9. Thorne

9

THORNE

I watch from the shadows as Violet hurries out of the dining hall, her shoulders hunched and her head down. The scent of her tears reaches me, and I have to fight the urge to go to her. But I know she needs space right now.

Instead, I turn my attention to the group of girls still laughing by the blood dispenser. Briar Frostwick and her little clique of ice witches. Of course.

I step out of the shadows, my movements silent and predatory. "Ladies," I say smoothly, enjoying the way they all jump at my sudden appearance. "I couldn't help but overhear your little conversation."

Briar's eyes widen slightly before she adjusts her features into a haughty expression. "Thorne," she purrs, trying to sound seductive. "We were just welcoming the new girl."

"Is that what you call it?" I ask, my voice deceptively soft. I step closer, and Briar's friends back away instinctively. Smart. "Because from where I was standing, it looked an awful lot like bullying."

Briar scoffs, but I can see the fear in her eyes. "Please. We were just having a bit of fun. Besides, she needs to learn her place."

I move faster than her eyes can track, suddenly right in her face. She gasps, stumbling back. "Her place," I growl, "is wherever she chooses it to be, and right now, that place is under my protection. Under our protection."

Briar's eyes widen, but I can see the anger in her eyes. "Our?"

I smile, slow and dangerous. "Mine, Caine's, and Flint's. So, I suggest you and your little friends think very carefully before you decide to welcome Violet again."

I can see the wheels turning in Briar's head as she processes this information. She has had her sights set on Caine since day one, but he couldn't care enough to give her the time of day. "She can't just come in here?—"

"Save it," I cut her off. "I don't care about your petty jealousies or your pathetic attempts to assert dominance. What I care about is Violet feeling safe and welcome here. So spread the word, anyone who messes with her answers to us. Understood?"

Briar nods, her face expressing her dislike of this information, but she won't defy me. She doesn't have the guts .

"Good," I say, stepping back. "Now get out of my sight."

They scurry away like the vermin they are, and I step back, catching sight of Caine leaning against the wall, his eyes narrowed. I cross over to him and give him a death stare. "Get that little bitch off your back, once and for all. Tell her it will never fucking happen so that she backs off Violet."

"I have never given her any reason to believe anything would happen," Caine retorts.

"Maybe not, but you haven't told her to fuck off either."

"Didn't think it needed to be said."

"Think again."

He straightens up, tapping the eagle head of his cane against the wall. "Consider it done."

I won't deny his words take me aback a bit. He is usually so arrogant that nothing ever fazes him, and taking other's feelings into consideration is a novelty. Not that I'm any different, but this is about him.

I nod, satisfied with Caine's response. "Good. Violet doesn't need that kind of bullshit on top of everything else she's dealing with."

"About that," he murmurs. "What else do we know about what happened to her?"

"Nothing apart from what Flint has said."

"So, this vampire turned her against her will and held her captive. Did he touch her? Claim her? Force himself on her?"

The anger in his eyes as he utters those words, flares up my own as I think about that happening to her. "Flint says he doesn't know."

"But it's likely. Ancient vampires aren't exactly known for their restraint, and nor are they going to sit around with their dicks in their hands while delectable fresh charges are right under their fangs."

"Which makes you kissing her like that, even worse, you utter knob." I can't resist the dig.

He smirks, but underneath it, I can see the concern in his eyes for her. It's unnerving. "It got Liam to back off, didn't it?"

"So would a fist to the face."

"Kissing her was more fun."

"And possibly more damaging."

"Since when did you become the decency police?" he protests.

I snicker at that because that is so far removed from what I'm normally like, and he knows it. "I guess since those pretty blue eyes of hers caught mine as she walked across the courtyard."

"Hmm." He doesn't say anything else, just vanishes from my sight, leaving behind a trail of freezing cold air.

I shake my head at Caine's dramatic exit, but I can't blame him for being unsettled. This whole situation with Violet has thrown us all off balance.

I decide to follow her, making sure she gets back to her room safely. As I move through the shadows unseen, I catch glimpses of her ahead. She's still sipping from the blood cup, her movements jerky and nervous.

When she reaches the door of her room, which is situated very close to mine, I watch as she fumbles with the handle. Once inside, I hear a muffled sob. My chest tightens at the sound.

I lean against the wall outside her room, debating whether to knock or leave her alone. On the one hand, she clearly needs comfort. On the other, I'm not sure if my presence would be welcome right now.

Before I can decide, I sense someone approaching. I melt further into the shadows, watching as Flint rounds the corner. He hesitates outside Violet's door, much like I did, before raising his hand to knock softly.

"Violet?" he calls gently. "It's Flint. Can I come in?"

The door opens, and she gives him a shaky smile, stepping aside to let him in and gazing up at him with gratitude that is hard to witness. The door closes, and I'm left wondering again what happened to her while she was held captive but knowing that if her pathetic sire ever shows his face here looking to get her back, I will strip his skin off inch by inch before he can reach her.