Chapter 9

9

LEIF

Tensions run higher than usual, and not only due to the confrontation between Violet and the group of humans last night. Mrs. Lorcan called all students together in the assembly hall to address the issue of the shifter on campus—Violet whispered that Dorian forced the headmistress to confirm the sighting now that there's evidence the creature exists, and that there may be a threat to students. But the story remains that Holly's sick, not missing, and the shifter is not connected.

Dorian is taking the full moon death threat seriously, and the Darwin House students may regret their complaint that the academy doesn't care about their safety. The group's activities last night have created the reason for this newest tension: all humans are now under curfew from dusk until dawn.

I'm meeting with Eloise today in an attempt to find the spell in my mind, and Violet reassured me that she'll join us. I once would've questioned whether Violet offered out of curiosity or to support me. Nowadays, the answer is ‘both' since I'm her consort . I smile to myself, but at the time, Violet's announcement pissed me off. I was already in a state of shock after the news about my father's origins, and that the elders wanted me back. Then the girl who'd never even kissed me told the elders how important I am to her, and that nobody dare touch me, all without telling or asking me first.

Man, getting Violet to repeat the words to me was like getting blood from a stone. Until she did, I'd convinced myself Violet only made the statement to help me. After all, Violet was Rowan's. Their bond thing should've been obvious from the start, and I admit that the news slugged me in the guts at first. I have no idea why, as I'd already decided I had no chance with Violet. Rowan reminded me about witches having a group of consorts, but I couldn't picture Violet choosing a half-shifter.

Especially without telling me first.

Is it wrong that I'm glad the elders are preoccupied with the necromancy situation and have pulled rank against anybody not already central to their society? No way will the elders want me anywhere near the place while I have a necromancer's spell in my mind. That puts one problem on the backburner, but how long for?

This bloody spell. I've woken in the night convinced somebody is in the room, my half-asleep state playing tricks on my mind because the only person with me is Dane in the bed across the room. But Viktor is always with me, like somebody sitting on my shoulder, watching everything. Is he watching? I have no clue, only that he allegedly knows where I am all the time. Violet doesn't want to exclude me due to the spell, but how can I spend time with the others if this might threaten them?

The first witches who looked Into my mind couldn't see past the splintered memories, which is why Eloise agreed to help. I hate allowing other witches into my head, only trusting Violet, but I have no choice. Besides, Eloise wouldn't hurt me, right?

But Dorian might. What if he decides I'm too big a threat?

Violet checks in with Eloise alone before we're due to meet, and I wander to the Darwin House common room to distract myself from the nerves. I spot two of the guys I game with—Zak and Aaron—sitting with Dane on one of the threadbare sofas. Maybe they know something about the brooches since none of the girls will tell me. I approach the trio, who're talking about last night's late gaming.

Not the ‘werewolf', thankfully.

"Where were you, Leif?" asks Zak as I sit on the sofa arm. "You missed a good session."

"Violet took him for a walk around campus, wolf hunting." Dane snickers.

"Yeah. I heard you were there. Not good—we'd arranged the session days go, mate," says Aaron.

I shrug.

"Leif wouldn't dare say no to Violet," says Dane, and I pull a face at him.

"You and her…?" Zak arches a brow. "Does she bite when you're making out?"

"I'm not talking to you about me and Violet," I say, voice low in warning.

"Yeah, Violet would slash his neck if Leif spilled on what she likes in bed," puts in Dane.

"If I had a threesome, I'd want another girl, not a dude," announces Aaron, loud enough that the group in the nearby chairs pause and look over. "Violet is also screwing the witch you hang out with, right? Do you get an invite?"

"I'm not interested in your sexual preferences, and mine are nothing to do with you. Should I tell Violet about our conversation?" I snap. "No? Then keep your mouth shut."

"Touchy, Leif." Dane raises a brow.

But my warning silences them. The three don't bother looking into the real supernatural world and, like a lot of human kids here, imagine constant orgies happening in the other houses. Who knows if that's true or not? I don't care, and I'm only interested in Violet who's buried herself so deep in my heart that sometimes it hurts. I could never imagine loving anybody apart from this beautiful, deadly girl, and a single thought that I might lose her terrifies me. Violet would never die, but she could do something that would take her away from me forever—kill.

"I wanted to get Violet one of those brooches, but none of the girls will tell me where I can buy one," I say to interrupt the awkward silence. "Any ideas?"

Zak snorts. "You mean the magical brooches to protect them against the full moon massacre? Violet wouldn't need one."

Massacre . Well, that escalated from ‘someone will die'.

"Magic brooches?" We were right. "But a couple of the girls wearing them don't trust witches and avoid the Pendle girls. Why would they wear something a witch gave them?"

"Isabella started hanging around with the three witches and Holly. She asked them to make her a magical talisman," says Dane. "You know how the girls are—half of them want the same thing if Isabella has one."

"Yeah, Isabella and the three witches: ‘bubble, bubble, toil and trouble,'" says Zak with a snicker.

The academy's not-smart decision to add Macbeth to the curriculum last year led to some friction, along with complaints from bored students. "' Double, double' . At least get the words right if you're pretending to be smart and quoting Shakespeare."

Dane slaps me on the back. "You're tetchy today. All because we talked about your girlfriend? Or is that the problem? Not getting what you want?"

I thin my lips. "Again, would you like me to tell Violet you're talking about her?"

"Take out your frustration tonight?" suggests Aaron. "Fortnite session? Me and you against Dane and Zak?"

"Bring some beers. We'll get pizza," adds Dane.

But I'm lost in thoughts about what I'll tell Violet. Darwin's head girl is involved with witches and magic talismans. What's Marci's game?

I meet Eloise and Violet in the counselor's room, and I'm again struck how much Violet resembles her mother, apart from the glacial Blackwood eyes she inherited from Dorian. Eloise looks ordinary, casual, wearing a loose blue sweater over black pants, her long hair tied from her face. Violet and her mother are both delicate to the point I'd worry about someone accidentally snapping their slender wrists, if they were human.

I sat in here once before, with Violet the day I interrupted her magic at the memorial afternoon. At the time, I had no clue what possessed me to take hold of a girl who could snap my wrist in two. Violet changed toward me that day. Only subtly, but as if my ability to silence and restrain her put me in Violet's sights, and not only because this worried her. Violet noticed me. She never realized how I already felt about her, but this was when I swore she and Rowan were the perfect imperfect match.

This time, instead of unsubtly threatening to hurt me if I ever touched her again, Violet sits with my fingers gripping her small hand.

Dorian isn't here, thank god.

Again, Eloise's demeanor couldn't be more opposite to Dorian's, her smile warm and her welcome genuine. But I still can't picture this woman keeping Dorian in check—or killing anybody. Eloise smiles as she watches us and leans forward from the chair opposite us to place a reassuring hand on my leg. "I'll try not to hurt you."

My spine goes rigid. Try ? Not what I wanted to hear.

"Nobody who's looked could find the exact location of the spell in your conscious or unconscious mind, or I would go straight to the correct place and identify it." She pats my leg. "I'll need to poke around."

"At my brain?" I ask hoarsely.

Her laughter doesn't help my nerves. "Not physically, but you've experienced witches picking apart your mind."

Yeah. Not a nice experience.

"But you'll take care not to do too much damage?" asks Violet.

"Too much?" My voice rises. "What the hell?"

"Violet." Eloise frowns at her daughter. "I shall take the utmost care."

I eye the door. Living with the spell suddenly feels like the better option. "Be blunt about what might happen. Violet always is."

"Everything will be fine, if you don't fight back," says Violet casually.

"Why would I? I want this spell gone!"

"As do we all." Eloise gives me a reassuring smile that does not reassure.

"The magic might fight Eloise's," continues Violet. "But she'll ensure nothing explodes in your head."

"O kay ." I stand. "Um. Can we do this later?"

"Honestly, Violet. You're being very dramatic, and that isn't helping Leif." Eloise stands too.

"Can you knock me out?" I ask.

"Knock you out of what?" Violet looks up at me.

"Can Eloise do this to me when I'm unconscious? Everything you're saying sounds like brain surgery."

"Well, I guess the spell is a tumor," says Violet.

"Please shut up."

"Excuse me?" Violet's jaw slackens at my terse words.

"You're not helping at all , Violet," says Eloise, expression growing more displeased by the moment.

"You haven't started looking into Leif's mind yet. How do you know I'm not helping?" Violet asks.

That glare from her. Telling Violet to shut up wasn't smart.

"I've changed my mind," I say and step closer to the door and towards a world with more oxygen than this room.

"Don't be ridiculous, Leif. You don't have the ability to change your mind. Viktor inflicted you with a serious spell."

I turn my eyes to the ceiling and take a steady breath. "That isn't what I meant, Violet."

Eloise takes one of my hands between hers, and a subtle warmth comes from her soft skin. "Leif. Ignore my daughter's unnecessary comments. I have the ability to calm minds too. I'll remove you from the situation in a way human anesthetic would. You won't feel anything."

"Yes, but if his nose and eyes start bleeding—" Violet begins before Eloise's slicing look hits her.

"Bloody hell," I mutter. "Violet. Please leave, otherwise I'm walking out of here."

I've seen that expression before. Under all Violet's spikiness and acerbic words, her mother's side of the hybrid exists. The girl who once had no clue about social niceties or emotions now connects with them. Well, the emotions—Violet still can't get a handle on how speaking every word that enters her mind can hurt people.

Now I've hurt her.

"I'm concerned for your welfare and voicing such concern," she says stiffly. "Don't you wish for me to care?"

Sighing, I crouch down in front of where Violet still sits and take her hands. "You need a better bedside manner." She looks at me blankly. "Thank you for caring and wanting to help, but your… Violet-ness is scaring me, and I'm already freaked out."

"Very well." Violet stands abruptly. "I shall leave."

I stand too and catch her hand before she can move. "Sorry."

Tiptoeing, Violet places both hands on my cheeks, earnest eyes on mine. "I do try, Leif."

I smile. "I could make a comment about how trying you are, but I might regret that."

I'm stunned when Violet's mouth touches mine for a moment. She kissed me in front of her mother ?

"I'll wait outside in case you need me to…" She pauses. "Need me."

Violet stiffly leaves the room and the abstract picture on the wall shakes as she closes the door.

Eloise looks vaguely amused but says nothing.

"Will you be able to fix my memories too?" I ask her.

"I'd rather not use my magic on your mind for a long period of time, just in case." Eloise smiles tightly but doesn't elaborate.

Just in case? Maybe I shouldn't have asked Violet to leave.