Chapter 38

Violet

Theodore laughed. “Don't be so sour-faced. You should be happy I actually came. Who was going to drag me here if I decided not to show, after all?”

Owen pursed his lips and turned, his gaze sweeping over me dismissively. “Luna Donovan.”

I tried not to twitch at the address. He knew damn well I was the alpha of record for Darkmoon. I cracked a smile.

“Brother-in-law.”

He flinched, and Theodore snickered. Owen turned back inside.

“Come along.”

It was somehow assuring that Owen was as much of an asshole as I expected. It meant the plan I had to get through this, knowing Theodore and suspecting all I suspected about this situation, was going to go off without a hitch and serve to set the standard for how we’d interact going forward.

I fell into step with Theodore, following the odd processional to a large, formal dining room. His mother looked older than her years and neatly stitched together in the gown she wore, which was too formal for this meeting and gaudy. His wife was dressed like a slightly cheaper replica and looked as deeply unhappy in person as she did in the photos.

From my research, she’d been chosen out of a line-up from a territory that treated all women like they were breeders. I had half a plan forming on how to liberate the woman as soon as possible. The palace was as opulent as I remembered it being from the one time my father brought me as a child. It had been before my mother died. I remembered the king on the throne looking surly as we came to his birthday.

I frowned, tilting my head as we reached a painting of the royal family. The young boy who had to be Theodore stared sullenly out of the painting. His big, sad eyes gripped my heart. I wondered if he’d been forced to pose for this portrait under threat or if it had just been a hard day for his mother. My heart skipped a beat as I looked into the kid’s eyes and wondered what it had to have been like growing up in this place.

A flicker of memory flashed through my mind of those same sad eyes looking over a small reflection pool. A young boy in expensive clothes, sitting alone.

Are you okay?

“Surprised I grew up to be even more handsome, eh?” Theodore asked.

I rolled my eyes and walked past him. The dining room was huge. Only half of it was set, which made me wonder why have this meal here anyway. We could have eaten in a smaller parlor.

Theodore pulled out my chair and pushed me up to the table. I didn't bother to check if Owen had done the same as the two stewards who had come to pull out their chairs. The first course was salad and silence. The next was soup and more silence. By the time the entree was served, I was about fed up with being here and ready to leave. What was the point of summoning us here?

Owen cleared his throat. I grabbed my water glass, ignoring the sound. He did it again, and Theodore nudged me. I looked at him, but before I could ask, Owen was speaking.

“Theodore tells me you're fated.” It took everyrhithing in me not to roll my eyes. he’d been trying to get my attention? Really? Was he four? I glanced at him, wondering where he was going with this. "You seem quite indifferent to your bond with Theodore. Hard to believe you two are actually in love.”

“I didn't realize you were an expert, Your Highness.” He flinched, and his wife set her jaw. “Nor that you had so much free time to speculate on the state of our relationship. You must care more about Theodore than anyone thinks.”

Theodore’s eyes widened out of the corner of my eye.

His eyes glinted. “I always imagined his mate to be much like all of his conquests. They say the mating drive tends to push us towards that which we are destined for.” His gaze swept over me with interest and disdain. “You're oddly neat for a woman like that.”

I took a deep breath and let the barely veiled insult slide off my back, let alone the fact that Theodore said nothing. I should have only given him 10%, if this was what I could expect, or maybe he was trying to punish me for not going along with his asinine plan.

"It's called decorum, Your Highness.” I said, pitching my voice sickeningly sweet. miled, thinly. “And I'd be interest to know what sources you're referencing, I’m always interested in new research. Is it from the school of Lycaon or St. Luna?”

He flushed, and I smiled. I looked at Theodore whose eyes were wide as he stared at me. I cocked an eyebrow. Did he expect me to let Owen's jabs slide? I wasn't royal, but I was an alpha in my own right, and there was no way I was going to give him even an inch against me.

I knew the game all too well of where that would lead. Besides, Lycaon and St. Luna were the only reputable schools of thought about our mating instincts, including the mating drive as it was called. Neither of them had ever said anything that supported what he was saying.

“Theodore told me you aren't actually close at all, so it’s interesting that you have such an interest in my relationship with Theodore."

A flicker of annoyance crossed Owen's face. “A good ruler should have a interest in significant changes in his noble class.”

“Are you speaking of Lucas or me?”

He cocked an eyebrow. “You, of course. You seem less and less the type of woman Theodore would be fated for. Alpha Lucas always described you as a rather cold woman. You were hardly ever pictured doing more than holding hands with him.”

“She's not—”

I scoffed. “I don't need for you to speak for me, Theodore.” I narrowed my eyes at Owen. “And I cannot see how my disposition in a relationship is of any interest to you, given Theodore’s lack of interest in noble politics.”

Theodore pulled me close to him. The heat of his body, his breath on my neck, all of a sudden felt suffocating. Irritating. I had anticipated it. Theodore wasn’t the type to let go of a plan, even if it was shitty. It was disappointing in a very expected way, and more irritating than I had thought it would be.

“Darling, don’t you think that's enough?”

I looked at him. “Is it? I—”

Theodore leaned closer, aiming his mouth for mine. I pulled away and shoved him back, growling at him.

“Knock it off. We talked about this—”

“Violet—”

“No,” I said, pushing back. I glared at him. “I told you how I felt about all of this before we came. I have better things to do with my time than be a pawn in whatever game is going on here.” I jabbed a finger at him. “You have better things to do.” I pointed at Owen. “And he damn sure better have better things to do. I'm not going to deal with this, so either we carry on in absolute silence and go home having wasted our time or we go home now having wasted significantly less time. I don’t mind moving up my nail painting party with Helena by several weeks.”

He blinked, yet there was no understanding in his eyes. I saw Owen and his mother flinch out of the corner of my eye. My plan was working.

“Violet–”

“I said no.”

Theodore shut his mouth, meeting my gaze. Something flickered in his eyes. He reached out to me, and I pulled my hand away.

“You're blowing this out of proportion,” Theodore said. “He just—”

“Everyone knows you two aren’t close, so don’t try to bullshit me.”

He shut his mouth. I tossed my napkin on the table beside my plate.

“With all due respect, my appetite was ruined before we even got here, but I have been trying to play nice and comply, but my sense of duty only goes so far. Can we skip the lead up?”

Theodore worked his jaw, and then Owen laughed. Theodore looked at him and I barely glanced at him, taking in the malicious glee in his eyes.

It was so much worse than I had expected. Owen sat back, grinning. My stomach churned with disgust as I met his gaze, taking in every reaction and flicker of emotion on his face. He was enjoying this. Part of me wondered if he had ever seen their father with Theodore’s mother.

"You're refreshing, Violet. Oddly perfect for Theodore, actually…. My concerns about your bond are not without reason. And even though you are a Donovan, I have no need to share my reasons with you.” He gestured vaguely. “Since you seem to be so invested in doing away with the charade, there is a way to verify your connection, a method used by witches for centuries. The Moonstone."

He paused, his eyes gleaming with a sinister light. "If you truly are fated, the stone will glow, but if not, consider your claim to Darkmoon forfeited.”