Page 100 of A Violet Obsession

“Do you think it’s safe to eat?” Lily studies the bowl of stew.

“Should be. Tate still wants something from you.” I want to punch myself in the face when she pales.

I make a point to eat, happy when she finally picks up a spoon.

“We should sleep,” I say, as we finish the meal. She’s smothered a couple yawns, but her eyes are drooping.

I point to the far bed. “You take that one.”

Her eyes go to the closer bed, then back. I expect an argument, fully prepared to explain it’s just so I’m near the door. But Lily must be too tired to give me one. Without a word, she crawls under the covers, and Hera moves from her pillow throne to the foot of the mattress.

I make it ten minutes before I’m flipping back the blanket. I’m used to sleeping with her, and I won’t be able to without her.

Hera lifts her head, blinking at me like I’m late, and puts it back down. Lily freezes when I slide in next to her. I roll her onto her side, tucking her back into my chest before she argues, and drape a heavy arm over her waist, my hand curving over her belly to hold her warm body tight to mine.

She exhales a long, shaky breath.

I put my nose in her hair and close my eyes. The Transcendent’s cedar soap clings to her, but under it, she’s Lily.

“Shh,” I murmur when she speaks.

Of course, she ignores me. “Finn, I know you’re mad.”

Mad doesn’t touch it. I’m furious. Furious she didn’t run when I told her to. Furious she looked at the choice between her safety and my life and chose wrong.

More furious because I understand it. Because I’d have made the same decision if it had been her.

My arm tightens before I can stop it. “Don’t do that again,” I say into her hair, rough enough that it barely sounds like mine. “Promise me.”

She stays silent. I pull her closer.

“I know you’re mad at me, but thank you for still holding me,” she whispers.

I clutch her chin and tip her face back to press my lips to hers.

“It doesn’t matter if I’m angry or sad or happy. It’s all the same. I will never let you go, Butterfly. We belong to each other, and nothing on this earth could keep me from holding you.”

I feel wetness hit my arm where I’d moved it under her head, and I sigh, nuzzling deeper into her neck.

“It’s okay, baby.”

Her shoulders shake a little, and then she’s turning her face into my chest, sobbing against me. All I can do is hold her close and whisper nonsense, hoping to comfort her. Even one thing she’s been through in this last week will never happen to the average person. That she’s held it together so long is impressive.

When her breathing finally slows, I ask what has been bothering me since we left Tate.

“Why didn’t you tell me you had these premonitions?”

“How do you suggest I start that conversation? I hear voices in my head. What’s your party trick?”

I think about it for a second. “Fair enough.” I adjust her so that her head is on the inside of my shoulder. “Does it hurt? The buzzing.”

She doesn’t answer right away. “It doesn’t usually hurt. Normally, it’s like when your hand goes to sleep, and then the blood flow comes back. When I was little, I wasn’t afraid of the whispers. That’s what they sound like in my head. But ever since my parents died… Now they only bring bad news.”

My heart clenches. “Did they tell you about your parents?”

She nods.

“I’m so sorry, baby.” I pepper her head with kisses, trying to imagine what it must have been like for a fourteen-year-old waiting to be told news she already knew.