Page 59 of Live To Tell

Josef smiles. “A soft spot for Petrescus, Violet?”

“If this dissenting group exists,” I say calmly, “killing you would be a setback, because we won’t know any more about who or what you are.”

“You soon will.”

“Immortality doesn’t mean we can’t kill you,” says Dorian.

“Likewise,” he whispers. “Hybrids too.”

Finally, Dorian takes a step back and rubs his chin. “You will never kill Violet.”

“Like I said, we’re returning to the natural order, Dorian Blackwood.”

“And, like I said, you will never kill my daughter.” He shoves Josef hard enough that he slams against the wall again.

The doors to the room open to my left and Sawyer hesitates as he’s confronted by the scene.

“Ah. Just the man.” Dorian becomes his pleasant self in a single breath, striding over to Sawyer with a smile on his face. He claps the man on the shoulder. “I’m sorry things didn’t work out for you tonight. However, perhaps you could share with me why the urgency to sign everything over to Kai.”

Sawyer’s throat bobs, face drained of enough color that his skin tone matches Josef’s. His fear’s palpable from here—Sawyer just saw the Dorian that the humans never do.

“No urgency,” he says hoarsely. “Planned for years. Tradition. Happened to me.”

Dorian squeezes Sawyer’s shoulder tightly and the man winces. “I do hope you’re not lying to me, Christopher.” He leans in to whisper, “I would take care around your attorney. The profession have a bad reputation for a reason, and so do the Petrescu family.”

Dorian pats Sawyer on the cheek and glances at Josef. “We will meet again very soon, Josef.”

My jaw drops as he steps by—away from Josef. “Dorian?”

“Time for you to return to the academy, Violet. Rowan,” he says in a clipped voice.

Chapter 21

ROWAN

How would life be if Violet Blackwood had never walked into my world? Because since she did my world isn’t the one I knew. I’d only focused on a small space around me, protecting myself and Leif while searching for spells I knew I’d learn the power to use. I’d never considered the bigger world picture—I’ve only ever known stability in society. Was I naive to believe that things would remain the same? Of course, I expected human/supe conflict to rear up at some point, but fighting within ourselves? No. Nobody wants to repeat our violent history. Apart from some obviously do.

Before Violet, I knew little about Dorian. A distant figure whose appearance and ability to charm and deceive made him an excellent ‘face of the supernatural’ for humans. Although some supes have memories of the guy from before and struggle to trust him, the supes fear of Dorian hold his government in place.

I don’t know much about Dorian’s origins either—or I didn’t until Violet told me the whole story. When Josef told Dorian that the knowledge exists on how to kill the unkillable hybrid, my blood pumped faster, and the darkness swam across my vision. Even the hint of a thought I’d lose Violet triggers what I promised to keep hidden. Hell, the whole time I sat in that room watching the craziness unfold between the Blackwoods and Josef, the bond primed me to step in. If he so much as reached out to Violet, I’d attack.

I’ve subdued the bastard once and will do so again when I need.

Violet’s revelation that she intended to stay with me tonight exploded that new world—until everything that happened in the room at the hotel cast a massive shadow over the future and makes one night almost insignificant.

The lobby’s empty, and we step from the hotel where Holly waits by the minibus, rubbing her arms as she shivers in her thin dress, and she pulls herself straighter when she spots me and Violet.

“Why are you not inside the bus if you’re cold?” Violet asks her. “I’d rather you were not in public, considering Josef Petrescu graced us with his presence tonight.”

Her brow pinches. “Didn’t your father arrest him?”

Violet growls. “Sore point,” I put in.

“The fact of the matter is, he may have accomplices in the vicinity. Get on the bus.”

“You’re damn rude sometimes,” retorts Holly. “I’m waiting to see what’s happening tonight.”

“I believe events have concluded.”

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