Page 116 of A Violet Obsession

“Callum,” Vincent barks again, sharper this time, already moving. Rhodes, too.

But Callum’s eyes are locked on Lily. His arm comes up, reaching toward her face like he means to touch it.

He’s saved my life more times than I can count, but I will still put him through that wall if his hand gets one inch closer to her.

“Màthair,“ Callum says—and then the six-foot-seven giant collapses on the floor.

41

LILY

It feels like chaos in slow motion.

The man is coming at me, and Finn is in front of me. People are shouting and chairs are going over, but all I can see is green.

Green eyes boring into mine like I’m the only thing in the room.

Then time catches up all at once.

My hands start to buzz.

People are trying to get the man down, trying to lay him out on his back, and he’s fighting them wildly, throwing punches, twisting to get up. The voices come in fragments.

Callum, what the fuck?

Chill out, brother.

Is he on something?

Finn’s shuffling me backward toward the door, putting himself between us the whole way, and my hands won’t stop buzzing. I can hear the man roaring as he throws off the hands trying to restrain him.

Go back. Go back. Go back.

I grab Finn’s arm. The whispers crest, a wave breaking over the inside of my skull, but they’ve changed.

Love. Love. Love. Love. Love.

One hand flies to my head as a wave of dizziness swamps me.

“Lily.” Finn’s face swims in front of me, alarmed. “Lily, what⁠—”

“Wee hen.”

My head snaps back toward the table as the words stand out from the other voices.

The man is on his feet, breathing hard.

Wee hen.

Sera is gaping at the commotion, then she slowly turns and stares hard at me.

“I knew it,” she breathes. “I knew you looked familiar.” She turns to the rest of them, pointing between my face and the man’s. “It’s the eyes. Look at their eyes.”

The giant’s face hardens. “They told me you were dead.”

I shake my head. I’ve never seen this man in my life; I’m sure of it. I wouldn’t have forgotten someone this size.

His face goes darker, but he’s in control of himself now. He looks around at the table, the fallen chairs, all of us staring.