The air shifted instantly and every muscle in the room went rigid, especially Violet’s. She was certain she hadn’t told the witch her na.
Her voice was taut, eyes narrowing to sharp slits. "What did you just say?"
The once-timid Janice now wore an unsettling smirk. "You heard , Violet."
She dragged out the na intentionally, savoring it. Then her lips curved wider, her voice dipping to a mocking purr. "Father says hi."
The words landed like poison and Violet’s chest tightened, fury rushing in to fill the space. She moved without thinking, her palm shooting forward as a raw surge of power exploded from it.
The blast struck Janice dead-on. The witch flew backward, hitting the wall with bone-jarring force. Stone and plaster shattered, collapsing outward in a cloud of dust and debris. The crack of impact reverberated down the corridor, leaving a jagged, gaping hole where the wall had stood.
Violet crossed the wreckage in two strides and burst into the corridor but Janice had already vanished.
"Where did she go?" she demanded to no one in particular, scanning both ends frantically.
Griffin and Roman were at her side, their heads lifting, and their nostrils flaring as they sniffed the air.
"She’s gone," Roman said with a clipped voice. His eyes glowed an unnatural green as his wolf sight searched farther ahead.
Almost at the sa mont, the Nova assigned to escort the witch back appeared at the far end of the hall. She froze at the sight of the destroyed wall, her jaw dropping. "What in the world—"
She didn’t get the chance to finish because Griffin’s eyes flashed amber, and in the blink of an eye he was in front of her, one hand around her throat as he lifted her clean off the ground.
"Where is she?!" he thundered.
"Wh-who?" the Nova gasped, her legs kicking frantically.
"The witch you sent here!" Griffin’s voice was a growl edged with fury.
"I—I don’t know..." she wheezed, desperation plain in her eyes.
"Don’t play gas with !" His grip tightened.
"Griffin!" Violet called his na. "She’s telling the truth."
Griffin released her instantly and The Nova fell to the floor, coughing and rubbing her bruised neck.
"Go. Get Moonmother Thessara, now." Griffin ordered.
The young Nova didn’t wait to be told twice, and bolted.
Violet turned to him. "Whoever that was, I don’t think any of them knew her."
"You’re saying the witch was working alone?" Griffin asked, disbelief flickering across his features.
"Father says hi," Roman said quietly, repeating the words Janice had left behind.
Violet’s jaw tightened. "Angus."
Roman and Griffin exchanged a troubled look at the ntion of that na.
"How did he even find you here?" Griffin asked.
"The seal over my power is gone. Maybe we weren’t as careful as we thought." Violet answered, running a hand through her hair.
"So, he sends a witch to...what? Drop a ssage?" Roman’s brows furrowed, his voice thick with confusion.
Violet shook her head. "I think it was more than that. I can’t shake the feeling she was testing my magic. She could have attacked but she didn’t. Instead, she took my strike instead." Her voice went up a notch, a dangerous heat lacing her words. "And I hope that was enough of a taste to burn in her mory."
The air between them was taut when the sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor. Mother Thessara ca into view only to freeze at the sight of the wrecked quarters.
"I told you not to draw any—"
She didn’t finish because Griffin was already in front of her, his towering fra casting her in shadow, his voice a deep, rumbling threat.
"Did you even investigate the witch you brought here?"
"W-what?" Thessara’s composure cracked, her breath faltering under the oppressive weight of his Alpha authority.
"The witch you sent here ca after my mate!" His growl rumbled through the hall.
Thessara’s eyes widened, darting to Violet—she was unhard, thank the goddess—before flicking back to Griffin. "I had no idea. I contacted her in secret based on a recomndation, nothing more."
She hesitated, then muttered with a bitter edge, "This is why witches can’t be trusted. I warned you and yet—"
Her words died off under the sharp glare Griffin leveled at her, and she didn’t need to be told that the next sentence might cost her.
"I need everything you know about that witch, especially where she lives. I’m going to track her." Griffin told her.
Violet stepped in imdiately. "You can’t go after her alone. It’s dangerous."
"Who said anything about going alone?" Griffin turned and hooked his finger at the young Nova lingering by the corridor wall. The blood drained from her face as if he’d just signed her death warrant.
She gulped. "I... I can’t—"
"Oh, You can," Griffin said flatly. "And you will."
Violet still was not comfortable with the idea and reminded him. "She’s a witch."
"I’ll rip her throat out before she even thinks about summoning a spell." His tone left no room for doubt. Then he added, "Besides, Angus is after you, not . That’s why Roman will keep you safe until I’m back."
Roman nodded once. "Fine, be careful. To ensure Violet doesn’t die from worry, I’ll keep an eye on you."
As if to punctuate his words, a shadow streaked from the trees outside. A black bird swooped down, talons clicking lightly against Griffin’s shoulder before it climbed to perch on his back.
"He’ll be my eyes and ears," Roman said, the corner of his mouth twitching.
Griffin glanced over his shoulder at the bird, then back at Roman. "Bird surveillance, super chill."
Finally, his amber eyes locked on the trembling Nova. "Let’s go."
She hesitated long enough for Griffin to tilt his head in silent warning and that was all it took for her to follow him.
"Ensure my mate’s comfortable." That was the last instruction he gave Thessara and left.
anwhile, Violet watched them disappear down the corridor, her gut twisting. How did they go from having a great ti together to this?
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