Chapter 419: Similar Positions
"You haven’t checked on Violet at all?" Graeme frowned. "Is she even alive?"
"Yes, yes. Of course she is. She has been taken food and water by the guards. But we haven’t sent anyone to evaluate her, and we have obviously been concerned with a host of other things. After what she pulled, she hasn’t exactly been high on the priority list," Greta growled.
"Well we can’t just let her rot in a cell," he muttered. "What if she is in need of medical attention?"
"Do you really care?" Greta scoffed in surprise. "She undermined everything you told the pack that day. She basically called you a liar and cheater in front of everyone. And not just at any time in pack history—in the face of a massive crisis. If everyone were to believe the vampire was a myth or some kind of elaborate scheme made up to manipulate them, that would be a huge problem. It would create discord and instability in the pack at a time when we need everyone—everyone!—to be at their strongest."
"That’s true, and I’m not happy about it, believe me," he growled.
"Well you’re definitely not angry enough about it," she replied, crossing her arms over her chest and accentuating the growing round of her stomach.
"She was a victim of something horrific that no one should go through, Greta. Her head would obviously be messed up after something like that," he told her. "She hasn’t dealt with it the right way, but..."
"Graeme, lots of people go through bad things. Lots of people are victims at one time or another, but that doesn’t mean they have the right to poison everyone around them, does it?" she asked, chest heaving with the intensity of this conviction she felt. She didn’t like what Violet had been through, and she definitely wouldn’t wish that on anyone. But that shouldn’t excuse her actions.
"She was wrong, but that doesn’t mean we neglect her," he said. "We are still her family, like it or not."
"We are her pack, like it or not. And a pack punishes those who step so far out of line that they put everyone else in jeopardy," she hissed. "When will she learn? She helped in setting August up when you were gone, and August could have been badly injured. What would the elders have done to her if you hadn’t returned when you did? Sam and I were locked up. We couldn’t help her. And August is not only your mate, she is our Luna. That is an assault on you and her as well as the rest of us."
"Violet will face punishment after she has healed—after she is well," he replied.
"She will never be well!" Greta roared. "How can you not see that?"
"Okay, children," Maggie said carefully, taking a step forward when she saw how this was escalating. Graeme’s lip had curled over his teeth with a snarl, and Sam had removed himself from within the vicinity of the siblings, having found himself in a complicated position where the brother of his mate who he would usually fight on her behalf was now his Alpha.
With Maggie’s calming energy approaching, Graeme licked his lips and swallowed back the threat that was rattling in his throat. Greta had a right to her opinion, and he valued it. But she also didn’t know when to stop.
"Violet will be attended to. End of discussion. Or do I need to remind you who is Alpha?" he asked, narrowing his eyes at his sister.
"I won’t be doing it," she huffed.
"I don’t care who does it, as long as it gets done. Whether she wanted that mate mark or not, Violet was tethered to that male, and now he has passed. She is also dealing with her injuries and the lack of her wolf to help her heal from them," he clarified. "I am sure Sylvia will be willing to check on her and see to her needs."
Greta turned and left the room without another word. It was her silent objection. Graeme had made his wishes known, and they would all abide by them. But if it were her, Violet would be experiencing more pain as a result of her actions rather than being fussed over.
Graeme watched his sister go and nodded to Sam’s silent question as to whether he could follow her. It was strange now watching Greta stomp off, because there was a cloud of rage following her that was visible to him now with the Veiled. The cloud left as she did, its dark tail lashing the room one last time before disappearing completely.
Graeme exhaled heavily and ran both of his hands through his hair before swinging them loosely at his sides.
"I’m sorry about that," he groaned. He had just reunited with Maggie, and within minutes she was already witnessing a fight with his sister.
"It is not the first argument I have seen you two in," she said with a small smile.
"Oh, I’m sure," he chuckled. "Maggie, do you suppose it is possible that Violet would have gotten a portion of the male’s powers when he marked her?" he asked, the possibility niggling at his thoughts.
Something told him this wasn’t over. It couldn’t be over so quickly. There was something about that Cassian that lingered. Perhaps if he visited Violet, he would be able to tell.
"I honestly wouldn’t know. Alyko do not mark their mates, because they do not have mates in that sense," she said before her eyes dropped to the very visible mark on Graeme’s neck. "Oh well, perhaps except for your mate."
"Do fae have mates?" he asked, wondering if there was a difference.
"No," she shook her head. "No, not like that. I suppose if there were anyone to answer your question, it would be you. Perhaps you and Violet are in... similar positions with regard to being marked by someone fae-like."
"I hadn’t thought about it like that. Perhaps I should visit her. Although, I would really prefer to stay as far away from her as possible after everything that has transpired. She accused me of sharing her bed in front of the whole pack," he told her, his eyes lifting shyly to find hers. The expression was not unlike the pup she remembered.
"I will go with you, if you like," Maggie smiled.
