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“We both know she’s not on the list, and she can’t pass the test.” Violet could sense his confusion now. “Go on your way, Ms. Hawthorne. I can’t let either of you through. If Daniella needs something from outside, then she’ll have to send someone else until you finish your change.”
“I was kidnapped,” Violet cut in. “I’m from Frankston; my Dad’s Magnus Page, the mayor. I need to get home.”
He waved them off. Red moved to put the truck into drive, but Violet caught her hand.
“Wait,” she demanded, “what’s the test?”
“Ms. Haw—”
“Just show her,” Red demanded.
His jaw worked under his skin, but he leaned forward in the booth, and Violet watched his eyes turn gold banded then back to their regular dusky brown. “Your turn,” then a beat later, “Okay. Do I need to call for backup?”
“No, you’ve been a doll. We’re going, thank you.” This time Violet didn’t fight when Red put the truck into drive and turned them around.
“It’s not Mikel or me keeping you here,” she explained, her voice soft. “I hated Dani for the longest time. I left people behind too, but it’s done, and my life here is good.”
The loss, the fury at being so close again and getting turned back was still too thick to let Violet go. She didn’t respond, didn’t get out of the truck to help at the next two delivery stops. When Red got back in after the third, Violet finally spoke.
“Sorry, don’t mean to be a dick.”
Red was quick to pat her arm.
“No worries. It’s tough at first. I remember.”
Violet tried to offer her a smile. “How long have you been here?”
“Almost a year, dated Dani for two before that. Long distance,” she recalled with a smile. “I’m from New York. Wanted to finish culinary school before wemoved intogether.”
“You knew?” Violet couldn’t comprehend coming here willingly.
“Oh, hell no. Took me months to forgive her too, but they’re not like us. The fact that she waited at all—she really loves me. It took some work, but we’re happy.” Violet supposed the smile Red offered her was supposed to be reassuring. “What about Mikel? Girl, let me tell you, the entire town has not been able to shut up about him claiming someone. He keeps to himself in a big way, had some nice offers before, but he’s never been interested. Then you come along and wow.”
“I don’t even know him.” Yetoffersmade her hot and defensive somehow.
Red patted her thigh.
“It’s normal to be pissed. I was pissed with Dani in the beginning, and I loved her. He’s different with you,” Red mused, and Violet hated that part of her sat up to take note. “Anyone with eyes can see he’s gorgeous, and he’s like”—she waved a hand and searched for the word—“so intense and interested in you. He called me last night and asked me to bring you today. It was the most I’d ever heard him say. He wants you to be happy here.”
Violet didn’t have the emotional energy to figure out how she felt about that or the fact Red had apparently romanticized Mikel’s request.
“What did the guy at the exit mean about your finishing the change?” she asked instead.
Red blinked at her across the cab. “You’ve noticed the eyes, right?”
Violet nodded.
“After you mate, yours will be like this while your body gets used to the new DNA or whatever. Once you can control them like the guard did, you’ve got control of your perks too, and you’re done with the change. Then, you can get on the list to leave.”
“So, mating…” The word alone threatened to make her blush, but she reminded herself she was bigger, badder than that. “They have to what, bite you? Moonlit ritual? Another bow and arrow deal?”
Red laughed.
“Guess it’s not surprising Mikel hasn’t filled you in, since he doesn’t talk much. It’s fucking,” she said, unabashed. “The best fucking of your life.” She winked, and this time, Violet did blush. “Technically for them, it’s breeding, but no guarantees it’ll stick, obviously.” She gestured to herself. “He’ll breed you and mark you.”
They pulled into the parking lot of the same Starbucks Mikel had taken her to the previous night. “You like this, right?”
Violet’s brain was still stuck onbreedingandmarking, caught on Mikel’s voice, his breath hot on the back of her neck in the woods.“Tell me to mate you, Violet.”
