Page 48 of Violet

Liam jumps. Like, literally jumps. He slams his head into the roof of the car, leaving an honest-to-Chameleon dent, and then he gapes at me... like I’ve grown a second head—and not like he just hit his.

I think it takes him a few seconds to process. A few long seconds that I spend worrying he’ll freak out on me, the same way Nole did.

Assuming he didn’t already bring me here to murder me and bury my body.

“You’re a chameleon?” he finally asks.

I nod, almost afraid to breathe. I’d felt safe around my bear, well, safe-er anyway, and look what happened. Meanwhile, I still know next to nothing about Liam.

An endless moment passes.

Then, Liam’s handsome face suddenly breaks into a wide, happy grin.

It’s the first time I’ve seen the troll smile, and I find myself unable to look away. Liam’s gorgeous any day—even when he’s scowling—but when he’s happy... it’s like a duck turned into a swan.

Not that there’s anything bird-like about Liam—being a pigeon and blue jay shifter all in one day must have messed up my head. Either that or sitting in a small car with the giant Liam, knees almost touching, while I’m hyper aware of how close he is.

“Is this what you really look like, Violet?” he asks, his eyes roaming over me and slowly setting every inch of me on fire. “Is this the real you?”

All I can do is nod.

“You’re beautiful. Gorgeous. Perfect!” Liam proclaims. “I’m the luckiest troll alive.”

He kind of reminds me of his friend Bert, who dropped to his knees and recited poetry for Violet. So over-the-top romantic that it makes my cheeks flush.

Except how can I even be thinking about romance when Violet’s out there, possibly already dead... while I’m in here, sharing a swan-worthy—I mean, swoon worthy—moment with my mate?

“Is something the matter?” Liam seems to pick up on my change in mood almost immediately.

“Liam, I... I know this is a lot to ask, and we only just met... but I really need your help.”

“For you? Anything.” He doesn’t hesitate. Not for a second. Because he probably thinks I need him to grab a library book from one of the higher shelves, not risk his life to save Violet.

“This isn’t a small thing, Liam. And you can say no...” Though I really, really hope you won’t. Because if you do, there’s no one else I can turn to.

“I won’t say no,” Liam replies, almost like he can read my mind. “Do you know what it means to be a troll’s mate?”

I shake my head.

“It means I’m bound to you for life. Your servant, your slave, your lover, if you’ll have me. Whatever you want, my gorgeous Violet, name it and it’s yours.”

“Don’t say that. You don’t even know me!”

“Then I will dedicate my life to getting to know you. Starting now.”

He stares at me earnestly, and I realize that I believe him. And that I want him—not as a servant or slave, but as a lover, a friend, a mate. None of which I’ll ever have because there’s only one way I can possibly save Violet—by trading my life for hers.

“Tell me what else I can do for you, gorgeous.” Liam places a hand on my knee, and I fight to hold back tears.

“There are people after me.”

“I know.”

“You know?”

He nods. “There was someone watching your apartment. That’s why I asked you to meet me at Jewels Cafe.”

“Someone? Who? What did they look like?” Did one of them have blond hair, a long, narrow nose, and a scar above one eyebrow?