Page 20 of Live To Tell

“Uh. Which you were,” I say.

“And failed!” Violet says. “I bet Mrs. Eldridge stole the tiara. I shall report her to Mrs. Lorcan.”

“And tell her we broke into the warded room?” asks Rowan.

“Maybe Dorian will help?” suggests Leif. “When are you next seeing him?”

“Not until tomorrow. Can you believe he’s ‘too busy’ when an incident like this occurred inside the academy?” she asks indignantly.

I chuckle. “Dorian won’t give a crap about a drunk human’s hallucinations.”

“You know that is not what happened,” Violet snaps. “The tiara has significance.”

“Grayson’s kind of right, Violet,” says Leif. His little finger brushes against hers and Violet doesn’t snatch her hand away or scowl. Huh. “Dorian’s focused on finding Grayson’s uncle and the missing shifter.”

“Can you not use Josef’s and my names as connected?” I say through clenched teeth.

“Has he contacted you?” asks Violet.

“Oh yeah, we caught up for a chat and a coffee,” I reply. “Family get-together.”

“When?” Violet’s brow creases. “Did he hurt you?”

With a scoff, I scratch a cheek and pick up the menu.

“What’s wrong with you today?” Rowan asks me.

“Nothing,” I mutter.

“Did he hurt you?” presses Violet.

I almost feel guilty at my jibe, especially when I see concern in her expression. “Sarcasm, Violet.”

“You haven’t seen Josef?” she asks.

I sigh. “No. Fortunately.”

“That conversation was most unhelpful, Grayson. You have to tell us if he contacts you,” she says sternly.

“No summons yet,” I reply. “Josef knows I’m avoiding him. Y’know, after he impaled me into a wall, and I almost bled to death. Puts a damper on our relationship.”

Violet slants her head. “I echo Rowan—what is wrong with you today?”

“I can’t joke about this bullshit?” I ask. “And there’s nothing wrong with me.”

“You’re lying,” she says.

“Since when did you become empathetic?” I ask. “Learning to identify ‘vibes’ are you?”

“Good grief, Grayson.” Violet folds her hands on her lap.

“Dude,” says Rowan. “Does the attitude come with the jacket?”

“I took that off.”

“But not the attitude,” he replies.

“Did something go wrong at the party?” asks Leif.

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