* * *
Roman stepped out of the tree line onto the sandy shore. War sat not far away, watching Violet… and Babs? Violet squatted in the sand and dug out a shell with Babs happily at her side, a rope going from Violet’s wrist to a make-shift harness wrapped around Babs’ chest.
“The hen is a nuisance,” War grumbled down the bond. “She should be at the palace farm with the rest of the vermin.”
Roman chuckled. “You’re big enough to eat her, yet she frightens you.”
“I cannot eat her because of you. She has free rein to attack me with no repercussions, and she knows it,” the beast grumbled.
“I need you to find Vivian,” Roman communicated down the bond, not wanting Violet to overhear. She looked happy, and he’d not ruin that; he’d tell her tonight. “She has slipped from Tilly’s detail, and we need to find her.”
“I’ll find her,” War promised and disappeared into the trees.
Roman took off his socks and boots. “Need help?”
Violet twisted around and beamed at him. “I thought you were meeting with the council?”
Plopping down in the sand, he grabbed the bucket and held it out for her to drop her treasures in. “I left early to find you.”
She leaned forward and kissed him. “I’ll take any time with you I can. You’ve been busy lately.”
“We think the rebel factions are working together to plan a large-scale attack.” He hadn’t wanted to ruin their time here, but neither did he want her to think he’d willingly stayed away during the day.
“Are they going to spread out and attack the entire kingdom at once or will they all attack the capital?” she mused and dropped another shell in the bucket.
“We don’t know,” he admitted. “We have to be ready for both.”
She nodded and brushed sand from another shell. “What can I do to help?”
Roman’s heart beat hard. “If there is an attack, stay in the bunker. It’s the safest place.”
“And leave everyone else out to dry?” she asked incredulously. “Tell those living in the warrior compound to bring the children to the bunker. I’ll keep them inside with me.”
His heart tried to jump from his chest to attach itself to hers. Gods, he loved her. “You are a great queen.”
Pink stained her cheeks. “I am only doing what any other person would do.”
They moved on to other things, talking and laughing the afternoon away while Babs demanded their attention.
He’d always wanted to be the one to hold her bucket.
And now he was.
* * *
Violet and Roman sat around their dining table with their friends before heading to the coronation festival downtown. The coronation wasn’t for another two days, but they held a festival beforehand. Normally people travelled from all over the kingdom to attend, but with the last-minute change in plans, they didn’t expect as big of a turnout this time.
However, the warriors and guards were on high alert, and Roman’s parents were already at the festival to glamour the townspeople if needed.
A celebration provided a perfect target for a rebel attack on the capital, but it also made it easier for the royals to protect their people since they were all in one spot. War had been gone a lot recently, leaving Griff, Slayton, and Ares to stay with Violet, but he’d returned tonight in case they needed aid.
Violet thought the coronation would be a better target for the rebels, but the council wanted to take precautions with the festival too.
Dinner with friends helped them forget their woes, if only for an hour or two.
Violet laughed loudly. “I thought he would cry.”
“It’s not that funny,” Roman muttered and sawed into his steak.
