Page 126 of Live To Tell

Unease crawls down my spine at his laced words. “No.”

He looks at Trent. “Who’s the girl that Violet’s friends with? I imagine the Blackwood doesn’t know many people who like her.”

“Don’t know her name. Curly hair. Always went to fire night.”

“Do you think you’d recognize this friend, Trent?” he asks, eyes on me. “If you met her?”

“Yeah, why?” He frowns.

But Joe smiles and my stomach turns over. “Oh, just wondering. Now, Violet. I suggest you leave before there’re consequences.”

Holly. He’s subtly threatening her—exactly the worry I discussed with Rowan only minutes ago. I dart a look between the necromancer and his construct. Viktor knows I’m aware of who he is. What’s his next move? He’ll know we’re looking for him.

He edges around me to face Rowan. “And I suggest you stop digging into things that might lead to unpleasant consequences.”

“For you?” I put in.

Joe nods at Trent. “Head inside and find the tools, mate. I’ll be right with you.”

“You okay with this lot?” he asks.

“They won’t touch me,” Joe replies, and Trent pauses. “Now. I don’t have all night.”

The shifter straightens at his terser tone and wanders towards the house, and Joe watches before turning back to us. “I don’t know what little detective game you’re playing, but I’d be careful who you accuse.”

“You don’t know the Whitegroves?” asks Rowan. “Cornelius?”

Joe flicks him a look. “I work in a human profession, but not one that causes me to cross paths with people like them. Yeah, I’ve met the guy, but haven’t seen him for years.”

“You don’t work in an occupation where you’d use your magic, Joe?” I ask.

“According to you, I’m a necromancer, so there isn’t much call for that,” he says with a chuckle. “Some witches leave our society.”

“Because they’re forced to?” I suggest.

He leans forward, in my face, and the dankness surrounding him touches my skin. “I suggest you leave before somebody gets hurt.”

“A threat?” I don’t move a muscle, holding his challenge.

“You’re at a demolition site. Accidents happen.” He steps back. “Now piss off back to your academy and friends.”

Joe turns on his heel and marches towards the house, swallowed by the darkness as he follows Trent.

Chapter 42

ROWAN

Violet perches on the wooden stile between the pathway and the fields that spread across the land between the old and new part of town, and I don’t need to read her mind to know what’s coming next.

“That witch brought Trent here to chain him in that attic.” She gestures at the bushes a few hundred meters away, where the property sits behind.

Leif stands opposite her, hands in pockets. He’d hung back behind the bushes but listened in—I’m glad he did because, again, I know what’s coming and I’ll need his help.

“We need to free him,” she announces.

“Uh. Or call someone?” suggests Leif. “If Trent is there.”

Grayson splutters. “Or not look at all because Viktor will expect you to. He’ll hang around.”

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