Salvatore nodded and seemed enthused by his mission. I could see it had more to do with being entrusted with such a responsibility than anything to do with body-guarding Steph. From across the room I could see Steph biting her nails anxiously as she also assessed his reaction.
‘It would be my honour. Although, I am concerned to be separating from my partner,’ he said, looking at Zoe.
Griffin nodded, happy with Salvatore’s reaction. ‘Good man.’ He turned to Zoe. ‘The choice is yours to make.’
Zoe was no fool. Separating partners is never ideal, but if Salvatore was with Dapper that meant he could heal him if needed and if Zoe stayed with me, I could offer the same reassurance to her. That said, there was always a danger of being separated from one another, especially given my tendency to find trouble.
Zoe pondered her options. When she looked up, it was with resolve. ‘We all need to be where we are needed most right now. If Salvatore escorts Dapper’s crew, then I’m not needed there. As long as Sal’s okay with it, I’ll go to New York.’
Salvatore nodded. ‘And we’ll meet you there as soon as we have the potion.’
When Dad and Evelyn arrived later in the day, I didn’t know where to look. It was obvious to see there had been a change. Dad was walking closer to Evelyn, more protectively than he had been before, and they both looked tired, as if they’d been up all night talking.
Lincoln, who was sitting beside me, settled his gaze directly on Dad and didn’t move his eyes away. I nudged him a couple of times, but he ignored me.
I felt my phone buzz with a message while Dad made a feeble attempt to encourage everyone to stay until after my graduation, but even he knew it was useless.
Evelyn was happy with the progress Dapper had made in finding exactly what the components of Qeres were, but she maintained the potion would be useless without the mysterious thirteenth ingredient.
While they pondered options, I pulled my phone out of my jeans pocket and checked my messages.
I know what you’re planning, lover.
I’ll be seeing you soon.
I sighed and passed my phone to Lincoln, who tensed, before passing it on to Griffin.
‘What is it?’ Dad asked.
‘It’s a text from Phoenix. He knows we’re coming,’ I said calmly, still not making eye contact.
Griffin studied the screen and looked confused. ‘It doesn’t make any sense. He’d know the message wouldn’t serve him. All it does is inform us that exiles are tracking our movements.’ He settled his gaze on me until I began to squirm in my chair, then sighed. ‘His motivations are often twisted when it comes to you.’
You can say that again.
‘We leave in three hours,’ Griffin said, ending the meetings for the day. He turned his attention back to Dapper to discuss logistics.
‘He needs a new partner,’ I said to Lincoln as I watched them walk away. ‘He carries too much on his shoulders.’
Lincoln nodded. ‘He’ll get one, when he’s ready. Until then, he has us.’ But Lincoln wasn’t watching Griffin. His eyes were fixed on Dad, who was coming towards us.
Lincoln cut him off before he had a chance to speak.
‘It’s bad enough that you’ve barely been there since she was born. Bad enough that she’s had to endure things no one should have to endure. But to hit your own daughter is unacceptable. When we get back from New York, Violet will be staying with me until she decides otherwise.’
My mouth gaped.
Who is this guy and what has he done with the calm controlled Lincoln I know so well?
‘Violet?’ Dad said, looking both furious and hurt.
I bit my lower lip. Dad and I avoided confronting conversations as a firm rule. But I’d spent my whole life excusing his actions. And as crazy as what Lincoln had just said was, and as much as I knew he’d probably take it all back in about two minutes, I also knew I’d never be able to live with Evelyn even if I could forgive Dad.
‘It’s better this way, Dad. For all of us.’
Uh, sweet little lies.
Exactly how long would Lincoln and I be able to live together before it all became unbearable?
‘Violet, I need to apologise, please.’
‘No you don’t. I get it, I do. But right now I just can’t come second to her – so just give me some space, okay?’
He eventually nodded but his brow furrowed. ‘You don’t come second.’
I looked between him and Evelyn, who had been standing by, silently watching our exchange.
‘Of course I do. I always have.’
Lincoln stayed by my side as I left Hades. I didn’t speak to him until we hit the street. ‘Now you’ve landed yourself in it.’
‘It was only a matter of time, anyway.’
I paused on the footpath. ‘How do you figure that?’
He brushed his finger along my forehead, picking up the stray wisps of hair and pushing them back. ‘Haven’t you noticed how that pain is significantly less when we’re together for extended periods of time?’ He shrugged, as if that somehow explained everything.
I wasn’t so sure.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
‘It is easier to forgive an enemy …’