‘Should we get some fresh air?’ she asked, gesturing to a side door.
I nodded, following her outside onto a large covered balcony, its floor littered with pot plants and its ceiling overhung with trailing ivy. We walked to the railing, and looked out over the bustling Manhattan streets.
‘I’m sure you’ve heard the rumours, and I thought we should talk,’ she said.
‘It isn’t necessary,’ I replied.
What do you want me to say? ‘Yes, I’ve heard you’ve grown close to my soulmate. I wish you both the best.’
‘Josephine pushed us to consider being partners but I think she knew that Lincoln would never be interested, and that I was still grieving for Hiro and not ready.’
I nodded, feeling terrible for her loss. ‘Mia, you don’t need to explain this to me.’
‘But I do,’ she said, her tone now adamant. ‘I care about Lincoln, a lot. We’ve grown close and I think he liked that I was separate from all … your mutual friends. I think he was able to relax a bit with me.’
‘I get it,’ I said quickly, hoping she would stop speaking soon. Even with my emotions locked down this was becoming too much.
‘No, you don’t. I know there are rumours that we’re together. Lincoln knows too. But there has never been anything like that between us. I mean, I admit there was a time I might’ve had a bit of a crush on him, but that was years ago. Way before you came along.’
I looked up to see Mia’s sincere expression.
She shrugged. ‘We don’t want to be partners. Lincoln would never consider it even if I could. He already has a partner and in his eyes that has never changed. But he didn’t want to keep explaining to people why he made the choices he did. People watched him and doubted his strength because they only saw him as the Grigori who lost his soulmate and wouldn’t let her go.’
I swallowed the lump in my throat.
‘Violet, he just figured that if people thought—’
‘That you two were together it would solve both problems,’ I finished for her.
She nodded, looking relieved. ‘Yeah. But we never added to the rumours or did anything to start them. We just agreed not to stop them.’
I rubbed my face, exhausted. Lincoln had used a mask relationship with Mia in much the same way I had with Gray. I could understand that. It was a survival issue.
‘Actually,’ Mia said, sounding sheepish. ‘I kind of like someone else.’
I raised my eyebrows. ‘Anyone I know?’
‘As a matter of fact, yes,’ she said, biting her lip.
I thought of her reaction to finding out Spence was still alive, and the careful way she had watched over everything to do with his rescue. I’d assumed it was to stick close to Lincoln, but …
‘Spence?’ I asked, my voice high.
She nodded, smiling. ‘I’d very much like to get him back soon. That’s the other reason I wanted to talk to you.’
Instantly, I knew what she wanted. Academy rules stated that partnerless Grigori were not permitted on missions. It had been the bane of Spence’s existence until I’d come along. But once Griffin knew I could heal him, Spence had been allowed to play his part.
I wondered fleetingly if Dapper had given some kind of assurance to the Assembly that he would heal Lincoln in my absence and if that was why he hadn’t been prevented from pursuing his role. I suspected, however, that it was more likely some arrangement he’d struck with Josephine.
I looked at Mia, her feelings for Spence now painted on her face. And though it was selfish, I couldn’t deny the relief I felt that they were not for Lincoln. She wanted to be there to get Spence back.
‘Get your stuff together and be on the plane.’
She nodded warily. ‘They won’t be happy.’
I half grinned. ‘Story of my life. I can heal you as well as any partner can. If you’re willing to endure the pain of being healed by me, I’ll be there to do it. As far as I’m concerned that solves the problem. I’ll see you at the airport.’
She threw her arms around me quickly before backing away, to my relief. ‘Thank you, Violet. And … I’m glad you’re here. For both of them.’
I looked beyond her, to the surrounding buildings. ‘I’m not staying,’ I said, not quite sure who I was trying to convince any more.
‘Well, you should. They both love you, and so do other people here. And love is worth fighting for.’
I glanced at her briefly before heading for the door. She didn’t realise that I did fight for it. Every day. I fought myself.
But then she surprised me. ‘And other times …’ she called out behind me. ‘It’s worth giving in.’
An hour later, Steph and I sat across from Onyx and Dapper in their apartment above Ascension. My flight was leaving soon and my bad feeling had already taken off. Everything was about to change, I just had no idea how much.