“I’m not going anywhere, little flower.” She let out a soft, sleepy chuckle. "My mom used to call me that…" I wrinkled my nose. "I'll have to think of something else then." She chuckled again and started to relax. She closed her eyes and rumbled with contentment as she fell asleep. A warmth
Violet I woke slowly, the sterile scent of the hospital room giving away my surroundings before I even opened my eyes. The ache in my body from the fight reminded me of everything that had happened, but it was the warmth at my side that pulled me fully into consciousness. I shifted slightly and
"And one more thing." Kincaid dug through his pockets for a small box and offered it to me. Theodore went tense beside me. I looked at him wondering what his problem was only to find him glowering at Kincaid. Kincaid blinked and chuckled before offering it to Theodore. "Returning it on behalf of t
Theodore I looked at Violet. "What do you mean?" Tyron was still on the line, and no one else said anything, but I could all tell they had a lot to say. My mind wasn’t quiet. The thought was like a brewing storm in my head. Part of me knew what she was going to say, hated it, agreed with it, and
She didn’t flinch at my tone, just watched me with that calm, unyielding gaze of hers. “How do you go from talking about delicate balances and planning to flip the whole table?" She shook her head. "I know you're upset. I know you're running on a million and five instincts screaming at you, but I
Theodore I closed the door behind me, shaking my head at the absurdity of the situation, and searched for a bathroom with a shower. I was directed to the neighboring room. It was nice being able to feel Violet through the door. I showered quickly and stepped to find Tyron outside, looking as if
falling into step beside me as we headed down the hallway. “Owen’s been waiting for us for five hours, by the way.” I blinked, caught between surprise and amusement. “Five hours? Seriously?” Theodore shrugged, his tone entirely too casual. “He wanted to talk. Tyron told him he'd have to wait."
Violet Owen’s words landed but the look on his face told me he was still full of shit. I said nothing, trying to block out the twinging ache running through me. The pain meds were wearing off and I could feel myself getting irritated the longer I had to look at his stupid, lying face. I almost g
I dropped the trowel and frying pan next to the baseball and bat, shaking my head at this makeshift arsenal. “My baby is already too smart for its own good.”Bennett opened his mouth to respond, but he was interrupted when we were distracted by Theo suddenly vanishing into thin air. My cousin and I
Violet’s POV“Just try.”It didn’t matter how many times I explained to Bennett that Auntie had said the baby’s magic would sway my magic toward more innocent manifestations. He wasn’t convinced.Theo was on the other side of Marcy’s backyard, fists clenched, gaze unfocused, as he tried to complete
Theodore’s POVI was searching the archives’ computer for anything related to forehead bands when my phone rang. My phone screen showed, “Aunt Lillith”. Adding her to my contacts with the title of “aunt” was partially an affectionate and respectful decision, but mostly it was to avoid Eva’s wrath in
Violet’s POVPart of me wondered it not worrying Theo was an excuse. If the years with Lucas not being the partner I needed had subconsciously trained me to stay independent. To never lean on anyone, even temporarily, because they couldn’t be trusted to hold me up. Even still, Theo was right. So I
We pulled out of our kiss, my head dizzy with love and hope. We would find the answers we needed. We would find a future together.“You said there were answers to four questions.” I looked between the two of them, tallying the three they’d already shared. “What’s the fourth?”Violet thought for a mo
Theodore’s POV“Alari, please wake up!”I held Violet’s head in my lap, her jaw terrifyingly slack. I dared a glance at the High Priestess who had collapsed in a heap at the same time that Violet’s body had gone completely limp. “High Priestess?!”This wasn’t happening.I reached for my phone, thank
Theodore’s POVIn one breath, the love of my life laying still in the grass let out a gut-wrenching scream and the High Priestess dropped to her knees. I lunged for my wife but was thrown back by an invisible force. When I pulled myself upright, the High Priestess had a hand outstretched, clearly us
Auntie folded her hands in front of her. “Altrosis is an attempt to control magic enough to pin it down and examine it. One could more easily pin down the wind.”As if to illustrate her point, a cool breeze swept through the clearing, though not a hair on Auntie’s head swayed in its drift.“Magic is
Violet’s POVThe jungle outside the village my family lived in was beautiful. It was lush and alive, humming with magic like the air itself was breathing. I had only visited this village and its surrounding area a few times in my life, but I’d always made time to come stand among the ferns and frond