Chapter 177

Theodore’s POV

This was ridiculous.

Eva had made a whole stink about coming with me and Dahlia to check out the military and refugee settlement, had very dramatically droned on about how of course Dahlia wouldn’t be in the same carriage as us, requiring us to prepare a second carriage just for Dahlia when the first one had plenty of space for three people. Then the second we took off, me and Eva in the first carriage and Dahlia trailing in the one behind us, Eva stuck earbuds in to watch a show on her phone.

She wasn’t paying any attention to me at all. It took a great deal of effort to keep myself from ripping those earbuds out and roaring, “Are you fucking kidding me?!?”

Except of course I didn’t want her to pay attention to me. It was just the principle of the matter. Or rather, her lack of principles.

Dahlia and I had expected to continue planning things during the carriage rides, and I was half tempted to call Dahlia – ridiculous as it was – to do just that over phone. But even with Eva’s entire focus on her phone, she was sure to figure out what I was doing, and I just didn’t want to deal with her anymore.

Hey, stud. I don’t suppose I caught you in the shower again?

My heart rate ratcheted up in excitement at the surprise of Violet’s voice in my mind. I turned to look out the carriage window to angle my face away from Eva.

No, not in the shower. In the carriage with Eva who demanded to be alone with me only to ignore me in favor of a show on her phone.

A pause. I’m sure that wasn’t the response Violet was looking for or expecting based on how she had greeted me.

I’m here, she finally said. It was amazing how she always seemed to know exactly what I needed to hear.

I took a deep breath. I reminded myself it would all be worth it.

Thank you. How are you?

Fine. I have a question for you if you have a moment though.

It wasn’t lost on me how quickly she glazed over how she was doing. I trusted her to tell me the big things, like if she had had another hallucination, but I made a mental note to check on her more thoroughly later. Just because she wasn’t struggling with her unstable magic didn’t mean she wasn’t struggling with other things.

I’m all yours. I flooded how much I missed her, how much I longed for her, down the bond so that she would understand the double meaning of my words.

I could practically feel her warm smile in response. Last we spoke about it, you said the responsibility of the crown was overwhelming, and that being king would take away time from the life you want with our family. Which part is more important to you: having time with family or not feeling overwhelmed by the burden of the crown?

I watched the rolling, green hills outside as I considered Violet’s question, enjoying imagining our future together. The landscape here was so vastly different from that of Henosis, though both were beautiful.

Not feeling overwhelmed by the crown is more important, I answered. The weight of the crown would make it hard to show up for my family like I’d want to, even during the time we do have together.

Makes sense.

I glanced at Eva. There was no way she could know I was chatting with my true mate right now, yet it eased me to see she was still engrossed in whatever she was watching.

Have you found anyone else who might be a sufficient replacement for Owen? I asked.

Possibly. I’m still working on it, and it’s a long shot. Don’t get your hopes up yet.

“Dearest?”

Eva’s voice jolted me out of my head. Gotta go. Love you.

I love you, Theo.

“Yes, darling.” I turned to face Eva.

Her gaze floated to my forehead. “You said that would disappear once the divorce was finalized.”

I rubbed my own temple, and the edge of the band she was referring to, as I attempted to maintain my calm. I had specifically not said that. It was her own theory that she was latching onto.

With Eva already in a huff about me spending too much time with Dahlia, I reigned in my frustration. “I don’t know why I have it.” I didn’t even need to lie about that.

“Perhaps we should ask the High Priestess to come take a look,” she suggested.

I met her gaze, noting the reflection of her show playing in her eyes, only one earbud in her hand, the other still in her ear. Apparently, I wasn’t even worth her full attention.

What a blessing.

“That’s an excellent idea, darling,” I smiled. Suggesting that I meet with my ally was easy to agree to. “Would you work with Sophia to get an appointment on my calendar?”

Eva’s eyes brightened at the menial task I’d given her. “Of course, my dear. As soon as this episode is over.”

I saw an opportunity to smooth things over with her even further and went for it. “The High Priestess will surely tell me the band will repair itself as soon as I’m married to my true mate.” I smiled as charmingly as I could muster.

The returning smile from Eva was forced. Her effort in this façade was waning. I wondered briefly if she hated it as much as I did.

“I don’t suppose you want to move up our wedding day?” I went on. “The sooner we’re married, the sooner we’ll find out if that fixes this.” I tapped my forehead band.

Eva cleared her throat uncomfortably. “Maybe we should see what the High Priestess has to say before we go uprooting all my plans for the biggest day of my life, hmm?”

I stilled at her condescending tone, though it softened as she looked out the window.

“That reminds me, I should call Olivia. You remember Olivia Bronson, don’t you? We had such a lovely time, and I’d like to get together with her again soon.”

Yes, my prompt to move up our wedding day was optimistic and part of me had truly hoped she would go for it. Mostly, though, it was a little poke at a topic I wanted to know more about. And I had certainly learned a whole lot.

First, that she was still adamant about not getting married sooner, enough to risk the polite pretense and get a little stern with me.

Second, thinking about our wedding reminded her of the conniving Olivia Bronson. Maybe it was because she had found a friend to talk wedding details with. But knowing Olivia, I’d bet she was the reason Eva had asked to push our wedding date.

What are the chances Olivia is planning something behind our backs? I asked Violet through our magical bond.

One hundred percent chance, she quickly responded, though I’m hoping that what I have to offer keeps her from planning anything to our disadvantage. Why?

I played with the idea, wondering what Olivia could possibly get out of pushing out my wedding date with Eva.

I’m not sure, but I have a bad feeling about it.