Jealousy stabbed at Vivian, but she shoved it down. It had done her no favors in the past, and it would do her no favors now. Her sister hadn’t ruined her life. That crime belonged to her hatred for Violet, and it was time to let it go.
Vivian stood with Violet and steadied her wobbly steps until someone yanked her back by the hair and threw her to the ground. “What did you do to her?” Titus snarled at Vivian.
Violet gasped and stumbled, stealing Titus’ attention, and he lunged forward to catch her. “You’re safe now,” he cooed, gingerly touching the gash on Violet’s head.
She tried to free herself from his hold. “Let me go.” Violet shoved him to no avail. “You lost the right to touch me.”
“It wasn’t like that,” Titus insisted and cradled one side of her face. Vivian almost laughed when Violet tried to bite him. “You’re all I want, but it had to be her, but not anymore.”
Violet struggled in his hold, his arm tightening around her. “You’re a rebel and a liar and married to my sister! Had I known she loved you, I wouldn’t have given you the time of day.”
Vivian blinked at her sister. She wasn’t oblivious to Violet’s feelings for Roman when they were younger, nor did Violet’s efforts to distance herself from the prince go unnoticed. Would she have turned away Titus too?
Vivian scrambled to her feet and yanked Titus back. “Unhand her, you asshole.”
Titus whipped around and shoved Vivian. “You were supposed to bring her to me in exchange for your freedom, yet you tell me to release her?”
Violet gasped and the betrayal on her face hit Vivian in the chest. “I thought you would keep her safe, but not even you could save her now that she’s bonded and married to the king.”
“Step back,” Titus growled at Violet and withdrew his sword. Fuck. He was a better fighter than Vivian, but she couldn’t let him take her sister.
In her peripheral vision, Vivian watched Violet, waiting for her to move far enough from Titus that Vivian could stand between them and fight him off without hurting her sister.
“Put your sword away, Titus,” she said with a steadiness she didn’t feel. “You’ve lost her. Roman will never let her go. He’ll search for her until he finds you, and when he does, he’ll gut you like the pig you are.”
Titus sized her up and scoffed. “You’re not worth the blood on my sword. Walk away now and I won’t hurt you. Consider our deal done.”
Violet crept far enough away and poised to run. Poor girl wouldn’t make it three steps before Titus grabbed her again, and Vivian knew she had to make her move. One thing she had that Titus didn’t was speed, and she darted between him and her sister. “Violet,run!”
Titus roared and charged forward, the metal of his sword colliding with her own. “I was going to let you go,” he grunted and swung his sword, narrowly missing Vivian’s arm.
“Fuck you,” she sneered and sliced the side of his leg.
He cursed, but Violet’s retreat caught his eye and he made to follow her. Vivian rammed him with the side of her shoulder. They both went sprawling to the ground, their swords hitting the earth beside them.
If she could reach the dagger in her boot, she could take him out.
But she’d never get the chance because Titus drew his first.
* * *
“Titus, help!” Violet screamed, not knowing what else to do. He snapped his gaze to hers, and she glamoured Vivian invisible, hating herself for not thinking of it sooner.
Vivian shoved Titus hard enough to roll out from under him. “You’re glamoured, Viv, run,” Violet cried, glamoured herself, and ran in her sister’s direction.
Titus cursed and followed in their direction. “Violet don’t do this,” he pleaded. “I can keep you safe. You belong with me. I love you.”
A condescending tsking sound followed his declaration, accompanied by Roman’s deep voice. “I thought the men in this kingdom would have learned by now that loving my wife is as dangerous as harming her.”
Violet stopped cold and twisted around in time to see Roman fist Titus’ hair and rip his head from his body.
Violet thought she heard the faint sound of clucking before her world went black.
44
Roman lay under his and Violet’s bed with his wife tucked safely in his arms. “I don’t need to hide under here,” she insisted with care, as if dealing with a feral beast. “I’m okay.”
The day’s events played in a loop in his head, fueling his scattered emotions. He could feel that Violet told the truth, her emotions twisted up but not overwhelming like his.
