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
Violet She didn’t even bother to hide her intention, her heels clicking purposefully against the marble as she approached the sink next to mine. “You know,” she began, her voice saccharine sweet, “you’re quite the bold one, stepping into a relationship so public with Theodore. You would think th
She took a step back, visibly rattled. Her hands trembled as she gripped the counter, trying to steady herself. “I…" "You can start with an apology." She set her jaw and turned to the door, but I heard it just as the door swung closed. "I'm sorry." "The offer stands," I said, loud enough f
Olivia’s smile returned, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “Yes, Shelter in particular seems to have sparked quite the debate. It’s rare to see something so… divisive. But that’s the beauty of the system, isn’t it? The law must be carefully considered before such changes are made.” She was careful
Violet I bit my lip, listening to the conversation rather than joining Theodore again. It was a beautifully worded question and the silence that followed the question spoke volumes. Victor stammered, unable to answer, but a reporter had a response. "Are you suggesting that all rogues should be k
“And so you're suggesting that we let murderers and thieves live among us?” Theodore shook his head. “I’m suggesting that we stop pretending exiling them makes us safe. That we acknowledge the role we play in creating the monsters we claim to fear and hate. We have to take responsibility for the m
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