His father sighed, patient as ever. “The zealots will cause less of a stir if we have one half of the mate bond on the throne. I’d rather you be king, but royals are next to impossible to kill. They’re faster, stronger, and can glamour themselves invisible. The Mountain King’s mother was the first royal killed by a rebel that we know of. A stroke of luck on their part. Your sister will have to do as queen instead, unless she fails.”
Titus stared at his father, shaking his head. “If you know we can’t kill the prince, why can’t I kill Vivian now that we’ve broken the bond?”
His father grabbed his shoulder and squeezed. “Because, my boy, we’ll never stop trying, and one day, we might succeed, and if we do, you’ll be ready with that brat at your side.”
Unbeknownst to Titus, Vivian had overheard their entire conversation. They’d kept her in the dark about who they were for a year. He knew she’d find out, but he’d hoped it would be after they achieved their goal.
In true Vivian fashion, she wasted no time confronting him. Tried to kill him, actually, but his skill outmatched hers by a landslide.
“Everyone adores Violet,” Vivian spat. “Poor Violet can’t defend herself. Sweet Violet always picking flowers with her head in the clouds. The gods chose me, yet everyone still thinks she’s perfect. I saw the way boys watched her; how adults fawned over her like she was a precious gift, but not you.” Her lip trembled, taking Titus by surprise. Never had the woman cried in the fifteen years he’d known her. “But it was all a fucking lie.”
“You have no choice but to stay,” Titus informed her. “You committed treason when you married me, and if you evade the crown, our faction will hunt you down to keep you quiet.”
Always the strategist, Vivian countered, “What if I bring you Violet? I’ll tell her I threatened you somehow. We can work it out. She loves you. You can pass her off as me or tell the others I found out the plan and you killed me. I’ll disappear.”
Why would she rather leave than help them take the throne? She would no longer be considered a traitor by the crown if they defeated the royals. “Is being married to me that bad?”
Vivian’s lip curled. “I refuse to stay with someone who wants her. I almost married a man just like you, pining after my sister like a love-sick fool. I won’t do it. I’d rather fake my own death.”
He couldn’t force her to stay without chaining her in a cell. The idea appealed to him, but if the day came for them to take the throne, he’d need her cooperation. Looking into her hate-filled face, he knew she’d never be compliant.
“If you harm a hair on Violet’s head, I will gut you myself.”
Vivian looked fit to be tied, and he wondered if she would attack him again. “I’ll deliver her to you safe and sound, and then you and your faction will leave me be.”
The way she said faction, you’d think they were venomous snakes. Finding out your husband despised you and was a rebel in one day must be getting to her. She’d get over it.
“Fine, but if you try to renege on our deal, there isn’t a place you can hide where we won’t find you,” he promised her.
He’d not seen her since.
Roman marrying Violet crumbled every plan they had. His father’s back-up plan of uniting with the other Eden factions in an organized attack would fail spectacularly. Each faction had their own ideas of who should take the throne, some wanting to do away with the throne all together. Eliminating the royals would lead to civil war.
Titus had to find Violet and get her out of there because being Roman’s mate put a target on her back, and he’d be damned if he let them touch her.
40
Instead of leading Violet to the bunker after the wedding festivities, Roman guided her toward the palace gates. “I have another wedding gift for you.”And for me, he thought, his cock hardening.
She eyed him suspiciously. “Your last surprise was deranged. I don’t think I can handle another.”
He should have known Violet wouldn’t want to torture someone, but she had been pissed enough at Marissa that he’d thought she’d make an exception. A misstep on his part.
“It’s nothing like that,” he promised. “You’ll like this one.”
Violet waved her hand for him to proceed. “Fine.”
Guilt pricked his chest, but not from him. Stopping her, he snaked his arm around her waist and pulled her close. “What do you have to feel guilty about?”
Slight anxiety joined the guilt. “I didn’t have time to get you anything as a wedding gift. I thought we were only celebrating our birthdays.” Her lips twisted to the side. “How did you have time?”
“I’d planned on surprising you, regardless.” He pecked her on the forehead and steered them toward town. “This gift is also for me.”
They approached the pleasure house, and Violet smiled excitedly. “You got us a room?”
Roman held the door open and ushered her inside. “Better.” The large man who guarded the door bowed his head. “Your Grace. Everything is ready.”
The man studiously avoided Violet. Smart man. Had he looked at Roman’s wife, knowing what would soon happen, he’d have lost his ability to see. “Thank you, Rodney.”
