Chapter 36

36

ROWAN

I have mixed feelings about Violet staying in Scotland without me, although I'm not upset that I wasn't invited. The less time spent around Dorian, the better. Whatever Violet thinks, I'm sure her father noticed the shadows' aura when he interrogated me that day. If Dorian didn't, he will soon.

If the trip away helps Holly, that'll calm Violet down—about one thing at least, since she won't stay distracted from Dashiell and Viktor for long. Violet agreed to contact us if she hears from Viktor again; whether Violet passes on the contents of the contact is another issue.

Violet doesn't want us to visit the lodge without her, and rather than waste the planned time, we meet in my room to go over the information Kai gave us today. Earlier, Violet called with a clipped report of her afternoon: the long journey to Scotland, a walk on the estate, an awkward dinner, an unhelpful meeting with Dorian, but mostly annoyance that she may miss her chance to speak to Dash.

She still doesn't know where the shifter is.

What information is Violet hoping to get out of Dash that nobody else could?

Leif asked after the zombie duckling and was met with a stony silence before Violet continued and outlined Dorian's latest theories, and of course asked if we had any more information for her.

The call ended with "I'll see you shortly". I'm worried whether that shortly refers to tonight, and not tomorrow. Does Violet have plans to abandon Holly and visit the lodge after all?

Or there's a worse possibility. "I bloody hope Viktor hasn't contacted Violet," I say.

Leif looks up from his position on my floor, where he studies copies of Kai's photos on my phone. "What should we do? Violet can't go to Viktor alone."

I rub my temples. I've had this conversation with the guys a few times, and we're lost. If we follow Violet, would we endanger Holly? But if we don't, Violet could be in danger herself. Viktor might lie about not bringing anybody with him. Might? More than probably.

"Arguing with Violet is useless," says Grayson from my desk chair. "Always."

"But we can't let this situation happen!" I protest.

"If Violet tells us where her and Viktor are meeting, we could follow but stay distant?" suggests Leif.

"Viktor would know where you are," I protest.

Leif blinks rapidly. "Fine. I can stay even further away. But we can't leave Violet to do this alone."

"Leif is right. We follow, but not immediately," says Grayson. "Fighting Violet would take all of Viktor's focus, and he'd be less aware of who's in his surroundings by that point."

I bite my lip. "And Dorian?"

"We can't risk telling him," says Leif.

"How pissed will he be if Violet kills Viktor?" I ask. "If Dorian knows we didn't tell him about all this, I don't want to imagine what he'd do to us."

"Eloise?" suggests Grayson.

I gawk at him. "She'd tell Dorian!"

"But would she? Eloise never told him about me. She knows when Dorian needs controlling."

"Grayson. This is more than ‘Violet's cozying up to a Petrescu'," says Leif.

Grayson glowers. "Sorry, but we've no bloody idea what Violet could walk into. She's trying to help Holly, but everybody could die. That'd be a permanent death for you two."

I pull on my bottom lip and exchange a look with Leif, trying to gauge his thoughts.

"If Eloise stopped Violet's plan, she'd never speak to us again," says Leif with a flat laugh.

"Violet's safety overrides everything and everybody else," says Grayson firmly. "Whatever that takes."

"Don't tell Eloise," I say firmly. "Agreed?"

Grayson mutters something beneath his breath, and I pin him with a look. "Fine," he says.

We drop into the confused silence again. This discussion goes around and around every time. At the center of all this, we face a huge problem: unless Viktor dies, Holly may never be safe. But if he does, we'll lose answers to questions that nobody else knows. That could set back the investigation into who's involved in the plot against Dorian, and what their plans may be.

Leif echoes my thoughts. "I'm worried about Violet killing Viktor."

" I'm worried about Violet's necromancy idea," I say. "Violet has never tried that spell on a person, let alone a witch. A necromancer reanimating a necromancer is harder; the magic would clash. Who knows what might happen to either of them?"

Grayson swears. "Exactly! Another reason to have Eloise on the scene."

"Is this you wanting brownie points with the Blackwoods?" I retort.

"There's only one Blackwood I give a crap about," he snaps back. "I don't care what Dorian or Eloise think of me, or what they could do."

"Calm it down," says Leif tersely.

I'm freaking out over the Viktor situation because each time I consider Violet's plans, I'm gripped by the despair that I might lose her. The bond wraps tighter and tighter around not just my heart and soul, but my logic too. How could I stop myself following?

Leif almost drops my phone as a message alert sounds then glances at the screen. "Violet." He places the phone where we can all see.

where are you all at this precise moment?

My room. The others are leaving in a few minutes

don't leave yet

why?

No response. Sighing, I stand and walk to the window, where the thick clouds swallow the waxing moon and create a perfect night for anybody to sneak around. What's with the so-called ghosts inside the academy? Violet will have us ghost hunting next—or rather hunting the mysterious nighttime occurrences inside the academy.

"Holly doesn't lose consciousness for long, Dashiell. Calm down."

I whirl around, convinced I must be imagining Violet's voice. Wrong. Violet stands by my door, and two other figures are on the floor—Holly lying on her side close to my bed, with Dashiell crouched beside her, his hand placed on her back.

Violet wrinkles her nose. "Grayson? Sort Dashiell. I don't want to touch him."

What the hell is this?

Grayson blows air into his cheeks and crosses the room. Dashiell is on his feet in seconds, eyes wide and shining. "What do you mean ‘sort'?" He recoils as Grayson grabs him by the wrist. "Don't bite me!"

"Good grief," mutters Violet as she crouches and dips her head to look at Holly's face. "Do you think I brought you from imprisonment by Dorian to feed you to my friend? I need Grayson to prevent you from leaving while I consider what we do next."

"You did wha t?" I ask. "How and why are you all here? Where did you find Dashiell?"

Holly groans, and Dash drops to his knees beside Holly before she can move, fussing over her.

"Did you know Dash was in Scotland?" My voice rises as Violet stands. "You lied to us, Violet."

"Only by omission. I hadn't found Dashiell when we last spoke, so I didn't have any plans to share with you. Holly inadvertently assisted me in locating him." Violet drops a look at her friend on the rug. "Holly falsely believed Dorian would kill Dashiell, and I found her attempting to release him from a room. The spell she's under must've drawn Holly to the shifter."

I gawk as Violet recounts events since we last spoke to her, and a trickle of fear runs along my spine. "You took Dashiell from Dorian without permission?"

" And Holly?" asks Leif.

She blinks. "She is here, so, yes, I did."

"Why?" asks Grayson.

"Because I wanted to."

Leif suppresses a laugh. "True Violet reasoning."

"But we're not staying here," she continues, leaning closer to the door to listen. "I can't keep Holly and Dashiell in the academy, but I won't allow them to leave, nor allow Dashiell away from my sight."

Holly now sits, resting against Dash, whose arms wind protectively around her, as he murmurs something into her hair.

"Look at them," says Violet, face scrunching with disgust. "Holly wanted to abscond with Dashiell. Tonight. And I truly believe she'd go to reckless lengths to achieve this. He appears to share her infatuation."

"Well, that's bloody weird," says Leif.

"Again, a statement of the obvious."

Dash's engulfing hold on Holly is more than protective. Defensive. A warning not to touch.

"At least she's safe with him?" I suggest.

"We cannot be sure since we've no idea what magic is at work." She shoots a look at the back of Holly's head. "And do not spout your absurd claims about destiny and love, Holly. I'm not in the mood."

I bite back a smile, and Grayson catches my eye, his glinting with the same thoughts and amusement as mine. Our darling darkling girl isn't in the mood for love? No change there.

But Holly isn't paying attention, still weak from her fainting and the blood travel as she presses herself against Dash. I agree with Violet and Leif—the Holly/Dashiell situation is insane.

"What do you mean by ‘we're not staying'?" says Grayson, perching on the windowsill. "Where are you going and who's ‘we'?"

"All of us." She pulls the familiar pendant from beneath her sweater. "Dashiell will direct our group to the correct location."

"Huh?" he asks.

"Blood rune spells require a member of the party to focus on a location they've visited before. You're taking us back to the house that you imprisoned Holly inside." Violet unsheathes the blade from the pendant. "And don't waste breath claiming you didn't help incarcerate her."

"The house isn't any safer than the academy," I say. "The place will be under watch."

"Dorian is ‘done' with Dashiell and his information. My father combed through the house and moved on after the place revealed nothing of significance." She smiles, lips thin. "We, however, have not visited the house yet. Hence, needing Dashiell to picture the location."

"This plan isn't nice for Holly," whispers Leif. "You're taking Holly back to a place that traumatized her."

Violet's mouth remains tight. "Watch and listen to this." She raises her voice. "I'm taking Dashiell back to the house he kept you in, Holly. I'll leave you with Leif, and he can take you somewhere safe."

"No! I'm not leaving Dashiell alone with you. I go where he does." Her weakened voice firms, fingers tightening around his thickly muscled forearm as she looks at Violet.

"See what I mean?" Violet gestures at the pair. "Unless you have a magical crowbar, Holly is joining us while we make our own investigations at the house. We shall remain there overnight while deciding what to do next. Dashiell, release Holly and listen to what you need to do."