Petrescu can control you!” says Dorian in triumph.

“No! Are you listening to me? Grayson helps me and he has never asked for or attempted to take anything.” His eyes search hers. Lies. Violet knows I want the very thing her father’s also convinced I crave. Her blood. But Dorian could never understand this craving comes from my desire for Violet, not the power she contains.

“And Leif? How did you move from not allowing others to approach you to collecting three consorts, Violet? Badly chosen ones.”

My muscles uncoil. Slightly.

“Good grief, is that what Eloise told you?” Violet rolls her eyes. “Leif’s someone who also once helped me, and I’d like to return the favor. That’s all. I’d like to introduce Leif to Ethan and Zeke. He’s half-shifter and has issues I think they could help with.”

Is she that blind to Leif? The guy always looks at her as if she’s the sunshine to his life and not the gloomy black cloud that follows her around. No. Violet saw something inside Leif’s mind that she didn’t share, and she looked at him oddly afterwards. Leif kept a wary distance from her too, and whatever she saw, Violet must know Leif’s feelings for her are more than ‘friendly’.

The slackened tension tightens as Dorian blinks away Violet’s answer and returns his steady, loathing gaze to me as he says, “You’re naive, Violet. Perhaps we sheltered you too much.”

“Or perhaps you should never have sent me to Thornwood?” she suggests. “Then none of this would’ve happened. I may be naive, but I’m not stupid enough to miss what’s happening here. Someone intends to bring you down and will keep pushing until you play into their hands. I’ve given information, perhaps you could make some calls?”

Whoa. I can’t believe the way this girl talks to her father.

“Well, you have your wish, Violet. You’re leaving Thornwood and staying here until I’ve dealt with this.”

“No.”

Again, attention switches to her. “Excuse me?” he says in warning.

“You’ve said this yourself days ago—if I leave Thornwood, I’ll look guilty. No. I’m solving these murders.”

“Uh huh. And events like today help? Because you’ve managed the damn opposite and created a new victim.”

Violet sucks on her teeth. “One dead witch means one less opponent to deal with, Dorian. Now, if you’ve calmed enough not to pull Grayson apart merely due to his ancestry, I’d like to join the others. Perhaps we could stay for dinner before heading back to the academy, as Eloise suggested?”

Conversation over as far as she’s concerned, Violet steps past her father towards the door. I manage a single step before Dorian’s palm slams hard into my chest to stop me following.

“I don’t know how your uncle killed you, Grayson, but I can assure you the method I use would be slow, extreme, and agonizing.” His charming smile graces me; the deception Dorian uses to cajole others. “Whatever rumors you’ve heard about me aren’t true, Grayson. I am much worse than anybody knows.” He pauses. “Well, worse than anybody who’s alive knows.”

“Understood,” I say hoarsely. “I assure you I’ve no intention of hurting Violet.”

“Well, then, you don’t need to worry.” He pats my cheek and I clench my teeth.

“Can I go?” I ask.

Dorian gives a curt nod. “Oh, and Grayson,” he says as I walk by to leave, and I cautiously turn. “I wouldn’t need to kill you. If what Violet says is true, and her darker side’s emerging, my daughter would slaughter you first.”

“I don’t doubt that,” I say. “I’ve met Violet’s dark side.”

Again, the captivating smile; Violet could learn how to blind and kill with that same charisma. “I don’t think you have, Grayson. Not yet. Why do you think we taught Violet to close herself down?”

A shiver zips down my spine as I stare into eyes the exact color of Violet’s. Dorian taught Violet more than to close herself down.

If Violet’s response to me when I teased her in the woods came so swiftly after a minor annoyance, I really am dicing with death if I pursue Violet any further without knowing what she wants from me.

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