Violet Forsythe has been through hell.
Her entire family is dead, her daywalker best friend hates her guts, and her vampire boyfriend is giving her the silent treatment all the way from Italy.
But Violet is anything but a quitter, and she has a few...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"I have no idea why I'm not dead yet," I snickered into the spine of my book.
"You actually took my advice for once and watched your tongue," Afton said, without glancing up from his.
We were huddled up in the library, reading and catching up - mostly reading, thus far. It had been about a week since my inquest and I was still baffled by the whole experience.
"I don't understand. What did I do?" I asked. "I didn't even get a slap on the wrist!"
"Hm," Afton mused. "Maybe it was because you didn't laugh in anyone's face for once. Or insult anyone. Or try to beat anyone up."
"Ha. Ha," I said sarcastically. "Maybe you were onto something about dialing the attitude back. But it's still strange."
"The masters always have their reasons."
"I hope they don't expect me to call them that," I scoffed.
Afton glanced up at me and gave me a playfully annoyed look.
"Just be thankful that you got to live to see another day," he lectured.
"Why do you always remind me of a sixty year old English teacher?" I snickered.
"I assume most of your life experiences were obtained through a television box. Your sentiment on the matter doesn't mean much," Afton said loftily.
"Ouch!" I laughed. "Burn!"
Afton gave me a smug look before returning to his book.
"Now, hold your horses, there," I said, shoving my hand in front of his page. "I still have some questions for you."
"I assure you, I don't know any more than you do."
"That's...the worst lie..." I said slowly.
"I don't know much," he amended.
"Did Demetri get in trouble?" I asked, lowering my voice. "You know. About the whole lighter thing?"
"I don't know," Afton stated plainly.
"You know everything, you liar," I pouted.
"Why don't you ask him? I'm sure he would much rather speak to you than me anyway."
"I haven't seen him," I sniffed. "Is he okay?"
"He's fine. Do you want to know how Alec is doing?" he asked, his tone layered with judgement.
"Why are you assuming that I haven't seen him?"
"Well..." Afton trailed off.
"Exactly," I said with a smirk. "So, no. I don't care. Nor do I care about Jane, who I haven't seen either - thank God. But that doesn't change the fact that I have no idea what's going on around here."
"Nothing is going on. You worry too much," he said reassuringly.
His tone was too tepid.
"Is he avoiding me?" I pressed.
"Who?"
I gave him a glare and didn't humor him with a verbal response.
"I don't know, Violet. I don't think Demetri is avoiding you. We've had some important matters to attend to–"
"We?" I asked quickly.
Had Afton been holding out on me?
"We, as in the coven. Not me specifically."
"Oh. So he's just been working?"
"Would you like me to tell him that you're asking about him?" Afton asked humorously.
"Oh, GOD no!" I balked. "I don't want him to think I'm–"
"A teenager?" he snickered.
"No," I said, crossing my arms.
"A high schooler?"
"No!" I exclaimed. "I'm eighteen, anyway! Ugh!"
Afton burst out into laughter.
"That's not funny," I said defensively.
"I'm not judging," he said, totally judging.
"What? Are you going to tell me a story about how back in your day most people didn't even live until eighteen?" I asked sarcastically.
"Life expectancy was low, but not that low," he said, side stepping my jab.
"I am so sure," I giggled.
"So, how are things with Demetri anyway?" Afton asked. "Considering you never actually told me you two were together in the first place."
"I did!"
"After it became glaringly obvious," he said, raising his eyebrows at me.
"Sorry," I huffed. "I wasn't in the mood for a lecture."
"Because I warned you against him," he said with a clipped tone.
"Why?" I asked defiantly.
"Because Demetri is going through life at a hundred miles an hour."
"Okay? And?" I encouraged him to continue impatiently.
"You typically run more at a fifteen."
"Fifteen? What the hell is that supposed to mean?" I demanded.
"He's fast, Vi."
"Oh, my God," I groaned. "I'm so not a fifteen miles an hour kind of girl."
"You freaked out about the Yule Ball," Afton pointed out.
"Yeah, because that was totally messed up."
Afton looked at me knowingly.
"I have a body count, thank you very much."
"Sure, but..." he began.
"What?"
"You're just...a little green. And he's... You get so bent out of shape every time someone dies," Afton observed.
"I don't see where you're going with this," I said flatly.
"Demetri is a heavy. Most of his duties involve intimidation and executions."
I frowned, displeased because he had a point.
"See?" Afton smirked.
"I'm not– you make me sound like such a prude!"
"There's nothing wrong with being a prude. It's just...unwise to spend as much time with someone like Demetri as you are. Or, questionable, rather. It's interesting that you chose him, of all people."
"Or is it 'interesting' that he chose me?" I asked, miffed.
"A little bit of column A, a little bit of column B," Afton said.
'Were Demetri and I that unbelievable?' I wondered, concerned and - let's be real - offended.
"Well, opposites attract, I guess," I said hotly. "We're great together."
"Things are going well?" he asked, not fully convinced.
"Yeeeeeesss."
"Even after the Yule Ball?"
"Uh, yeah. We're all good. Match made in heaven."
"If you insist," he chuckled.
"I do insist," I replied, hoping he wouldn't sense my bluff.
'Oh, I'll show him,' I thought indignantly. 'Interesting match, my ass.'
