Violet pulled her shoulders back and straightened her spine, looking every bit the queen she was. “We came to discuss Vivian’s fate.” Vivian stiffened, and her parents exchanged a look, but no one dared interrupt the queen. “You will leave the Tropical Kingdom indefinitely.”
Vivian stared down her sister. Roman expected hatred or anger but found resignation.
“You may visit, but only with written consent. When you wish to visit, you will send in a written request. We will not deny you, Viv, but you will need permission so we can send you an escort.”
Vivian remained silent, and Roman sensed his mate’s trepidation. Having authority over people did not come easy to her yet.
“This is not to punish you, Viv,” she said softly. “It is for your safety. Residents of a small village attacked me because they thought I was you.”
Vivian shot to her feet. “What?”
Roman stood and moved in front of Violet. “Sit down.”
Vivian glared at him and lowered herself into her seat. “I wouldn’t hurt her, I just—I didn’t know.” She swallowed and looked at Violet. “I’m sorry. For everything.”
Roman sat down and snaked an arm around his wife’s waist. Violet leaned into his side for comfort. “I know, and I wish things could have been different between us.”
Vivian leaned back and rested her head against the back of the settee to stare at the ceiling. She whispered, “I wish the gods had bonded him to you first. What was the point?”
“The gods know what they’re doing,” Meri said with unwavering certainty. “Fate cannot be questioned or fought.”
Vivian let out a hollow laugh. “That’s easy for you to say. You weren’t duped. Your heart wasn’t shattered into a thousand pieces.”
“I was,” Violet snapped. “My heart was broken, but not only by Titus, by you, too.” Roman fought the urge to wash her mouth out with soap for reminding him she’d once loved another. “Fate doesn’t force you to act a certain way. That was your choice, and now you must deal with the consequences.”
Silence.
Violet stood. “I would like to have dinner with you all before your departure,” she informed her sister. “We are not close, and have not been for well over a decade, so I’ll not pretend to be now. But I do love you, and I only wish you the best.”
Vivian’s eyes searched Violet’s before she nodded slightly. “I love you, too.”
* * *
War and Roman strolled leisurely behind Violet and Slayton as Roman dismally watched Slayton help the queen gather flowers. It should be him holding her basket, but she’d complained that she’d had no time with Slayton since her return.
“You cannot kill him,”War informed him unhelpfully.
Roman glared at hisfamiliar. “For now.”
Violet and Slayton stopped to pick another bundle, and War plopped down on his hind quarters.“Everyone knows you like the man. Why do you deny it?”
Slayton sniffed a flower Violet held out for him and sneezed. Roman grinned. “Where’s the fun in that?” He considered the tigon at his side. “The beasts from the forest, the ones who fought for us. How is that possible?”
War cocked his head to the side, piercing Roman with his unusual eyes.“Why do you think the gods gave royalsfamiliars?”
Roman’s brows drew together. “Companionship and protection.”
War made a snorting sound, and Roman scowled.“You think the gods sent us to be your friend?”He had.“We are protectors of the kingdoms, just as royals are. In times of need, we can connect with every animal in our kingdoms and call on them for help.”
Roman scratched his jaw. That couldn’t be right. “Not everyfamiliaris derived from the fae lands. The Mountain King has an owl.”
If tigons could roll their eyes, War would have.“The gods give every royal afamiliarthey need. For whatever reason, the Mountain King needed an owl. You needed me.”
“To protect Violet,” Roman said more to himself than War. “Only a beast of your caliber could have saved her from the rebel attacks.”
Roman swore War puffed out his chest.“You are correct.”
“Why don’tfamiliarstell the beasts not to attack normal people? And why didn’t the rebels just glamour themselves and run?” Roman mused. He had a million questions.
