Violet Eden Chapters 04 - Endless

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 haveto 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?’
    Hebrushed 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 …’
    William Blake
    L incolnleft me at Hades, disappearing to chase down yet another source. He’d been on a mission since we returned from Santorini, tracking down informants and lower-rank exiles all over the city in an attempt to learn more about Phoenix’s physical bond with me. And how to break it.
    I’d argued, like always. He’d been adamant nonetheless, like always.
    When I made it back to the warehouse, cross with myself for letting Lincoln insist on going off alone, Evelyn was sitting on the stairs outside the building.
    I wasn’t ready for this, but she clearly wasn’t going to go away and we’d have to have it out sooner or later. And once we arrived at the Academy we couldn’t trust that any of our conversations would be private. So I guess that left now or never.
    I walked past her and unlocked the door, leaving it open. She followed, closing it behind her.
    The coffee machine drew me like a magnet and I started to make two cups. Evelyn took her time joining me, looking aroundLincoln’s place with unsettling curiosity. I noticed her eyes linger on the blankets that were still draped over the sofa from last night and fix on the wall covered by the large drop-sheet.
    I fleetingly wondered if Lincoln had peeked but quickly discarded the thought. He wouldn’t.
    When Evelyn finally joined me, I handed her a latte.
    ‘Thanks,’ she said, stirring in a spoonful of sugar. ‘This is a great place. The light is amazing.’
    That it was. Lincoln’s warehouse had huge arched windows stretching the full height of a space that could easily accommodate another floor.
    ‘You should see it first thing in the morning,’ I said.
    ‘You stay here a lot, then?’
    I crossed my arms and leaned back against the kitchen bench, not about to go there. ‘Do you know who he is?’
    ‘Who?’
    ‘My angel maker. I know yours was Semangelof. I know you made the deal with mine, he told me. So , do you know who he is?’ Evelyn might have come to me but that didn’t mean I couldn’t ask my own questions.
    ‘Yes.’ She was irritatingly good at retaining the same neutral expression.
    Now we’re getting somewhere.
    ‘Well, who is he?’
    She took a sip of coffee. A stalling tactic. ‘It’s not for me to tell and better that you do not know. For now, anyway.’ She sighed and put her hands