26. Caine

26

CAINE

Violet is shivering, her clothes damp from Flint's snowy transport. Without a word, I wave my hand, drawing the moisture from her clothes and hair. She gives me a grateful smile, but I can see the fear and confusion in her eyes.

"Thanks," she murmurs, huddling closer to Flint.

I sit on the bed, twirling my cane absently as I consider our situation. The brutal murder of a student on campus grounds is shocking enough, but the way some of the others immediately turned on Violet is concerning.

"You okay, snowdrop?" I ask, studying her face. She's pale, well, paler than usual for a vampire, and there's a tremor in her hands that she's trying to hide.

She nods, but it's not convincing. "I can't believe they think I did that. I would never?—"

"We know," Flint says firmly, pulling her closer. "No one who knows you could ever believe that. "

I nod in agreement. "You should feed. Being around that much blood must be driving you crazy."

She lets out a whimper, and I roll up my sleeve, offering her my wrist. She stalks me, eyes on mine and to my surprise, she grips my shoulders and crawls onto my lap. Her fangs flash in the light from the lamp, and she lowers her mouth to my neck. I tilt my head in invitation, wondering how the fuck I'm going to keep my hands off her now.

Violet's fangs pierce my skin, and I let out a soft grunt at the sensation. The initial sharp pain quickly fades into a warm, tingling pleasure that spreads through my body. I wrap my arms around her waist, holding her steady as she drinks.

I can feel her desperation in the way she clings to me, in the soft mewls that escape her throat. She's not just feeding—she's seeking comfort, reassurance. My heart aches for her. In such a short time, she's been through so much trauma and chaos, and now, to be accused of murder on top of it all must be taking its toll on her.

After a few more seconds, Violet pulls back, licking the wound closed. Her eyes are bright, some of the fear replaced by a sated contentment. "Thank you," she whispers, brushing her lips over mine before resting her forehead against mine.

"Anytime, snowdrop," I murmur back, resisting the urge to kiss her. Now isn't the time, not with everything that's happened.

She slides off my lap and curls up between Flint and me on the bed. We settle back in silence for a while, each lost in our own thoughts. The reality of the situation is starting to sink in—a student is dead, brutally murdered, and, for some reason, people suspect Violet.

Thorne appears in a cloud of shadows, laden down with books, which he dumps on the dresser and turns to face us. "I'll keep working. Violet, I think you need to rest for a bit. It's been a bit of a night for you already. I heard about what happened with Briar."

"Hmm?" Caine asks idly.

"She went to Blackthorne about me supposedly threatening her. She wanted me kicked out of MistHallow, but he only made me apologise to her," she says in a rush, giving Flint a sharp glare.

He sighs and closes his eyes, which tells me something else went on, but I purse my lips and look at Violet. "She is such a bitch. It wouldn't surprise me if she killed Melody so she could frame you."

Her eyes go wide. "What?" she squeaks.

"Caine!" Flint growls. "Don't be an arse."

I hold my hands up defensively. "Hey, I'm just saying what we're all thinking. Briar has had it out for Violet since day one. This would be the perfect opportunity to get rid of her."

Violet shakes her head vehemently. "No, I don't think even Briar would go that far. Murder is a big step to take just to get me out of MistHallow."

"Is it, though?" Thorne chimes in, his voice thoughtful. "We're at a school for supernatural creatures. Many of whom have violent tendencies or predatory instincts. It's not outside the realm of possibility."

"Fae's got a point. I would kill that bitch without a second thought if it wouldn't get me expelled."

"You are worried about being expelled?" Violet asks in surprise.

"If I'm not here, it means I'm back home under my father's thumb. I appreciate the safety this Academy gives me in regards to only visiting home during off-term."

"Safety," she murmurs. "There's a story there, isn't there?"

"Always, snowdrop, but now isn't the time for that."

Flint sighs heavily as Violet looks disappointed. "Look, all of this speculation isn't going to help right now. We need to focus on keeping Violet safe and figuring out this ritual."

I nod, acknowledging his point. "You're right. Priorities."

"Thorne," Flint says. "Get to work. We need this ritual ironed out as soon as possible."

"Trying," he murmurs and sits down, opening his books to get to work.

I glare at Flint. What isn't he saying?

"Do you think… do you think…" Violet starts, but is seemingly having trouble continuing .

"Think what?" I ask, placing the cane next to me, so I can turn over to face her.

"Do you think it was Nathaniel?"

Silence echoes around the room.

"No," I state confidently. "There is no way he could get on Academy grounds to commit blatant murder without setting off a bajillion wards."

"How do you know?" she asks quietly.

I pause, considering how to answer Violet's question. She has a point—how can I be so sure Nathaniel couldn't get onto campus?

"The wards around MistHallow are ancient and powerful," Thorne speaks up from where he's poring over his books. "They're designed to keep out any unwanted supernatural entities, especially those who mean harm to the students. An ancient vampire like Nathaniel wouldn't be able to just waltz in undetected."

Violet nods slowly, but I can see the doubt lingering in her eyes. "But what if he found a way around them somehow? He's powerful and cunning."

"Even if he could," Flint says gently, "why would he kill some random student? If he were here for you, he'd come straight for you."

I shoot Flint a glare. Way to comfort her, idiot.

Violet shudders at the thought. "I don't know. Maybe to send a message? To show what he's capable of?"

"Or to frame you," I add grimly, a sickening thought entering my head. "Make you look guilty, so you'd be expelled and easier for him to get to."

"Caine!" Flint snaps.

"What? We need to consider all possibilities here."

Violet pulls her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them. "I feel like this is somehow my fault. If I hadn't come here, Melody would still be alive."

"Hey, no," I say firmly, reaching out to take Violet's hand. "This is not your fault. You're a victim here, not the cause."

Flint nods in agreement. "Caine's right. Whatever happened to Melody, it's not because of you. You can't blame yourself for the actions of others."

Violet gives us a weak smile, but I can see she's not entirely convinced. The weight of everything that's happened is clearly taking its toll on her. "Maybe breaking this bond isn't the best idea."

Thorne freezes, his pen digging into the notebook as I shift my gaze to her.

"Are you saying you've changed your mind about him?" I ask, trying not to let my temper get the better of me. I want to rage and destroy, cover everything in a sheet of ice so thick nothing will survive within a thousand feet radius.

"It will anger him, and I know you don't think this was him, but I do, and if he is capable of this, what else will he do? Breaking this bond will be a catalyst for much worse to come. I don't think I can have that on my conscience. "

The temperature in the room drops several degrees as my anger flares. Ice crystals form on the windows and creep along the edges of the furniture. "No," I say firmly, my voice low and dangerous. "Absolutely not. We are not letting that monster keep his hold on you."

Violet flinches at my tone, but I don't care. The thought of her giving up, of resigning herself to Nathaniel's control, makes me want to tear something apart. Preferably him.

Flint takes her hand. "Violet, I know you're scared. What happened to Melody is horrible, and if Nathaniel is behind it, that's even more terrifying. But giving in to him isn't the answer."

"He's right," Thorne says, setting down his pen and turning to face us. His dark eyes are intense as he looks at Violet. "If Nathaniel did this, it's all the more reason to break the bond. He's dangerous and unstable. The longer you're connected to him, the more power he has over you."

Violet shakes her head, tears welling in her eyes. "But what if breaking the bond makes him even more angry? What if he comes after all of you? I couldn't bear it if something happened to any of you because of me."

I take a deep breath, willing myself to calm down. "Then let him come. I would like ten minutes alone in a room with him."

"Only ten?" Flint growls .

"Stop!" Violet exclaims. "This isn't helping."

I rise off the bed and snatch up my cane, going to the frosted window to stare out over the snow-covered grounds. "If we killed him, Violet, how would that make you feel?"

She doesn't answer me.

I wait, not turning to face her. Not pressuring her.

"I don't know," she says eventually. "I mean, if he were gone from my life, then I would be happy, obviously, but I'm guessing you mean with the vampire bond. That is not something I can answer."

I turn back to face Violet, my expression grim. "That's what I was afraid of. The bond complicates things. It might make you feel grief or pain if he were killed, even though logically, you know it's for the best."

Violet nods slowly, her eyes distant. "I hate this. I hate feeling torn like this. Part of me wants him gone forever, but another part..." she trails off, shaking her head in frustration.

"That's why breaking the bond is so important," Thorne says, his voice gentle but firm. "It's not just about freeing you from his control. It's about giving you back your autonomy, your ability to feel and think without his influence."

Flint pulls Violet closer, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "We're not going to let anything happen to you."

I nod in agreement, moving back to sit on the edge of the bed. "Snowdrop, I know you're scared. But giving in to that fear, letting Nathaniel win—that's not the answer. We'll figure this out."

And then, just like that, it hits me.