Violet tried not to laugh again, but she couldn’t help it. “It really was.”
Slayton pointed his fork at Violet. “Next time you decide to trick your husband, I want in on the action.”
Roman reached across the table, snatched Slayton’s fork, and pointed it at him. “Don’t point a sharp object at my wife.”
Slayton snorted and picked up his steak with his hands. “I’m more scared of her than you.”
Roman muttered something under his breath and Slayton chuckled, tearing into his steak with his teeth.
War darted through the dining room, followed by Babs flapping after him.
Griff coughed and beat his chest. “Was that a chicken in a skirt?”
“Babs,” Violet, Roman, and Slayton said in unison.
Ares smirked at Violet. “You sewed her an entire wardrobe, didn’t you?”
“She loves it,” Violet said defensively. “If she insists on coming with me, she needs pretty dresses.”
“Do her leashes match her skirts?” Griff teased.
Violet sniffed and said primly, “Roman said she looks nice.”
Slayton, Griff, and Ares slid their gazes to Roman. He stared back and set his silverware down. “I think the outfits are cute.”
Seconds ticked by before the table erupted with laughter.
* * *
The street lamps burned bright around the town square to illuminate the carts and dancers giving life to the coronation festival. Violet held Roman’s hand and marveled at the transformation. It was ten times grander than the small festival she and Roman had attended before she left to travel. A shudder ran through her at the tainted memory.
Roman squeezed her hand. “What’s wrong?” He tapped his chest. “I can feel you.”
“I was thinking how much better this is than the last festival we attended,” she rasped.
Roman stopped them and gently grabbed her nape. “No one will hurt you again. Not only do you have the loyalty of every guard and warrior in this kingdom, but you also have the power of royal glamour. Assuming I don’t kill them first.”
Violet nodded. “I know, but that doesn’t make the memory any better.”
Kissing her forehead, he dropped his hand to the small of her back and led her onward. “We will make new memories.”
They passed a food cart and the man at the front huffed. “What do you mean you can’t serve mayonnaise?”
“The crown made it illegal to serve mayonnaise, sir. We don’t have any.” The poor vendor couldn’t be any older than eighteen, and appeared scared to death of the ranting man.
Violet gasped and looked at Roman, who dutifully avoided her gaze. “Did you outlaw mayonnaise?”
His scratched his jaw and peered down at her. “That depends. If I say yes, would you be upset?”
She popped his arm lightly. “You can’t outlaw something because I don’t like it.”
His lips quirked into a cocky smile, and she wanted to both kiss him and smack him at the same time. “Yes. I can.”
“You’re incorrigible,” she muttered, but deep down, she loved it. Lovedhim.
Together they made their rounds and danced the night away, replacing the bad memories with the good.
43
