Page 118 of Live To Tell

“And in your room,” he says harshly. “Does this happen often?”

“No. I normally kiss Rowan or Leif in this room,” I bat back.

Dorian’s face hardens, and he takes slow, deliberate steps towards Grayson. I’m pissed he’s deliberately frightening him when there’s no reason. Pausing, he looks down at Grayson. “You’re fortunate you’re useful to me, otherwise you’d be in a lot of pain by now. Do you understand?” he says deceptively calmly.

Grayson clears his throat and nods.

“Useful?” I ask suspiciously.

Dorian’s focus remains on Grayson. “I haven’t found your uncle yet. He’s elusive.” Grayson nods again, throat bobbing. “I’d like your help with that.”

“How?” I put in.

As I did to Laura outside, Dorian keeps his eyes on Grayson until he becomes uncomfortable and fidgets, then steps back from him. “We’ll talk later, Petrescu.”

“Not without me present,” I say. “If you haven’t found Josef, what about Joe Smith? Trent? Spoken to Sawyer? Whitegrove?”

Dorian blinks away his thoughts and sits on my desk chair. “Whitegrove and the Circle are under observation until we have something more concrete. Sawyer is under our watch and isn’t impressed by his witch bodyguards. We’ve deciphered enough of Rowan’s photos to strongly suspect the missing deeds were in that box.”

“And Kai’s with his family?” Dorian nods. “Then Sawyer didn’t ostracize him for refusing to sign the papers?”

“No. And Sawyer continues to insist it’s a family tradition, yet seems surprisingly clueless on his ancestors’ dealings with witches and contracts.” Dorian scoffs. “I’m unsure whether the man is mentally affected by witches or merely a liar who’ll regret withholding information from me.”

“You can’t touch a human,” I remind him.

“Mmm.” He stretches his arms behind him, hands on the bed, legs also outstretched. “He also claims not to have any illegitimate offspring, which appears to be the truth.” He taps the side of his head. Mind reading. “But maybe he’s unaware they exist.”

“And did he know Madison or Viktor Whitegrove? He’s their age.”

“Again, allegedly not, but that one’s a bit cloudy in his mind.” He scratches his cheek. “I have people visiting the Joes that Rowan identified.”

“What?” I straighten. “We can’t alert him yet.”

“I thought you wanted my help?” His smile is tight, and I clench my jaw. Help, not to take over. Which he will.

“What if Viktor disappears?” I ask in panic. “He’s hidden for years!”

“Violet. You must understand that if the man is connected to the deaths and threat to Kai, I need him in off the streets.” He sighs. “Aren’t you happy you may’ve found the missing link?”

Yes, and you’ll snap the chain. “Could we track his movements rather than turn up on his doorstep with accusations?”

Dorian pokes his tongue into a cheek. “Because you want information about this girl and the tiara first? That’s secondary, Violet.”

Exactly. Which is why I need answers from Viktor before Dorian gets his hands on the witch.

“Everything’s connected! Like you said, the missing link. Maybe even to the academy too?” I protest.

“The academy.” Dorian looks around, brow drawn in frustration. “I’ve discovered nobody suspicious yet and now have to interview every single student. Hundreds. Mrs. Lorcan isn’t impressed.” Neither, apparently, is he.

“Watch Mrs. Lorcan.”

“Yes, Violet; that’s why I’m meeting her today. I’ll chip away at the woman’s mind until I find something useful.”

“Breaking the rules?” I ask.

“I made the rules; I’ll break them if necessary.” He flicks his tongue against his teeth and rests his gaze on Grayson. “Like you broke my rules by touching Violet, Petrescu.”

“I believe that wasn’t a rule and more of a threat to Grayson’s wellbeing,” I put in.

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