Page 40

“As opposed to your security protocol, which involves sneaking off without your guard detail,” I say pointedly.

Lexi scowls. “Is this about the cabin because Andy already lectured me?”

“She stole my thunder.”

“We’ve gone there before, and no one knew,” she argues.

“Actually, I was just letting you have a couple stolen nights, but I’ve known all along,” I tell her smugly.

She sticks out her tongue.

Violet watches our exchange and then leans across Lexi, pretending to whisper to me, “Lexi has never been sneaky a day in her life. Just so you know. But we let her think she is.”

I can’t help but laugh at that. “You clearly know her well.”

“And as for you.” Violet turns to her with the patient expression of someone who has had this conversation several times. “I have been around awful men my whole life. I know how to be careful.”

“You’re human,” Lexi says. “You’ve been around awful human men. With shifters, you’re breakable in ways that⁠—”

“Everyone is breakable,” Violet interrupts sharply.

And for a split second, her sunny smile is replaced by an expression clouded with frustration and more fear than I realized lurked beneath her friendly exterior. But then she blinks, and the sunshine is back.

“You’re right, it’s a spectrum,” Lexi agrees. “And your risk is on the high end of it.”

Violet considers this with genuine thoughtfulness rather than dismissiveness, which tells me she understands Lexi’s fear even if she does seem a little starstruck about the existence of shifters.

“Okay,” she says. “You’re worried, and that’s fair, considering. But I’m going insane in there. I’ve reorganized my room twice, read four books, had seventeen conversations with Elena about her herb garden⁠—”

“You talked to Elena voluntarily?” I ask.

“She's fascinating! Did you know she once managed three separate estates simultaneously and still found time to assist Franco in his interrogations?”

“You know what, I’m actually not surprised about any of the words you just said.” I shudder.

Violet grins. “She’s such a badass.”

“Totally.” I wouldn’t have picked that word specifically, but sure. “Listen, I need to steal Lexi for a few minutes,” I say. “Pack business.”

Violet waves a hand magnanimously. “Go. Save the city. I’ll be here.” She looks at Lexi pointedly, who has already opened her mouth to argue.

“If she’s somehow made friends with Elena, she’s tougher than she looks,” I tell Lexi with real conviction. “Look.” I snap my fingers to get Razor’s attention as he passes on the outer sidewalk. “Hey, Razor.” He looks over the hedge line, and I note the dark circles under his eyes before remembering he was assigned night shift and is probably just coming in from patrols. Shit. “You know what, never mind.”

“What’s up?” He sees Violet, and something in him becomes more alert. He picks up the pace and rounds the hedge. “What do you need?”

“Can you find someone to sit with Violet so she can soak up some sunshine while I meet with Lexi?”

“I’ll do it.”

“You don’t have to,” I tell him. “I know you just pulled night shift.”

“I’m fine,” he says, and the look he shoots me dares me to argue.

All right then.

“Great. We won’t be long.”

“Take all the time you need,” he says and shoots me some weird pointed look that is so obvious I almost laugh.