Page 54 of Violet

“A what?” Liam, Bert, and Aldo all ask at the same time.

“Bless you, little dove,” Hugh says instead.

I’d laugh, but I feel too raw, too gutted, after reliving what happened.

“He calls himself a blood mage.” Violet chuckles. “Half witch, half—”

“Vampire,” Aldo says proudly.

“Yes, dear.” Violet gives his hand a squeeze.

I sneak a peek at Liam to see if he’s upset at the mention of my other mates, and he looks furious.

“Do you trust him? This blood mage?” he demands.

I nod.

“Then why isn’t he here?”

“I couldn’t reach him. I left my cell at the library, and Betty’s number was the only number I know by heart. She’s the one who gave me yours.”

“Do you have any other way of reaching him?” Liam asks.

“On Screech.”

“Then look him up and tell him to get down here.” He takes his phone out of his uniform pocket and shoves it at me.

I should be glad he’s okay with me having another mate, but it doesn’t matter. None of it matters when I have to leave.

“Violet...” Liam growls when I start to hand his phone back.

“There’s no point. It’s not safe, and I won’t risk all of you.”

“If you leave, I will follow,” Liam announces.

My eyes widen.

“I’ll come too,” Violet chimes in.

“And if our mate leaves, we go,” Bert adds.

The other two vampires nod.

“You can’t all go,” I cry. “They’ll find us!”

“Then you’ll just have to stay,” Violet says, like it’s the simplest thing in the world.

“Then they’ll definitely find us!”

“So let them.” Liam scowls. “We’ve got three vampires, a troll,” he pats his chest proudly, “and your wampitch.”

“Blood mage,” Aldo corrects.

I can’t help it. I smile.

“And we’ll call for backup,” Bert adds. “Cops we can trust.”

“Bert’s been on the force since before I was born,” Liam tells me. “He knows what he’s doing.”