“Animals are wild. We do not disrupt their nature unless absolutely needed,”War explained.“When called upon to protect, they can see through their enemies’ glamour.”
“Roman!” Violet shrieked. Had he not felt her excitement through the bond, he would have thought something bad happened and killed Slayton on reflex.
He and War started toward the other two. “What is it, princess?”
She waved a solid pink flower proudly in the air. “I found one.”
He had no idea what she was talking about but smiled anyway. “It’s beautiful.” Slayton held out the basket, but Roman plucked the flower from his wife’s hand. “I’ll carry it.”
45
A cold sweat marred Violet’s forehead and she shook out her arms. “What if they throw things at me and boo me?”
“Then they will die,” Roman said as if he hadn’t threatened to murder people for a minor infraction.
She knew he wasn’t joking, but said, “That’s not funny,” anyway.
The corner of his mouth tipped up. It was a game they played now—him threatening people and Violet pretending to not take him seriously. No casualties so far, but Violet stayed at the ready to intervene if things went sideways. She loved his protectiveness, but she also couldn’t allow him to turn the kingdom against them.
Both of their parents met them at the bunker gate, and Sarah pulled Violet into a tight hug. “I remember our coronation day.” She stepped away and Felix reached for his wife’s hand.
“Believe it or not, this one almost puked,” he said, smiling down at her.
Sarah glared at him, and he grinned wide. “I did not. Don’t scare the girl.”
Their familiar teasing loosened the knot in Violet’s chest.Every mate since the beginning of time went through this, she reminded herself.
They were also bonded to their mate from the beginning. There were those in the kingdom who did not believe she and Roman were bonded mates, and they had no real way to prove it. Roman didn’t care. Violet did. Slipping her arm through Roman’s, she breathed out a calming breath. “I’m ready.”
* * *
Everyone in the capital and many others from around the kingdom showed up for the coronation. The lore of Roman’s first mate breaking his bond and him marrying the sister had spread to all corners of Eden. A situation like theirs had never happened before.
They’d not invited the royals from other kingdoms on such short notice, but word had spread throughout the Tropical Kingdom like wildfire. A dais stood tall in front of the palace; the courtyard packed to the brim. Violet stood at Roman’s side in the middle of the platform with War sitting patiently on Violet’s other side.
Sarah stood with her husband, amplifying cone in hand, and announced Violet for all to hear. In normal circumstances, the current king and queen crowned the new king and queen, but Sarah and Felix no longer ruled the kingdom, Roman did. Therefore, he’d be crowning his own queen.
He stepped forward and took the crown from his father’s hands and turned to the crowd, refusing the amplifying cone. His booming voice carried far enough to count. “There is no better woman to be my soulmate, wife, and queen than Violet Maekin Covington. I have known this since I was twelve years old.” He paused to survey the crowd, daring them to object. “When the rebels attacked, it was Violet who insisted those who cannot fight be sheltered in our home. When the townspeople of a nearby village stood by while men beat my wife, it was she who insisted the children be led away. It was she who saved the life of two of the people responsible for her attack.”
Cheers rippled through the crowd, and Violet’s throat tightened with gratitude that was squashed by an angry shout. “Marrying her is an abomination.”
War growled, and Violet clutched at her chest as Roman’s fury ripped through her—a feeling so strong, it stole her ability to speak. Regardless of her mate’s white hot rage singeing Violet from the inside out, Roman’s face remained impassive. Violet tried to soothe his anger through the bond, but nothing changed.
He clasped his hands behind his back and said diplomatically, “If anyone has grievances with the crowning of my wife, please bring them to the front and I will hear your reasoning.”
Violet moved to the other side of the dais toward Sarah and Felix. “You have to do something.”
Felix looked worried, but Sarah looked proud. “You don’t understand,” Violet insisted. “His emotions are scorching me from the inside out.”
Sarah reached over and patted her arm. “Let him protect you in the only way he knows how.”
Violet balked. “The only way he knows how is murder.”
Sarah lifted a shoulder. “So be it.”
“It’s no use,” Felix explained on a sigh. “They’re just alike.”
The blood drained from Violet’s face at the realization no one would, or could, stop him. “Oh shit.”
