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"What did you see?" I ask, my voice rising. Morrow is still gasping. I push my blade into Brillian's throat. "What did you do?"
Brillian laughs, the sound sinister. "Why, I hid them where no one would dare go find them, of course."
"Where?" Tulip asks, striding forward. "Where did you put them?"
"Riosia Island," Morrow gasps, trying to regain his composure after such a strong display of magic.
"What's Riosia Island?" Tulip asks, her brow furrowed.
I look into Brillian's eyes, his cocky smile stretching across his face as he answers Tulip. "Why, the Isle of Beasts, of course. Did you not learn of the place where fae banish their most dangerous creatures? The island where no one, human or fae, has ever lived because it is overrun by the most horrific monsters you can imagine?"
"Morrow, did you see where he put it on the island?" I ask my friend.
He shakes his head, wiping sweat from his brow. "He wrapped it in a vine and then sent the vine to grow. It could be anywhere on the island now."
"Then you are of no use to me anymore," I say to the fae as Idrag the blade across his throat.
The blood sprays and then pools, his head sagging.
I've seen Viola do it a few times, but I'm surprised at how little resistance the flesh gave me. I watch as it drips, unable to look away, and my companions stare silently at me. A voice jogs me out of my bloodlust.
"Oh, my love, you didn't have to get me a present."
Chapter 14
Viola
Mace spins around, his eyes wild as he looks at me with rapt attention. Blood covers him, smudged on his cheeks, and a stained blade with a glimmering green gem in the hilt still clutched in his long fingers.
He is a beautiful nightmare.
And he is mine.
I take three steps towards him into the home that is crawling with plant life and Spring magic. The smell of blood in the room overpowers everything and spins my head as it calls to me, beckoning me for a taste. Instead of giving in, I wrap my hand around Mace's neck, pull him towards me, and kiss him, pushing every emotion I've felt for him since I left his side into his mouth with my own.
He groans low in his chest and wraps his arms around me, pulling me flush to his hard body and deepening the kiss. "You fucking left me," he says, pulling away from me. "After everything. After all we said, all the promises we made. You fucking left me." I would be an idiot to miss the hurt in his voice, the echo of the words in the chasm of his emotions caused by me.
"I did," I say simply, pulling back from his arms to look him in the eye. "I got the informationI needed and more. I got so much more. It was worth it. But I am so sorry I left you." I look at Plume, Morrow, and Tulip, all of whom are staring at me with a mix of relief and anger. "I am sorry I left all of you. I was never in any danger, but it still was not enjoyable. But I'm glad I went, and I don't regret it."
"Lola, how can you say that? They trapped you there, didn't they?" Tulip says, approaching me and grabbing my hand. "How could you leave us?"
"I got the journal, Tulip." I look at Mace, his eyes wide in shock. "Well, I didn't get it, actually."
Zeph steps forward from where he had been standing, unnoticed, in a corner. "I did."
Four sets of furious eyes whip towards Zeph, who has his hands crossed in front of him. He isn't making eye contact with any of them, instead, looking at me under his lashes with his head slightly downcast.
Tulip drops my hand. "You broughthimhere?" She steps back, stumbling into Morrow's arms. "How could you, Viola?"
"It was the best decision," I respond simply. I beckon Zeph closer to me, and he takes a step further into the home. Mace moves in front of me, blocking me from him.
"Brother," he sneers. "What are you doing here?"
"I go where she goes," Zeph answers softly.
"You are delusional, brother. Viola does not love you. You will never be with her," Mace scrubs his face with his bloody hand, unnoticing as he smears the gore across his paleflesh. "How are you still so deranged to think this will end well for you?"
Zeph winces, rubbing one arm with his hand. "I deserve that. But make no mistake, I am not here because I am in love with Viola. I am not in love with her at all."
