Page 53 of Live To Tell

“Yes,” says Grayson tersely. “I’m leaving. I have to get back to the academy.”

The girls return to their fussing, and I pull Grayson to one side. “Who did that to your face?” I ask him.

“You’d better find your father,” he says coolly. “Before more than a scratched cheek happens to somebody.”

“Have other supes disrupted the party?” I clench my jaw. “I knew something would happen.”

Grayson shakes his head. “Only one. Josef Petrescu is here.”

“Sawyer really is stupid enough to keep Josef,” Rowan mutters.

“Whoa. Okay. I’m taking Grayson back to the academy,” says Leif. “The Sawyers won’t miss me since I’m not a special guest like you two.”

I’m unable to respond to Grayson’s lightning bolt news and nod automatically as the world of happy human parties retreats. All I can picture is bloodshed.

Chapter 19

VIOLET

I shove past Mr. Tweed Suit and the disgruntled couple he’s escorting through the door to the function room and look wildly around me. Sawyer stands on the low dais created for the occasion, below a silver and gold eighteenth birthday banner.

Kai’s at a table with two older men, who also appear to favor tweed. He’s red-faced and sits stiffly with his arms crossed over his chest.

But that isn’t who I’m looking for.

Dorian.

He’s still sitting at the table close to the front of the room, drumming his fingers on the gold tablecloth with an air of boredom, and Eloise beside him. I’m partially amused by Dorian wearing a well-cut suit; he’s rarely out of his jeans and T-shirts. I bet he hates that as much as attending. Although Eloise attracts more attention than him, her hybrid-enhanced beauty causing a glow to the woman in her emerald green silk dress. I’d suggest to the human teen guys they stop staring at her before Dorian notices but I’ve more pressing matters.

“Where’s Josef?” I ask Rowan. “Can you see the vampire anywhere?”

“No.”

“What if he follows Leif and Grayson?” I ask, darting a look to the door. “We should’ve all left.”

“Leif and Grayson will be fine. Besides, if Josef’s here for ‘business’ he won’t leave until that business is done.” Rowan takes my shoulders and pivots me towards my parents.

“Dorian doesn’t know Josef’s here, otherwise he wouldn’t calmly sit there,” I say.

My father’s head turns, sensing me, and he watches as we walk over. I pull out a chair and sit beside him, shoving at the annoying ribbon. Dorian’s still fixated on Rowan as he sits alongside me.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” asks Eloise. “You appear flustered.”

Beside me, Dorian’s fingers suddenly stop tapping and he goes completely still. “What. The. Fuck,” he snarls.

I don’t need to look behind me to know who Dorian focuses his blackened eyes on. Eloise’s mouth parts as she follows his line of vision, and her hand immediately covers and grips Dorian’s.

“Deal with this once the humans have finished their little ceremony,” she says softly.

Dorian doesn’t speak, and I glance over my shoulder. Josef. I’m pulled back to the last time I saw him as he goaded me towards losing control. He threatened Rowan, expecting me to unleash, but Rowan fought back with magic nobody should know about.

Beside me, Rowan rubs his lips, not looking at Josef who’s standing to the side of the dais, eyes locked with Dorian.

I glance at Eloise, who shifts closer to Dorian and folds her other hand across his thigh.

“Don’t worry. I won’t do anything publicly,” Dorian says.

I’m as aware as Dorian is that Josef heard his words, and the small curve to the vampire’s lips grows.

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