Violet“This is a birthday party?” I sputtered, choking on my drink a second time.Olive shrugged, her lips downturned and expression utterly unimpressed. Thinking back to the photos of her on the Link, the ones of her perched in front of a mountain of presents, I could understand her lack of reaction. Her entire childhood had been wrought with parties like this one.Even so, I couldn’t hide my amazement at the raucous event taking place just fifty feet away.We stood at the entrance of Holden’s driveway, just beyond the iron gates with their razor-sharp points. Since the castle—house he lived in sat atop a large hill, it was easy to see the sheer number of people that had come for his birthday celebration.“Didn’t anyone in your old pack have birthday parties?” Olive said only half-jokingly, taking a two-second-long break from scanning the waves of people to meet my gaze.I snorted quietly and tugged the hem of the dress I wore back down my thighs. “None I was ever invited to.”“Righ
Violet“Is that you-know-who?” I lowered my voice to a whisper even though he most likely could hear our every word, down to the ragged breaths I let out.“Voldemort?” Olive replied instantly, but this time her sense of humor wasn’t a comfort, not when Hael had gone out of his way to threaten me against coming here. “No, much worse.”“Does he look angry?” I couldn’t help but ask, scolding both Lacey and me for the shiver of glee that tickled my spine from the thought.“He always looks angry. Turn around and lock eyes with him, that’ll get you a reaction. Shouldn’t be too hard since he’s staring right at you.”Questioning whether or not I had some latent desire to die young, I turned slowly and faced the guy I was unlucky enough to call my mate. He stood far below the raised patio we were on, past the crowds of dancing partygoers in their bikinis and skimpy dresses.Standing at his side was a dark-skinned man that looked a whole lot like the guy he’d been talking to in the kitchen that
Violet“What’s wrong? I didn’t mean to overstep, really. If it’s a bathing suit you’re worried about, I have a t-shirt and shorts you can use.”There was a split second that passed where I was sure I’d refuse, but Lacey’s voice in all of its strength, lifted my darkening thoughts.‘He won’t do anything to us, and if he tries we’ll tear his eyes out.’ She reassured me, a slight growl to her voice. ‘Plus swimming will scatter our scent and make it harder for Hael to find us, which is a bonus because I doubt we’ll ever get the chance to rip his eyes out.’“I—I’ll take that t-shirt and shorts, if you don’t mind.” I swallowed, embracing the happy and semi-threatening thoughts Lacey placed into my head, all of which were meant to take the edge off.Holden’s face lit up at my response, and much like an eager child, he nodded in rapid succession whilst tugging me out of the lounge and down the hall. “I have some clothes in a spare bedroom down here.” He said, pausing at the third white oak do
HaelThat little fucking brat.She ran from me; she seriously ran from me.I knew it had been her even before she turned around. Five minutes was all it took for me to memorize her every curve, the way her hips moved, and breasts bounced with every infuriating giggle she let out.The sound of her laughter was the exact opposite of Mykelle’s, who became a screeching hyena the moment she opened her mouth. Violets was light and airy, with a higher pitch that sounded natural and unforced. The way she threw her entire body into it, throwing back her head so that her mane of pale hair flowed down her back, was almost cute.‘She’s always been cute. Now she’s much more.’ Magnus made note of his growl vibrating my skull—though that could’ve been because of how hard I was grinding my teeth.‘None of it will save her.’ I insisted even though Magnus had stopped listening.She wanted to play chase, did she? Well, little Violet. Wait until you see how good of a hunter I am, just wait.Finding her f
HaelA sickening emotion encompassed me, one that bordered on painful even though I had no physical injury. It left me feeling vulnerable and exposed, two things I swore I’d never feel again. Like a wounded beast, I lashed out.“That’s cute. You think someone like him could be friends with someone like you?” I said coldly.There was a faint rush of satisfaction as her glare wavered, but Violet was also skilled at hiding her emotions, because all too easily her expression shifted into one of disinterest.“I didn’t know you were capable of thinking something was cute.” She drawled, padding around in the lake like I hadn’t ordered her out of it. “Doesn’t that require…oh, I don’t know, a soul?”I cracked my neck, hissing out the strongest pieces of my anger through clenched teeth before responding. Never have I been this out of control.“So help me—”“So help you what, Hael?” She interrupted, shouting from across the lake, her tone taunting. “You’ll kill me and chop me up into little piec
HaelI blinked and the garage was back, the girl in front of me no longer a child but a woman. Her hair longer, lips fuller, and eyes just as round.There was a rapid thudding sensation beneath my fingers, like the ticking of a clock whose timer needed calibrating.“Hael.”She whispered my name and the thudding beneath my fingers skipped a beat.The world settled back into focus, the spots leaving my eyes until I could see clearly the situation I’d put us in.She was pushed against the side of the Ferrari, her throat nestled within the confines of my hand, her body pressed against mine so tightly that I could feel the impression of her nipples against my sternum. Her eyes were burning—burning with both hatred and fear.This was the second time I found myself with my hand around her throat, only this time around I wasn’t squeezing, wasn’t attempting to drain her of the very life I coveted. No, I was only holding her in place, pinning her against the car as I clenched my eyes shut and t
Hael “What exactly is it that you’re doing?” Violet never seemed to react the way I expected. Hearing my voice, she let out a low string of curses, then threw her head back and groaned loudly. People were predictable, even more so once you learned their habits and motivations, but not Violet. Despite how much I thought I knew her; she’d already managed to surprise me more than once. Violet was an enigma, one I initially hadn’t cared to find out, but what kind of predator didn’t do its research on its prey? “You made me lose count.” She muttered. “I’ll have to start all over again.” Flustered, she flung her mane of curls over her shoulder. The strap of the silk nightgown she wore slid down her arm, flashing but an inch of the curve of her breast. I peeled my eyes off of the patch of milky skin and stared at the back of her head. “Start over?” I questioned; my tone indifferent even though I was intrigued with what she was doing. Really, she could’ve made this much faster by elab
HaelAs I ruefully anticipated, forcing Violet from Holden’s party hadn’t gone unnoticed. Early that morning, just a few hours after catching her little ritual with the door locks, I received a mind-link from my father.‘Hael, my office. Now.’Short and to the point.I didn’t bother getting dressed, not when it would be fastest to run on four legs. First, I called Cole and let him know he’d be taking Violet to school today since I’d be unavailable. I’d have to suffer through taking her home at the end of the day, but with my mother returning this afternoon, Violet would have full use of her driver for the rest of the week.The run from my mother’s estate to my father’s never seemed to be long enough to quell the murderous urges that arose whenever his voice slithered into my head. With each morning, the humidity in the air thinned, vanishing faster as winter’s first frosty notes were sung into the air.There had never been feelings of fondness between my father and I, only a sense of