Chapter 17

17

VIOLET

Rowan's relief that I don't intend to break into the mortuary and inspect the dead body is short-lived—I inform the guys I'm visiting the place where the shifter attacked Holly.

During our hospital visit, we couldn't get a hold of anything Holly wore last night for Rowan to use psychometry on; the detectives would've spotted us stealing her belongings. Therefore, we could discover something in the crime scene's vicinity that Rowan could use.

Following some pointless attempts by the guys to dissuade me, including a large list of reasons why I shouldn't visit the attack location, the guys relent, perfectly aware I'll go with or without them.

Leif will accompany us. Eloise isn't a hundred percent certain that she's broken the hold on Leif's mind in only one session, but does hope that she's blocked the channel. If Viktor is still able to locate Leif's whereabouts, I want him to know where I am. The sooner I meet Viktor face to face again, the better. For me. Not him.

Before we do anything else, we must find Marci. She will have heard about Holly by now and needs reminding why she can't mention my presence in the woods last night. Marci is aware it's illegal to use witchcraft against humans for financial gain or otherwise, so the witch can't risk us telling anybody the reason for her presence in the woods either. We must ensure that we're in complete understanding that neither party should mention the other's visit to the woods last night.

If the fooled humans discover they're not protected from magical harm, and the talismans are fake, mass hysteria and exodus will occur. Not to mention violence against the witches—Marci requires our silence.

"Did you think Marci is the one who called the ambulance?" I ask Rowan as we head towards the greenhouse together.

"No. When the police interviewed me, they thought I was the one who made the call, and that I used a fake accent to hide who I am."

"What accent?" I frown. "Definitely not a girl's voice?"

"Nobody told me, but, yeah, definitely a guy."

How curious. A third member involved in the attack on Holly?

"Have you told Dorian about Holly since we returned to the academy, Violet?"

"Unnecessary. The detectives plan to tell him later this morning."

Rowan halts. "Unnecessary? How pissed will Dorian be when he finds out you already knew?"

"I don't need to answer that rhetorical question, and I'm prepared for the consequences in order to keep my father away from Holly as long as possible."

"You believe Dorian would hurt Holly?"

"Not deliberately." I hope. "But there's never a way to predict Dorian's actions or the consequences."

"Bloody hell," mutters Rowan and starts walking again.

The weather matches the atmosphere of the day, dark clouds threatening to burst at any moment and deluge the world. Everybody who chooses to live in this part of the world is accustomed to perpetual rain, yet they always complain—apart from me.

Marci already protested that she doesn't want to get caught in a downpour and walk to class soaked if we meet outside, but a rendezvous inside the academy isn't an option. Not until we've settled on a mutual agreement about what we do—or do not—tell people.

We locate Marci resting against the wall at the back of the sheds adjacent to the greenhouse, wearing her uniform. Zoe and Nita stand with her, also dressed for class, but the humans are absent.

"How's Holly?" Marci asks immediately and pulls herself from the wall. "I heard rumors she was found in the woods and is in the hospital."

Great. That didn't take long.

"Have you told anybody?" I reply.

"About what? Holly's return, or that you were in the woods with Rowan around the time somebody attacked Holly?" Marci's voice holds a warning tone.

"Both," says Rowan as he stands at my shoulder.

"I've mentioned neither," Marci replies. "Tell me how Holly is. Badly hurt?"

I suck my lips together and look to Rowan.

"Holly will be alright, but I suggest you don't share information about Holly before Mrs. Lorcan announces the news to the academy," he says.

"I won't—if I'm allowed to visit her."

A visit to ask Holly to ask her to hide something? I can't drop my suspicions about this girl. "Holly isn't conscious."

"I don't care."

"You don't care ? Well, that's rather unkind."

"Violet. Marci means that she wants to see Holly regardless. Not that she doesn't care about her welfare," says Rowan.

Still. Suspicious.

"Can we discuss last night?" puts in Nita. "Class starts again in ten minutes. Nobody else knows that Isabella and Helen met us in the woods, and the girls believe we left shortly after their departure to escape Violet."

"And the pair wouldn't say anything due to my knowledge of your illegal activities," I say.

"And because they're scared of you," says Marci.

"Will you tell anybody?" asks Zoe, fidgeting with her blazer sleeve.

Marci scoffs. "Of course, they won't. The police would be very interested to know Violet was nearby when Rowan found Holly."

My gaze on Marci remains steady. She knows half the story, and things will remain that way. "You should stop selling your magical talismans before somebody discovers the truth."

"Why hasn't another witch told the humans?" puts in Rowan. "One must've examined a brooch."

"Because Isabella told the human girls that if another witch touches the brooch, the talisman will lose its power," says Nita. "So, I doubt any witch has touched one."

"Good grief," I say. "Why are humans like this? They ignore logic and believe what they want to be true in order to give themselves peace of mind."

"Isabella refuses to be involved anymore," says Marci. "Our enterprise is over, and nobody will know what we've done. Right ?"

"Someone will discover," I say.

"Yes. And someone will discover your secret too, Violet," she retorts. "You won't be able to hide that you were in the woods last night for long."

"But people won't hear that news from you," says Rowan.

Marci runs her tongue across her top teeth and steps towards Rowan, face to face, ignoring me. "How did you explain your presence in the woods without Violet glued to you, Rowan?"

"I was meeting you."

"Excuse me?" She laughs. "What for?"

"A romantic liaison," I say.

Marci steps back, mouth parting, and Nita giggles. "Are you serious?"

"We couldn't meet on campus because Violet would know," he continues.

"Such a tale will assist if somebody else saw you walk into, or leave, the woods," I add.

"And what about us?" asks Zoe. "Are you suggesting Rowan met all of us ? That's mad."

"If Marci denies that you accompanied her, people will listen." I give a tight smile. "And the story about Rowan fits since the pair of you had a past relationship."

"People won't believe the story," Marci says. "As if I'd interfere in your relationship with Rowan, Violet."

I cross my arms. "I would've thought you'd like people to see you've gained an advantage over me. After all, you've attempted to rile me from day one."

"Marci. Listen to them. We can't risk getting caught," says Nita quietly.

"It was a stupid enterprise in the first place," says Rowan.

"As if we're the only witches who've ever taken advantage of humans." Marci tips her chin. "Wes and his gang stalked and attacked Pendle students. Some of those human kids still threaten witches. I'm glad they're scared."

My eyes widen. Is Marci—or all of them—part of the plot within the academy?

"And humans were in on the whole thing," adds Zoe. "Helen and Isabella are as guilty."

I sigh. "All this risk to make money."

Marci looks at me. "And to amuse ourselves."

"Wow." Rowan shakes his head.

"But nobody will know," presses Marci. "Tell people your dumb story if you want, Rowan, but if somebody discovers what we did, we'll know who to blame."

"Humans who figure out your deception?" I ask.

"No, because we'll deal with any who do realize." She points at the side of her head.

"Oh, great. Breaking the law a second time, but with mind magic," retorts Rowan.

Marci sidesteps to look down at me. "I'd love to know how many laws you've broken, Violet. You're stupid to pretend you weren't with Rowan."

I lean forward. "I suggest you consider your words carefully when speaking to me."

"I'm not frightened of you."

"Or my father?" I suggest, and her lips press together. "Yes, someone will discover the truth, but for now I'd like to hide my involvement."

"But you won't tell on us?" asks Nita.

"'Tell on'?" Rowan laughs at her. "This isn't breaking a school rule. It's big. Illegal."

"We will not tell on you," I say to Marci. "This is a simple transaction. You hide the truth until I'm ready, or we'll reveal yours."

The three girls look at each other.

"We already discussed this, Marci," says Nita. "We have to agree to their story."

"Fine," she says stiffly. "But I'm suspicious about you, Violet."

"A mutual opinion," I reply, then look to Nita. "And you."

"Me? What did I do?" she asks indignantly. "Apart from the brooches."

Rowan nudges me to interrupt the detective Violet ready to question Nita about Rory and necromancy. Rowan argued that Nita was genuinely upset about his death and can't be involved. But what were the three witches doing in the room beneath Pendle that evening before Holly arrived and their ‘committee meeting' started? Because there was evidence of a spell.

"Don't worry, Nita; I suspect everybody," I say and flash my teeth in the semblance of a smile. "Now. If we are all in agreement, I have better uses for my time."

"Yeah," says Marci. "Stay away from me."

"My pleasure." I turn to walk away, and Rowan joins me as we leave the girls, and hopefully the situation, for the last time.

"Violet," calls Marci, and I pause, not turning back. "How would you feel if me and Rowan in the woods wasn't a story?"

I roll my eyes to the threatening sky and continue walking, not dignifying her question with an answer.

"Ignore Marci," says Rowan.

"I always do, as much as possible. Besides, the story was my idea. Would I have suggested that if I had concerns about our relationship, Rowan?"

"No." He falls quiet as we continue, spots of rain now hitting his hair.

"You have a question," I inform him. "Ask."

"How badly did you attack Grayson last night?"

I blink raindrops from my lashes. "Not as badly as at the warehouse."

Rowan snorts a laugh. "But you did attack him?"

"I lost my temper, yes." My teeth clench. "Blamed him for Holly. Lost control."

"I'm glad you lost control around Grayson, not me," comments Rowan.

How can I explain that I'm safe to lose the control over the hybrid with Grayson? He took the brunt again, but instead of this pushing him away, last night pulled us closer to creating a blood tie.

Yes, I'm glad I didn't lose my control with Rowan. The danger would be mutual because, if I prompt the shadows, they'd threatens us both. Rowan would be the most at risk as the shadows edge further into his magic each time they're triggered.

Grayson holds onto his self-control around me, despite his Petrescu bloodline. Part of the reason for that control comes from a place that sickens me—his uncle's ‘aversion treatment' after he almost killed a witch.

I've no fear at all that Grayson could come close to killing me if he took my blood, even if his primal instinct overrode him. No. I worry that if he takes my blood, Grayson will die, as Dorian predicted.

But I move closer and closer to wanting that level of connection with Grayson. How long can we both resist? And what will happen if we don't?

Unfortunately, but unsurprisingly, we're intercepted before we can leave the academy. Mrs. Lorcan sends demands that we visit her and we dutifully attend. Her office door barely closes behind us before she speaks.

"Why did you visit the hospital early this morning? You should've communicated events to me first!" Despite Mrs. Lorcan's face-full of makeup and immaculate blue skirt suit, the woman's a mess. "I received a phone call from the police mid-morning and expect a visit from detectives soon."

"Oh. Didn't anybody inform you earlier?" I ask and feign ignorance.

"I need a full debrief on what happened at the hospital before the police arrive on the academy's doorstep." She yanks out her desk chair and sits, face growing pinker with each second. "Did any of you speak to Holly?"

"No. She can't speak. But the detectives spoke to us at the hospital," I say.

"What?" Her eyes bulge.

I raise my voice. "The detectives spoke to us at the hospital."

"I heard you. You should not have visited Holly without speaking to me first."

"Um. They'd already questioned me last night, at length," says Rowan.

"I know. I was told the bare minimum in the phone call." She jabs a finger at Rowan. "Including that you were at the scene."

"The bare minimum?" I ask. "Like you told the bare minimum to anybody outside the academy about Holly?"

Her eyes narrow. "Were you present at the scene too? I fail to believe that Rowan would wander the woods alone."

"Marci," he says and looks at his feet. "I was meeting Marci. Not Violet."

Her mouth parts. "A romantic liaison?"

"Yeah. Sort of."

Although this isn't the truth, something worms its way into my chest and niggles.

"And Violet knows you're cheating on her?" asks Mrs. Lorcan bluntly.

"I don't mind," I say. "I've the others to keep me occupied."

"Bonded witch males do not engage in relationships with others."

"Rather sexist don't you think?" I ask. "Witch society is matriarchal, but it's discriminatory that I may have relationships with Leif and Grayson, but Rowan can't with Marci."

Mrs. Lorcan's eyes bug more. Surely she realizes I'm developing intimacy with them all?

"Living dangerously, Mr. Petrescu," she mutters at Grayson. "But this is not a discussion about teen romances. Were you in the woods at all, Violet?"

"No. I was with Grayson." I step forward. "Do you believe the attack on Holly connects to reported sightings of a wolf on academy grounds?"

"No."

"Rather a coincidence that a wolf shifter attacked her," I continue.

Mrs. Lorcan tuts and taps the desk. "And has your father involved himself now Holly has reappeared? I am presuming that the authorities informed him too."

She hasn't spoken to Dorian? Good. "He will liaise with the authorities soon."

"And I'll expect yet another intrusive visit from your father soon?" Her mouth thins. "Two human students from the academy attacked, one dead? The situation at the academy is becoming untenable."

"Untenable that humans should attend?" I straighten. "Do you believe Thornwood should limit their intake to supernaturals?"

Mrs. Lorcan holds my gaze entirely too long to match her denial. "No."

"At this rate, all the human parents will take their kids out of Thornwood," comments Leif. "There wouldn't need to be a policy change."

"Dorian will not allow exclusion of any race from the academy," I say.

"Such as shifters?" asks Mrs. Lorcan and raises a brow.

"The elders' decided to exclude shifters from supernatural academies, not my father," I say stiffly.

"And if human ‘elders' decided to exclude humans, would that be their decision too?" she asks.

I scratch my cheek. Are we poking into the truth here? Since Wesley's death, only supes run the academy with no human input. Now humans are buying fake talismans to ward against supernatural assaults.

Mrs. Lorcan's words strike at a worse possibility. What if the full moon story is true and somebody orchestrates a witch or vampire attack against a human on campus ? Because that would pour a tanker full of fuel on the fire ignited by Wesley's death.