Violet “Just to clarify,” Theo started, coffee cup in hand as we walked toward the helicopter. “I get to choose whatever I want?” I chuckled. “Yes. Whatever you want.” “And you get to drag me through boutiques and make me try on suits?” “Yes,” I said sweetly. “Well, I’m going to take you to
“Just out in the open?” Theodore asked. “How… I mean. I am right, right?” “You are,” I said smiling. “Consider it a preview of what you could be getting away with.” He grinned, then his smile faltered. “That’s…. That’s why you thought with the stone…” I nodded. We walked through the bustling
Violet I laughed as he started to shake his finger at me. “You know I always had my doubts about you.” I grinned at him, embracing him tightly. “Hello, Master Remy. You know I’m always a little trouble, but never for you.” Master Remy shook his head, feigning exasperation as we pulled apar
“I… inherited a set. They’re first weapon I trained with.” My heart softened. I would bet that the dagger set was from his mother. I took note to look through the book catalog on magical dagger techniques for him. Master Remy grunted; his gaze intense. “Hmph. Loyalty. I hear that’s something the
Theodore It was odd to have this moment with Violet, after years of accepting that I didn’t really belong in this country, with anyone, of having walls and walls of secrets to have a gruff old man accept me as one of their own. I had so many questions, but I didn’t want to ruin the moment with the
I wanted to push for an answer, but I swallowed the urge. Elise had always been protective of me and her insights have always been on point. “I’ll be careful,” I promised. She smiled. “I don’t just mean your heart. I mean his, too.” My lips twitched at that, a bit of relief hit me hard and mad
Violet Theodore stiffened beside me, his hands stilling over a delicate satin piece he’d been looking at. I turned toward the voice, instinctively stepping closer to him. A man stood in the center of a small crowd of reporters, his gestures animated as he spoke into their microphones. “He hi
Victor cleared his throat before she could speak again. “We were just discussing your little project, Theodore,” Victor said, his tone carrying the weight of condescension. “Bold of you to push something so…radical.” “It’s not radical to give people a second chance,” Theodore replied. “Rogue
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