Chapter 120

Theodore’s POV

It was like a fog had settled in my brain. A fog laced with pain.

The fog took me under at the temple. Scrambled my senses in what appeared to be a hospital. Only one thing kept me conscious.

Alari. My wife, my mate, my Violet.

Anger dissipated the already fading fog as I put together the pieces of what was happening: for some reason, we were at the palace – Owen’s palace. Violet and I had been assigned rooms clear across the building from each other.

I shook my head as Violet helped settle me down onto a plush bed. I wasn’t sure how she was able to fight through the fog and pain so much more quickly than I was. Then I remembered a potion Lily had us drink in the hospital, which was probably kicking in now.

Still, I only caught the end of Violet’s sentence as she straddled me, burying her face in my neck. “…bullshit.”

I supposed I didn’t need any more context. I only wrapped my arms tightly around her, breathing in the scent of her, allowing her body to ground me in the only reality that mattered.

A door opening had Violet pulling her head away just enough to twist toward the sound. I squeezed my arms around her to let her know I didn’t want her moving off me. She rubbed my back absentmindedly in response.

And right next to my bed, a woman stood in the threshold of the door we’d heard open.

The fuzzy memories required a bit of piecing together, but there was enough there for me to identify her as Eva, my supposed new mate.

Bullshit, indeed.

Though I couldn’t deny some sense of pull toward her that I didn’t like at all.

Eva eyed Violet atop me like she had just caught me cheating.

“It’s customary to knock before entering an occupied room,” I snapped at her.

She peeked over her shoulder in the direction she came from, then softened her gaze on me. “Since our rooms are adjoining, this is technically my room, too.”

I wasn’t sure if the rage swelling within me belonged to me, Violet, or both of us.

I opened my mouth to let this Eva woman know she was not welcome in my room and that should she enter unannounced again, she was guaranteed to walk in on me making vigorous love to my wife. But I was interrupted by a knock at the door to my bedroom that led to the hallway.

It was Violet who called, “Come in.” A steward timidly opened the door, their eyes widening at the three of us and what was likely palpable tension in the room. Then they muttered almost too quietly to hear about dinner being ready in the grand dining room.

I looked to Violet, sure she would not want to deign to spend any time with my brother or this stranger purporting to be my mate. But the look in her eyes told me we were going to dinner – and that I would be civil about it.

Without a word, she untangled herself from me and clasped my hand confidently before marching us downstairs. Eva trailed behind us, fuming and glaring every few steps at our interlaced fingers.

I didn’t bother to hide my smile.

Owen and his wife were already seated at the heads of the table when we arrived, leaving two seats between them on either side of the table. I sat next to my sister-in-law, opting to stay as far away as possible from Owen. I started when Eva sneaked in front of Violet to sit next to me.

Violet bristled.

“Wife,” I cooed, and she slowly slid her gaze to me. “Would you do me the honor of sitting across from me so that I can have the best view at the table?” I smirked headily, and her shoulders relaxed as she nodded and rounded the table.

There was no way this dinner would be fun.

“Yes,” Owen chimed in, almost merrily. “How unfortunate of a situation we have here.” He motioned to the three of us, not looking bothered in the slightest.

“I know it’s awkward,” Eva said to Violet with feigned compassion before turning to look on me adoringly. “But who are we to question the Goddess?” Eva reached for me tenderly.

I shifted out of her reach, sending a pleading look to Violet. I needed her to know that I only wanted her, that Eva meant nothing. But I didn’t miss the doubt in her eyes.

I remembered how long it took her to even consider we could be mates, to believe that I could ever be anyone other than the playboy I was before her. I didn’t want that trust that we had painstakingly built together moment by moment to be ripped down in one fell swoop.

Truth be told, I was terrified to lose her.

“Violet, alari,” I murmured across the table, “perhaps you and I should go back to your room to talk.”

Eva perked up as she clearly misinterpreted my words. “Yes, I think that would be best. Say your goodbyes and what not.”

I huffed, clenching my teeth and sending Violet another look to let her know that wasn’t at all what I meant. In fact, it was the opposite of what I meant. The words tangled in my mouth as I tripped over my own thoughts and fears.

Violet’s gaze on me was slow and assessing. Like she watched her enemies. My heart clenched at the thought that she was putting me in the same category.

Her gaze danced around quickly to the other three guests at the table. “We were invited to dinner,” my wife said. “It’s only polite that we stay for the entire meal.”

My stomach dropped. The longer we went without me directly reassuring her that I would choose her over Eva, that I already had chosen her over everyone, the higher the chances of her building back the walls she had taken down to let me in. Between my brother’s not even subtle smile and Eva trying to wedge herself into my heart that was already Violet’s, I worried that our company would further push Violet away from me.

Owen’s arrogant, booming voice interrupted my spiraling thoughts as Violet’s eyes clouded with something I couldn’t place. “I’m sure there’s a lot of confusion and resistance to accept this new reality.” I rolled my eyes at the damn glee in his tone.

Owen motioned for a steward to step forward with a familiar box. My stomach dropped even further at what I realized was coming next, and my asshole brother spoke again.

“I suggest we remove all the doubt and uncertainty with a simple test – one that worked well for us in the past if memory serves.” He opened the box as the steward held it, revealing a glass orb. “Let’s use the Moonstone to verify that Eva and Theodore are truly mates.”

I didn’t dare look at Violet now. Because there was some sort of pull I couldn’t explain drawing me to Eva. Just like a mate bond.

And, though I couldn’t comprehend how it could have happened, if Eva somehow was my new mate, if the Moonstone confirmed it, I was sure I would lose Violet forever.