Page 41 of Live To Tell

Chapter 14

VIOLET

Considering the event is a celebration of his life—and of his still having one—Kai's enthusiasm almost matches mine. He's loitering in a small lobby area between the main function rooms with Dale and a collection of his other male friends. Their low chattering stops when I step into the flock-wallpapered hallway, and Kai grips his beer bottle by the neck as I approach.

Rowan and Leif flank me, something I honestly don't need, but that's more likely designed to keep me in check. As I reach the sofa they're lounging on, Kai pulls his feet from the low table opposite and stands. He's removed his tie and unbuttoned and loosened the pale blue shirt collar. If Kai wore a jacket tonight, he's removed that too. Still, he’s more dressed up than Grayson. Where did he go?

Despite attempts, I haven't seen Kai since the incident at the warehouse and before me stands the Kai filled with bravado rather than the one whose fear turned him into a frightened boy.

“Good evening, Kai,” I say evenly.

He doesn't speak for a moment, slugging from his bottle before wiping his mouth. “What do you want?”

“That's a bit bloody rude considering Violet and Rowan saved your life,” says Leif brusquely.

“What? We should be best mates now?” He gestures at me with the bottle. “Have you seen her when she's feral? She's fucking dangerous!”

“How are you?” I ask evenly. “Any more problems with shifters?”

“I don't know why Dad's sucking up to supes because you're all bad news.” His blurry aura and slurred voice alert me to a familiar human state I’ll see a lot tonight. Inebriation. “Especially bloody witches.”

“Yet you invited some tonight,” retorts Rowan.

Kai looks him up and down. “Dad wants to look 'inclusive'. I've told people for weeks that they should stay away from academy kids.”

“You’re the one who told Ollie to stay away from Holly?” I ask. “But then you invited academy kids to your ill-fated party?”

“Yeah, and?”

I sigh. “Hopefully tonight is a calmer affair.”

From behind, one of the other guys makes a derisive noise. “With you lot here? Doubt that.”

“Would you mind answering my question, Kai?” I ask, reminding myself that Leif insists politeness aids me more than demands. “Any trouble from shifters? Witches?”

“No. Because I can't leave the house and if I do...” He gestures to a guy in the corner who I hadn't paid attention to, presuming he was a party guest taking time out from festivities. After all, he's smartly dressed, masses of muscles squeezed into a suit. “Him.”

“You have a bodyguard?” asks Leif and stares.

“The man may rival a shifter in physicality, but he wouldn't be a match for a supernatural attack,” I say, running a gaze over the sullen-faced man.

“Guns can kill witches,” he says gruffly.

Kai scowls. “Get me another beer, Rick. Violet Blackwood is with me. I'll be safe for five minutes.” The man says nothing. “Beer for the birthday boy.”

With a sour face, Rick stomps away.

“Your father thinks you're in danger from witches?” I ask.

“Supes. Always has.” He jerks his chin. “The man’s stupid if he thinks I’ll get more involved with his business now I'm eighteen.”

“Do you mean the soup business?” I ask. “Of the tinned variety, not supernatural.”

“Yeah. Wants to sign Sawyer Enterprises over to me. I’m not interested in his bullshit company.” He drains the bottle. “Dad literally wants me to start next week.”

“Why the urgency?” asks Rowan.

Yes, why indeed?

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