Chapter 114

Violet

I excused myself to the bathroom while Theodore conferred with the lawyers. The marble floors of the court’s lavish corridors restroom echoed with each step I took. The moment I pushed open the door, I was surprised to find Owen’s wife standing there, pretending to fix her lipstick in the mirror.

I used the bathroom, planning to ignore her, but as she remained in the bathroom and really had no reason to be on premise, I knew she was here on some sort of mission. I stepped out and went to the sink.

She turned, offering a saccharine smile. “Violet, how lovely to run into you.”

I met her gaze in the mirror, unimpressed. “Drop the act. It’s unbecoming.”

Her smile tightened. “You’re as rude as ever.” She turned to fully face me, eyes sharp. “You embarrassed me at the Vainthott tea, humiliated me, and you don't even have the decency to be cordial?"

I scoffed. “It must be hard blaming everyone else, Your Highness. You and His Majesty, Alpha Reed and his girlfriend inserted yourselves into a private event. The results were simply the consequences of your own actions.”

Her nostrils flared. “You--"

"I understand you are in a difficult position," I continued, meeting her gaze. "You're married to the alpha king and have no political power of your own. Our country is not progressive and your husband is several degrees than his father." Her eyes widened. "I would offer you… sanctuary, help if I believed you would take it." I narrowed my eyes. "Or that I had reason to trust that you would not try to double cross me for your own ends."

She seemed stunned, but it ended quickly as I expected. She might be chained to Owen, but she enjoyed the importance of her position. They might be unhappy as a couple, but she was happy being queen.

She turned to me as I washed my hands and pulled out my own lipstick, reapplying the pink tone and getting ready to leave.

She stepped forward, her voice lowering into something almost sickly sweet. “I wonder, does Theodore know just how much my husband watches you? How much he—”

"I could care less about--"

She lunged at me. What her aim was, I had no idea, and I didn't care. I glided away from her, grabbing her wrist as she reached for me. She gasped as I twisted her arm just enough to make my point, pinning her effortlessly against the sink.

“I'm going to let this slide,” I murmured, my voice even. “Because you're clearly under duress… But as I was going to say, I have no interest in your husband."

She struggled, snarling. "That's because you're looking to make Theodore king, but--"

I scoffed, still holding her in place. Her struggling was like a butterfly fighting a glass jar.

"Theodore has no interest in the throne."

"Liar."

"And neither do I," I said, meeting her gaze in the mirror. "I have always been quite happy with being Lady Donovan. Theodore resents the blood in his veins that makes him eligible." I lowered my tone. "If Owen hadn't been so hell-bent on keeping an eye on him, if they're father hadn't been such an asshole, I doubt Theodore would even still be here."

She went still at that. "What…"

"Oh, you didn't know?" I asked, smirking. "Owen not tell you?"

"Tell me what."

"Theodore is the eldest," I said. "By a handful of months and by another woman, the former king's wife."

Her eyes widened. She went pale.

"It follows then if Theodore had wanted the throne, he wouldn't even have to work to take it."

I released her. "Your husband knows this. That's why he's so obsessed with trying to beat Theodore down… He also knows that having a noble on the throne, especially a Donovan, would go a long way to make his position secure."

I stepped away from her. "If you really want to keep your position as luna queen, then you should inform your husband that all of this petty bullshit he's pulling because he can't handle seeing Theodore happy is making it easier and easier for people to rally against him. If you have any sense at all, you’ll tell him to tread more carefully and knock it off.”

She glared at me, but I could see the wariness settling in her expression. My gaze swept over her and I noted the bruising on the wrist that wasn't the one I grabbed.

"Did he do that to you?"

Her eyes widened and she yanked her sleeve down. I set my jaw. Just when I was sure that Owen couldn't get any lower.

“Your lips are smudged,” I said coolly before turning on my heel and walking out, leaving her in the bathroom.

By the time I stepped into the hallway, my irritation still hummed beneath my skin, but then I saw him.

Theodore stood near the courtroom doors, speaking with Kincaid, but the moment his gaze flicked to me, the tension drained from my body.

His eyes skimmed over me in silent assessment. “Problem?”

“Nothing I couldn’t handle,” I said, walking up to him.

He quirked a brow but didn’t press. Instead, he slid his hand against the small of my back, guiding me toward the exit.

“Come on. Let’s get lunch before you have to break another royal.”

I smirked. “You make it sound like I enjoy it.”

Theodore gave me a look, and I laughed. Alright, maybe I did. Just a little.

Michelle

The door closed. The sound of it echoed though the bathroom. My heart hammered in my chest, and I looked at myself in the mirror. Violet's words swirling in my head. I set my jaw and pushed the thought aside.

What did she know? She had met her mate twice over. Lucas was one thing, but the Goddess had blessed her with her mate without reservation and with so much fanfare Owen was fuming and threatening to destroy everything just to break them up.

It made it seem that Violet was telling the truth about his insecurity stemming from more than that moniker.

I tucked my things back into my purse and scoured the area, hoping, praying-- there!

I snatched the strands of dark hair, Violet's hair and got up. Triumphant. It would be over. He would finally. Finally. Finally.

I tore out of the bathroom, walking briskly through the gilded halls of the Capital Court, my fingers curled tightly around the strands of hair. The strands felt heavier than they should have—like a weight dragging me down with every step closer to Owen’s office.

Guilt? I didn't know. My stomach was churning. I felt almost nauseous. The wolf in me twisting in discomfort, but I ignored it.

It wasn't my problem. No one was going to help me, no matter what Violet said. She wouldn't help me. I knew that. I didn’t bother knocking. The guards outside barely spared me a glance as me shoved the doors open, stepping into the dimly lit space.

Owen was pacing behind his desk, his expression thunderous as he turned to me.

“About damn time,” he snarled. “Tell me you have it.”

I didn’t respond immediately, watching him with wary eyes. His fury was a storm, barely contained, rolling through the room in waves. His tie was undone, his jacket discarded, his hands curled into fists.

"Answer me, you idiot!" He hissed.

I swallowed. The words trembling on my lips, but instead, a completely different sentence came out.

“Your plan isn’t as foolproof as you thought."

His eyes widened and seconds later, pain exploded across my face. I hit the ground and he kicked me over, putting his foot on my throat. I tried to get him off, to move his foot, but he just pressed down harder.

His voice was barely restrained, and then I realized that we weren't alone. One of the judges was there, watching like it was a show.

“I didn’t ask for commentary,” he hissed, stepping forward. “I asked if you have it. If you can't do something so simple, then perhaps you're better off dead.”

I choked. My vision went blurry. I thought he would kill me. Then his foot lifted. I sucked in breath and turned onto my side, gasping for breath.

I coughed, scrubbing at my face. The tears that were coming.

I took a slow breath, straightening my spine.

“I want out.”

Owen stilled.

I pressed on, feeling the sting of my own desperation.

“If I do this, if I give you what you want, I want a guarantee that this is the end of it. That y-you'll leave me alone now.” I looked at the judge who looked a few moments away from laughing at me. "You can do that, can't you? I--"

Owen’s expression twisted, something cruel flashing through his eyes before his hand lashed out. The slap came quick and sharp, snapping my head to the side.