Griff glared at Babs, who adorned a pink fluffy shirt with a matching bow attached to the top of her head. “Why did you bring the chicken?”
Violet smiled down at the hen strutting beside her as they walked through the thick jungle, thoroughly enjoying herself. “She gets upset if I leave her.”
“And a chicken being upset matters why?” Griff asked, drawing out the last word. Babs pecked at his leg with an indignant flutter of her wings, and he moved quickly to Violet’s other side.
Ares brought up the rear of their group and snorted at Babs’ antics. “Can she understand you?”
“I like to think so.” Violet looked pointedly at Griff. “She understood him insulting her.”
Griff grumbled under his breath and whacked at a low-hanging branch. They’d ventured far into the jungle looking for a rare flower Violet had heard about. The petals bloomed out flat like a star, but what had piqued her interest was the color. The entire flower, from root to petals, was bright pink. Most flowers and plants had a different color stem, but not this one.
“How much longer until you give up?” Griff griped. “It will be dark soon.”
War appeared before them, halting their movement. “What are you doing here?” Violet asked the beast and then mentally kicked herself. She reworded her question so he could answer. “Have you been hunting?”
War nodded once, but he scanned the area around them. His quill sheaths raised, and Violet hurried toward him. “What’s wrong?”Dammit.“Is something out here?”
The tigon contemplated for a moment before nodding again.
Ares appeared at Violet’s side. “If something is out there, we need to leave. We’ll find your plant later.”
“Flower,” Violet corrected on instinct while bending down to scoop Babs into her arms. “War, are you coming with us?” The tigon shook his head.
“Violet.” Vivian stepped out from behind a tree.
Griff and Ares drew their swords, and War jumped in front of Violet with a warning growl.
Vivian held her hands up. “I’m not going to hurt her. I just need to speak with her.”
“You two can speak once we’re at the palace with Roman,” Ares told her coldly. “Remove your weapons or I’ll remove them for you.”
Vivian’s lips pressed into a thin line. “I’m not going to hurt her,” she repeated and focused on Violet. “Vi, I just want to talk.” She looked pointedly at the two men flanking Violet. “Alone.”
Griff barked out a laugh. “You’re fucking delusional if you think we’ll let you anywhere near her.”
Vivian’s hands clenched at her sides. “She is a grown woman who can speak for herself.”
“And Roman is a grown man who will separate your head from your body without hesitation for endangering his mate,” Ares countered.
Vivian’s eyes flared. “I’m his mate. She’s nothing but his girlfriend.”
Violet’s shock quickly turned to anger. Babs, sensing her emotions, screeched loudly. “You lost that privilege when you married my ex-boyfriend,” Violet spat. “On our twenty-fifth birthday, the gods bonded Roman and me, and hours later, we married. You should be on your fucking knees before me, begging for your life.” Violet’s venomous words surprised her, but she’d meant them. Violet didn’t want her sister to die, but she’d not have this bitch thinking she had any claim to Roman. “Say what you need to say and leave before I let War rip your throat out.”
Vivian’s lip curled. “You can lie about being Roman’s mate all you want, but the truth is, the gods choseme, not you.” She moved her eyes from Violet to War and back again. “War is afamiliar. He wouldn’t hurt me unless I tried to kill an innocent.”
War roared and lunged forward, snapping at Vivian. She screamed and stumbled backward.
Violet’s arms tensed too tightly around Babs, and the hen pecked at her arm. Violet set the bird down and removed her leash. Straightening, she crossed her arms and stared at her sister. “Think what you want, but I am Roman’s mate. You had your chance, and you threw it away.” She stepped forward, her two guards moving with her. “Your hatred for me drove you to lose the best thing that ever happened to you, all because you couldn’t stand my happiness.”
“Titus wasmine,” Vivian ground out, clenching her teeth hard enough to crack bone. “He said he lovedme, and you stole him. Perfect little Violet, always needing someone to protect her. Always getting whatever she wants by playing the victim.”
Violet reared back. “What are you talking about? You had everything, Viv. Dad spent all his time with you. The gods bonded you to Roman first. Boys fawned all over you. Titus fucking chose you over me. Stop looking for reasons to hate me that don’t exist.”
The bitterness in Vivian’s laugh crawled across Violet’s skin like a battalion of ants. “Playing the victim again. The gods may have bonded me to Roman, but it was you he wanted. Dad only trained me because he didn’t want his daughter to be an embarrassment amongst his warriors. The boys chased me because Roman wouldn’t let them have you.” A tear rolled down Vivian’s cheek, and Violet had the stupid urge to hug her. She hadn’t thought her sister possessed the ability to cry. “And it was you Titus wanted all along. His father leads the southern rebel faction. I was a pawn, but you were his obsession.”
Vivian couldn’t have shocked Violet more if she’d grown a tail.
“Were you in the rebel camp?” Ares demanded as Griff said, “You need to come with us now.”
