Page 134 of Live To Tell

Growling at his dumb words, I loosen the pressure, lean in, and half-spit the words in his face. “If Holly dies, you’re dead to me.”

Chapter 45

GRAYSON

Are hybrids designed to cry, or is the blood welling in Violet's eyes a result of her change? I look at the face I glimpsed before she tore into me at the warehouse and wait for another assault.

Her weight leaves me, and Violet blurs from the room. I should’ve restrained the psychotic hybrid, because Violet will go much, much further than when tearing into the shifter at the lodge.

But I couldn’t. I’m stronger than at the warehouse and we’re a closer match. She isn’t the only one who could lose control if we fought. The fury Violet threw at me before she left holds me in the room. I'm not worried she'll attack me if I follow, but I don't want to aggravate her more.

I stare at the sloped roof and rub my neck. So much for staying quiet—she's screaming Viktor's name. Rowan's. I bloody hope both the Brightgroves are deaf.

Minutes ago, I gave up waiting for Rowan to break through Viktor's wards, acutely hearing Violet and Viktor’s fight, and took the only possible route into the attic to stop her. I'd heard Viktor demand that Leif attack Trent yet Leif's the injured one. Trent’s unconscious and shackled to the metal bed frame, oblivious but unharmed apart from the rune.

Leif lying in the boxes close by—what happened to him?

I rub my neck as I crawl across the floor to look closely at Leif. Purple and black bruises blossom across his neck and jaw—if he’s badly injured, that’s elsewhere. At first, I don't notice he's conscious, Leif’s eyes are closed, but he speaks as I tentatively touch his neck.

“Is Trent alive?” His amber eyes meet mine, dulled.

“Think so. Only injury I can see is the rune.” I nod at his arm. “What happened?”

Leif shakes his head. “Where're Violet and Viktor?”

“She tried to kill him, Leif. I stopped her and she's furious that I did.” I swallow, bile rising in my throat. “Violet said Viktor's threatened Holly.”

He falls quiet and winces as he touches his jaw. “Shit. Do you think he would?”

“Look at what Viktor has done so far in his life,” I say quietly.

“We have to get back to Holly.” Leif presses his palm to the wall and unsteadily stands. “Or is that where Violet went?”

“She’s determined to kill Viktor.” I point downwards to where scuffling and voices continue, but only Rowan's and Violet's.

With a grim face, Leif moves towards the steps and grabs the rail. “I'm going back to the academy. We all should leave before somebody appears who won't understand what happened here.”

“And him?”

Trent. Leif runs a hand through his curls. “I don't know what to do. Find Rowan. Ask him.”

“Not Violet?”

“She definitely needs out of here considering the evidence carved into Trent’s chest and that she...” Leif takes a shaky breath. “Attacked me too.”

My jaw slackens. “What? She did that to you?”

“Yeah. For a good reason, but this scene's incriminating. Come on.”

I follow Leif down the steps, his bulk between me and whoever's at the bottom.

But I needn't worry about Violet. She's slumped on the ground, resting against the damaged wall with her head lolled to one side, bleeding slash marks on her hands. Rowan stands close by, his whole body shaking. Shadows move around him like snakes in the air, barely visible in the dark, fading into the dim.

Leif's on the ground beside her before anybody can speak, moving her head upwards and speaking her name.

“Viktor didn't do that to Violet,” I say coolly to Rowan. “If he had, you'd have the bastard bound by shadows beside her—if not worse.”

He swipes an arm across his face but says nothing.

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