Her Strength

Treason

Cronan’s POV

Zechariah and Violet had both disappeared.

    His disappearance wasn’t unsettling but Violet’s had my stomach in knots.

    I couldn’t hear her.

    Couldn’t feel her.

    “You’re linked.  You should be able to find her, right?”  It was Cliff, a glimmer of hope in his dark eyes.  I didn’t know what to tell him, didn’t know how to explain that his daughter was . . . different.  Inhuman.  How do you tell a father that their child isn’t normal?

    I’d already readjusted the rest of the family’s memories.

    Made the necessary changes to ensure panic didn’t ensue at her disappearance.

    They’d think that Violet took on a scholarship opportunity overseas.

    I had an in for a prestigious university and since she’d already had all of her mandatory high school credits complete, we’d managed to get her early acceptance into Stanford University.  With a four percent acceptance rate and a ninety-seven percent graduation rate, that’s too amazing of an opportunity to pass up.

    And so she’s settling in, preparing herself for her first semester.

    I’d made sure to add a tearful goodbye at the airport to her mother’s memory just for an extra touch of authenticity.  I’d even visited her friends, her school—it’s easy to make problems disappear when you’re a Pureblood.  The only problem was that I would have to maintain her family’s memories, make sure to diffuse any further confusion about her whereabouts by inputting phone call conversations, even face-times if need be.

    Cliff wasn’t happy with the readjustments I’d made but he’d gone along with it but what else could we do?  There was no way Olivia and Theo wouldn’t immediately notice that something was amiss if we hadn’t given a solid story.  An extraordinary one.

    “Do you even know someone at Stanford University?” Cliff had grumbled.

    “Yes,” I shrugged.  “Though I wouldn’t need to.”

    Cliff narrowed his eyes, huffing on yet another cancer stick.

    Cigarette after cigarette, coffee after coffee—I was surprised the man hadn’t had a heart attack yet with habits like these.  Then again, maybe the habits were what kept him standing.  A crutch he could lean on when everything was going sideways.

    Addictions are a human thing.

    Linked to emotions, brought on by personal trauma.

    A Pureblood doesn’t need a crutch.  Shouldn’t.

    Still, I suddenly wished I had a bad habit to fall on.

    Something to ease the ugly feeling in my chest, the unbearable hunger.

    I needed something to fall back on.  A comfort.

    One that didn’t remind me of Violet, of what was missing from me.

    Rubbing his palms over his face, Cliff asked, “What’s the likelihood that it’s the same group?”

    “It’s a zero percent chance that the VAP was involved,” I said, rocking back on my heels.  It was hard to believe that Violet would run from me, especially with my child growing in her womb, but I couldn’t stop replaying the scene with Zechariah.  My most trusted guard.  My only true ally.  Betrayal burned in the pit of my stomach, fueling the inevitable rage, but I maintained a calm demeanor.  “I’ll find her.”

    “As a Royal, don’t you have unlimited resources?” Cliff asked, thumping the cigarette pack on his palm, prepping the next cigarette.

    There’s a limitation to everything.  “I’ll find her,” I repeated, narrowing my eyes.  “Just maintain the façade here until I do.”

    He pinched the bridge of his nose, letting out a sigh of smoke.  “Great.”  His sarcasm was dry and I could tell at a glance that he had the beginnings of a nasty migraine.  “What about your father?”

    “My father is the least of my worries,” I admitted, averting my gaze.  I didn’t want to talk to him about the Kings.  The conference.  How problematic it could become if they found out my missing bond was pregnant.  It wouldn’t matter to them if there wasn’t a Royal Pureblood growing inside her womb but now, away from me, outside of their “control”—the child could be viewed as a potential threat.

    Rogue Purebloods are more than frowned upon in our society.

    A Rogue Royal?  Unheard of.

    If Violet isn’t found prior to the birth of our child, her actions would be considered treason and the penalty for running from the crown would be death.

    Holding out a burner phone to Cliff, I said, “There’s one number saved in it.  Call it if you need anything.”

    Cliff glared at the phone, eyes narrowing as they moved up to mine.  He tried to look angry but all I could see in his expression was exhaustion.  Snatching the phone, he slumped back in his chair with a long, drawn out sigh.  “Find her quick, kid, and bring her home.”

    Home.

    She has a home.  A family.  People who care.

    Why would she choose to leave that?

    I never planned on making her leave that.

    With the dip of my chin in a slight nod, I turned my back to him and left the Blackwell household.  I would have to report to my father for the conference, stand in the same room despite what had very nearly happened.  I'd have no choice.  My absence would raise questions, questions I can't answer.

    Getting into my car, I started her up and began the drive back, really hitting the gas, I was almost immediately stopped at a red light a few blocks down.  It’s always like that.  Any time I’m in a rush, it seems like every light is red, every corner adorned with a stop sign.  Gripping the steering wheel tightly, my jaw clenched, shoulders stiff, I noticed a movement in the corner of my eyes and turned to find a girl swinging slowly on a playground, her knees bloodied.

     I could smell it.

    Blood.

    Even from all the way over here, inside of the car.

    My eyes flashed silver, mouth filling with saliva.

    Hunger.

    It was sudden, distracting—

    A loud honk.

    Snapping my eyes forward, I hit the gas, noticing that the light had changed to green.

    Shaking off the hunger, I wondered what that was.  Didn't I just feed this morning?