Page 21 of Live To Tell

“Huh?”

“Like, someone got hurt and you’re in trouble because—”

“What the fuck?” I snarl but avoid looking at Violet.

“Stop,” says Violet firmly. To me? All of us?

Yeah, I’m in a pissed mood because I’m constantly on edge these days. Sometimes I feel they don’t a hundred percent ‘get’ the threat to my life from Josef. He watched me pick my side, but the side I chose is led by a man who hates me purely for my name. Oh, and probably because I want my hands on his daughter, and he thinks I want her blood.

The three don’t treat me differently and it’s strange to be part of a group after years staying disconnected, but I still feel like an outsider. Rowan and Leif’s friendship goes back years, and they’re satellites around Violet. I’m more distant. She’s more distant. I can’t understand how Violet can return to acting as if we’re friends and there’s nothing more between us. And it is acting—a performance I can see through. What’s weird is, she’s less sharp-tongued with me than before, as if that’ll make up for holding me at arm’s length.

So, yeah, I’m in a bad mood and couldn’t care less about tiaras and dumb human girls. Dorian needs to find Josef before my uncle finds me.

“Is Dorian looking further into the witches who live on the property where the renovations are happening?” asks Rowan. “Because I am. The connection doesn’t end just because the witches we saw at the place are out of the picture. The elderly couple can’t be completely clueless.”

“Unless the witches used promise of work as a way to lure shifters. They’ll stop ‘renovating’ now the group are aware Dorian’s onto them?” suggests Leif.

“I think Rowan’s correct. We need to know if the renovations have stopped or continued, and who’s in charge or working on them if they have,” says Violet. “That should be easy enough to find out.”

“Yeah, Dorian will be onto that,” I say.

“Maybe ask what’s happening when you see him later, Violet?” suggests Rowan.

I sit up in alert. “Dorian only wants to see Violet, right?”

I’m pissed when Rowan chuckles. “Don’t stress. Violet’s asked to see him alone.”

Violet flicks her tongue against her top teeth. “Adam Woodlake is still in custody and refuses to say anything, but that won’t last. Dorian will really go hard at him.”

“Yeah, I bet,” I mutter. “He’ll wish he’d died at the warehouse with his buddy Grant.”

“My father should hand the witch over to the shifter elders and let them deal with the bastards. Keep his hands clean. That would help Dorian’s attempts to bring shifters closer.”

Whoa. Okay.

“Isn’t Ethan dealing with the shifter politics?” asks Leif.

Violet moves to squeeze his hand. What has happened to this girl? “If the elders want to see you, I’ll be there. And my father won’t allow anybody to push another person into a life they don’t want.”

“Surely they’re more interested in the necromancers killing their kind?” I retort. “Not Leif.”

“The shifters think I’m their kind,” says Leif through clenched teeth. “You know that.”

Yes, but I don’t know enough, obviously. I haven’t spent as much time around Leif as Rowan, or spoken to him a lot, despite our circle around Violet. I’m aware he tried to leave the academy and local area but thought that was due to trouble with Viggo, not people further up the chain. I’d ask more, but their reaction already shuts down questions.

Subject change required.

“Why are we here?” I ask. “This isn’t your usual choice of hang out, Violet.”

“She’s hoping to see Kai,” says Rowan.

“I am not,” she protests. “I’m merely observing the current state of social affairs amongst the town residents.”

“And listening in on their conversations?” suggests Leif.

“No.”

“Don’t lie, Violet,” says Rowan and earns himself a slicing look from her. “You’ve wanted to see Kai since the night at the warehouse.”

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