Chapter 195

Eva’s POV

I watched the news in agitation as Theodore’s ex-wife spoke of allyship between her territory and ours. To my knowledge, they weren’t still in contact. Riley had confirmed they hadn’t spoken over text or calls after going through Theodore’s phone.

Still, it was annoying that their Betas were getting married. An unfortunate obstacle.

I checked my watch as the news coverage came to a close. I was in my well-appointed room, though not as spacious as the main one Theodore was using. I had the volume turned low on my TV that was just as large as the one downstairs.

Adding the TV to my personal bedroom was one of the first things I had had Dahlia do for me when I had arrived to the castle all those weeks ago. This was the life I had been born for: luxury, wealth, status. Nothing had ever felt more right.

The only thing that didn’t fit was Theodore.

When Lucas had shown me pictures of him, I was entranced. He was so dreamy, and as I found out later, the pictures didn’t even do him justice. I was ready for my lavish life with my gorgeous husband.

Even if he was not my true mate. When it came to comfort and lifestyle, a fake mate was close enough. But then the truth came out.

I was so lucky to have met Olivia Bronson, so blessed that she sought out my friendship. The horrors she had described of bedding Theodore had truly shaken me. And, of course, I was easily able to forgive her transgression with my fiancé seeing how she used it to spare me from a similar fate.

The only thing I hadn’t anticipated when I had agreed to a life of splendor and riches was the loneliness. I had expected not to feel so lonely once Theodore gave in to the fake mate bond, but now that I was avoiding him, the loneliness was sinking into my bones.

Some days, Olivia was the only bright spot in my day.

I turned the TV off and trotted merrily downstairs. My new best friend would be here any second.

Right on cue, the doorbell rang, and I answered it immediately. “Olivia!”

“Eva!”

We kissed each other on both cheeks, and I opened the door for her to come in. She glanced around the foyer but said, “Why don’t we stroll around the garden today instead?”

I knew that gleam in her eye. She had something to share with me that she didn’t want just anyone to hear.

“Darling?” My head spun in the direction of Theodore’s voice to where he stood halfway down the stairs, glancing warily at Olivia. I could only imagine how awkward it was for him that his fiancé and ex-lover had become so close.

Though if he didn’t want to have to face us both, he should have waited for me instead of sleeping with half the females in our country.

“Olivia and I are going to walk around the gardens. See you later, dearest!” I quickly slipped out the door and closed it behind us.

Shuddering, I linked arms with my friend and led her around the garden. “I cannot thank you enough for warning me about his struggles in bed. I can hardly believe I ever dreamed of…”

I glanced at her knowingly, too shy to say it out loud.

“Fucking him?” she finished for me. Her crass nature was uncomfortable, yet I craved it.

“I saw you on the news,” I said, ready to switch topics. “You looked stunning!”

“Mmm,” Olivia hummed as we took a seat in the rose garden. “Do you know why I was present when the king announced the new succession law?”

This was it. This must be what she didn’t want to say in the house. I watched her silently, patiently.

“Because it was I who gave him the idea to change it.”

I had wondered if that had been the case, though I was nervous to hope she had done it for me. She was my best friend, but that didn’t mean I was hers.

“You did?”

Olivia reached over to pluck a nearby rose, skillfully avoiding the thorns on the stem. “Of course, Eva. I did it for you.”

Truly, the Goddess had blessed me with this friend. “For me? So… so that I could be in the running for royalty should something happen to the king?”

“Why else would I have done it?” She smiled in that way that looked threatening, but I knew by now that it was only a front hiding the friend who genuinely cared beneath.

But I couldn’t smile back.

“Eva, what’s wrong?” Olivia’s smile fell as she rubbed my arm comfortingly.

“You’ve done so much for me,” I said as I set my gaze on the rose garden, not really looking at anything at all. “You’ve broken an NDA to tell me what I need to know, and all this time, I’ve been willingly keeping a secret from you.”

I forced myself to look her in the eye as I said, “I’m sorry. You deserve a better friend.”

Olivia kept her hand on my arm, grounding me. “I keep exactly the friends I intend to.”

She didn’t ask for my secret, only waited patiently by my side like she had since we first met.

“I’m working for him,” I murmured, casting my gaze to my feet.

“Who?”

I swallowed my guilt. Honestly, I didn’t mind being a spy if it earned me the life I’d been born to lead. But I did hate that I hadn’t been up front about it with Olivia.

“The king.”

Olivia’s silence beckoned my gaze. I met her look, lacking any judgment at all. Relief flooded me.

“So, I can’t collude against him. I would be risking everything I’ve built.”

Olivia considered my words, handing me the rose she picked. “Or you could take his place on the throne and, in so doing, take control of your own fate.”

I loved this woman like a sister. She made me feel like I could do anything.

“I have reason to believe Owen’s rule is coming to an end,” she continued. “As your friend, my advice to you is to see to it that something tragic and fatal happens to Theodore on your wedding night. That way, you kill two birds with one stone: you avoid ever having to sleep with him, but you remain in the running for the queen of our wealthy country.”

It was a fool proof plan. “Kill two birds… and one new husband.”

That threatening smile I had learned to love spread on Olivia’s face. “Exactly.”

I smelled the rose, inhaling its heavenly notes. “What did I ever do to deserve a friend like you, Olivia?”

“You didn’t have to do anything.” She squeezed my arm affectionately. “And if I can’t be queen myself,” she chuckled, “then being best friends with the queen is the second-best option.”

My chest inflated at her words: best friends. Maybe our friendship wasn’t as one-sided as I feared. In fact, after what she was setting up for me, gifting me an entire kingdom, I wasn’t sure how I could ever doubt her love for me again.

All I had to do was wait until Theodore Nightshade and I were married so that I was legally related to the crown, then get Theodore dearest out of my way.