31. Caine

31

CAINE

Watching Violet closely, I see her trying to recall the details of the night that changed her life forever. I know this will be hard for her, but it's the only way we can get as close to her time of turning as possible.

I focus on the spell to recreate the scene. It's not complex, but it will require an enormous amount of power to maintain it while she walks us through it. As arrogant and confident as I am, I am able to admit that I cannot do it with only my power. I need to borrow Flint's to boost mine. He is extraordinarily powerful, even though, for the most part, he plays it close to his chest. He dislikes the showiness of flashy magick. He could level this entire academy to the ground if he chose to, but he is just… Flint. Laid back Flint.

"Flint," I say as he emerges from the bathroom, looking refreshed and slightly embarrassed, not that he should. I teased him, but only out of envy. It's safe to say had I been in that position with Violet, I would've done the same. "I'm going to need to tap into your power for this spell. Are you okay with that?" I didn't ask before, merely stated that we would be able to do this, but if Flint is reluctant to share his power, then we are going to have a problem. It's better to clear the air and make sure we are all on the same page.

He nods without hesitation. "Yeah, obviously."

I turn to Thorne. "You'll be the one to guide her through it. Your connection to her will make it easier for her to stay focused and calm. Stick with her, be by her side the entire time so she doesn't falter."

Thorne nods, his eyes serious. "I can do that."

Violet opens her eyes and starts scribbling again. She is taking this all in her stride, and I'm proud of her. That feeling alone is foreign to me. Pride isn't something I dole out to others. I'm proud of myself for my achievements and for standing up to the feared Ice Demon King to attend this institution against his wishes. I'm fucking proud of myself for going home and not succumbing to the temptation to jack all of this in and take the easy route.

But pride is a funny thing. It's a selfish emotion when centred on oneself. Does that mean I shouldn't be proud of Violet for what she is doing, how she is fighting back and making this life forced on her, her own ?

But as I watch Violet writing, I'm struck by a wave of admiration for her strength and resilience, and that pride swells - not the selfish kind I'm used to feeling about my own accomplishments, but a deeper, more selfless pride in someone else's courage. It's an unfamiliar feeling, but not an unwelcome one.

"How's it coming?" I ask softly, not wanting to break her concentration.

Violet looks up, her pen pausing on the paper. "It's hard," she admits. "There are some gaps. It's like it's gone from my memory. I was so scared."

"I know, snowdrop, and you are doing so well with what you've done so far. This won't be a quick or easy fix, but it will be worth it."

She smiles and bobs her head, going back to her work.

I rise and stride to the window to stare out at the snowy scene, gesturing that Flint and Thorne join me.

Keeping my voice low, I say, "We should prepare for this to be emotionally taxing on her. Reliving that night isn't going to be easy."

Thorne nods grimly. "I'll be with her every step of the way. If it gets to be too much, I'll pull her out immediately."

"No," I state. "You won't."

"Caine," Flint starts, but I shut him up with a vicious glare.

"We need to do this. She needs to be strong enough to do this. If she fails, we won't get another shot. She stays the course, and you, Thorne, have to make her."

He glares at me, but he nods, getting it completely. This is vital information we need and without it, the ritual won't work.

"I don't like this," Flint murmurs. "I don't like pressuring her."

‘"Look," I say, laying a hand on his shoulder. "None of us do, but we have to think about the bigger picture."

He hesitates but then nods. "Yeah, I know."

Before anyone can say anything else, a loud screech from the sky reverberates around the room, and a dark shadow passes overhead.

Violet leaps off the bed, shaking. "What the hell is that?"

Flint sighs as I smirk.

"Daddy's back," I say, punching Flint on the arm. "Better go and say hi."

"Fuck you," he growls. "He'll be here for Blackthorne, not me."

"Maybe me," Violet whispers. "Maybe he wants to know his investment in me isn't going tits up because I'm murdering innocent witches,"

I blink and then frown at her. "For starters, Melody isn't an innocent witch. She dabbles with dark magick and is a bit of bitch. Was a bit of a bitch. Secondly, I highly doubt Blackthorne or Glacier, for that matter, think you did this. You were with Blackthorne in his office when it went down. "

"Well, no, I was arguing with Briar, and then I was talking to Flint. There was plenty of time for me to leave Blackthorne and kill Melody in his eyes."

"You are being a bit ridiculous," Flint says, going to her. "No one in their right mind will think you did this."

"Two accused me already. How many more will it take before they have to start taking them seriously?"

"It doesn't matter. Even if Briar denies talking to you, if you say Flint was with you minutes after you left Blackthorne's office, that isn't enough time to drain a witch dry and remove her insides and dispose of them and then go and clean up. Even with vampire speed," I point out.

"Gee, thought about it much?" she grits out.

"Gotta protect you, snowdrop, so yeah, I've been thinking about it." I meet her stare with a fierce challenge.

"Caine's right," Flint says, taking her hand.

"Maybe you should go out there and see what's going on," Thorne remarks. "You could be our eyes on the outside. He's your dad, so Blackthorne isn't going to punish you for breaking lockdown."

"Yeah, okay," he says. "I want to talk to him about Nathaniel anyway."

"What about him?" Violet whispers.

"I want to ask him outright what the fuck he thinks he's doing conducting business with that fucker. "

"Makes sense," I say. "Hopefully, it has since been shut down."

"He'd better hope so," Flint growls, and I smile as his vicious side comes out. He is a temperamental beast when that laid back fa?ade is rattled.

"Go, we will be here, working on the bits and pieces."

Flint nods and kisses Violet quickly before he leaves, slipping out of the room silently.

"Do you really think I'll be okay?" Violet asks quietly. "I can't leave here. I will be doomed."

I go to her and wrap my arms around her. She sinks against me, clinging to me. "You will be fine. I can assure you that if they even think about expelling you, I will reign merry hell down on this place and trust me when I say you don't want to see that."

"Yeah, I like the cold as much as the next Dark Fae, but mist is more my style. I don't fancy living in an ice palace." Thorne grins, and Violet giggles.

"Thank you, guys. I'm lucky to have you on my side. Even though I'm still processing how and why, I am starting to realise there is more to this than just attraction."

"Fate, snowdrop. It's a crazy thing but not uncommon here in our world."

"Yeah, I get that."

She smiles up at me, and every cell in my demonic body wants to slam her against the wall and ravage her. Claim her. Take what's mine.

But with a heavy sigh, I don't. Fuck knows why. It's not in my nature to be restrained, but she brings out the protective side of me, and it's irritating as well as endearing. Instead, I push her away gently and say, "Go back to the list. We need to know everything."

She nods, her expression conveying her disappointment that I didn't devour her.

Soon, snowdrop. You won't be able to stop me.