Page 135 of Live To Tell

“Did you hurt Violet?” asks Leif. “What did you do?”

“Stopped her from killing Viktor.” His eyes are wide in his pale face. “Is that what she's like, Grayson? When she loses herself to... it. I thought she’d be feral and out of control, but Violet knew exactly what she was doing. Could still weigh up what she planned to do.”

“Did she hurt you too?” asks Leif.

“Too?” Leif points at his face. “Shit. No, she didn't. I used magic against her.”

“Against Violet as the hybrid?” I ask in shock. “What magic?”

“Shadows. Obviously. Blackwood.” He swallows and glances at Violet, his eyes not staying on her long. “She gets pissed if I ever slap her mind with a spell. God knows how she'll react to this.”

Leif takes Violet's hand. “I thought the hybrids were infallible.”

“Nobody is, Leif. She's told you before, her hybrid halves are lethal together but can't top the most potent hemia or witches,” I say. “If I'd been full strength when Violet attacked me in the warehouse, things would've ended differently.”

Like tonight could’ve if we’d fought harder.

“How?” asks Leif through clenched teeth.

“You're saying a hybrid is vulnerable to magic?” I ask.

“To shadow,” he repeats. “And only because she's created that strength in me. I could probably hold her with other spells, but she'd break them.”

Rowan couldn't hear Viktor and Violet's conversation as I did. That the darkness would corrupt Rowan. Violet demands that Rowan doesn’t use the shadows in case he's consumed, and he’s used them again.

The guy could be a weapon against the Blackwoods. Somehow, I don't think I'm the one in the most danger from Dorian anymore.

“What have the shadows done?” I demand. He swallows hard and takes a step back. No. “Did you kill her, Rowan?”

“What the hell? No. I paused her breathing.”

Leif stands and grabs Rowan's jacket to shove him against the wall. “You did what?”

“She’s breathing now, Leif,” I say. “Let him go.”

“Long enough for her to lose consciousness!” he protests.

“Then why isn't she fucking moving?” snarls Leif. He yanks Rowan forward and then slams him back, and Rowan swears as his head hits the wall. “You lost your shit when she died at the lodge. How could you do this?”

“Let me go, Leif,” says Rowan through clenched teeth. “Or I'll defend myself.”

This is insane. All of it. I'd approach Violet, but now that I'm unsure of her state, I'm wary. Violet swore she’d never harm me again, but look what she did to Leif and threatened to do to me.

“How long until she's back with us? Because we need to get the hell out of here. Viktor might come back,” I ask.

“More likely he called the police,” says Leif, and his grip on Rowan slackens. “'Anonymously'.”

“Whatever happens, Dorian won't be able to hide the necromancy part anymore,” says Rowan and brushes at his jacket. “Whoever finds and takes Trent, Dorian won't get to him first.”

“Good,” says Leif.

“Why do you say that?” I ask.

“Sometimes his interference isn't great,” Leif replies and looks away. Huh? “Elders won't identify him as a construct,” adds Leif. “But it is time Dorian admits what's happening.”

“And Viktor?” asks Rowan.

“I heard him confess to Violet about Madison. Even if Dorian doesn't care about that, he's clearly key to a plot against him.” Rowan rubs his temples. “Who's brave enough to carry Violet out of here?”

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