Violet hurried off before she did something stupid, like tell him she thought he was handsome too.
* * *
“I like her,”War told Roman as they trekked toward the palace.“Are you two close?”
Roman didn’t respond at first. They were close, but the older they got, the more he wished they were mates with a ferocity unlike any other. “I like her, but I’m mated to her sister.”
“Do you like her as more than a friend?”
“Yes,” Roman answered without hesitation. He stopped abruptly when something occurred to him. It was a stupid thought, he knew that, but he needed to ask for peace of mind. The gods blessedfamiliars; maybe they knew things the fae didn’t.
“Do you know a way to transfer a mate bond from one person to another? I know the bond can break if Vivian or I marry another, but is there a way to form a bond with someone else?”
“That is a fool’s wish,”War replied after a moment.“The bond can break, but only the gods can grant a new one.”
Marrying Violet would break his bond with Vivian, but he didn’t know if it would form a new bond because it’d never been done.
“If I married Violet and broke the bond with Vivian, it would force the gods to bond me to Violet, right?” His excitement grew the more he thought about it. It made sense. The royal bloodline must stay strong, and they’d have no choice but to bond them together.
War chuffed.“You cannot force the gods to do anything. I like Violet, but do not play with fate. It will not end well.”
Only silence followed, and a darkness blanketed Roman as hisfamiliar’swords settled in his soul.
7
SIXTEEN YEARS OLD
Vivian sat cross-legged on her bed while Violet lounged on her own across the room. Violet’s side had strings of beads and dried flowers decorating the walls to match her purple quilt, while Vivian only had an undecorated bookshelf, a brown quilt, and bare walls.
“Do you want to see the new dress I made for Roman’s birthday ball tonight?” Violet asked her twin, twisting around to look at her.
The grating sound of Vivian sharpening her knife halted, and she looked up. “Is it frilly like the last one?”
“A lace border is not frilly,” Violet protested. “Mom bought me real beads for my birthday.” Usually Violet made her own out of stones and pebbles, but that took forever and they were never smooth or symmetrical.
Vivian scoffed. “Beads? Maybe if you wore normal clothes you’d have a boyfriend to take you to the ball instead of tagging along with Mom and Dad.”
Violet counted to ten in her head before speaking again. “A lot of girls dress like I do.” She’d had enough of Vivian’s insults. “You act as if I’m an outcast because I’ve never had a boyfriend. What do you care if boys like my dresses or not? I don’t make you feel stupid for fighting or wearing nothing but neutral colors all the time.”
“I’m trying to help you,” Vivian snapped back. The older they got, the worse she treated Violet, and Violet didn’t understand where her sister’s growing hostility came from. “If the truth hurts your feelings, that’s on you.” Vivian sniffed and went back to sharpening her dagger, the sound making Violet want to scream.
Violet refused to admit it, but the fact that no boys showed interest in her hurt. No one knew Viv and Roman were mates, and boys flirted with her incessantly, but not Violet. “If you’re going to be rude, keep your opinions to yourself. I’ll wear what I want,frillylace and all.”
Vivian turned murderous eyes on Violet, taking her aback. “You’re just trying to get Roman’s attention,” she sneered. “It’s obvious you’re jealous that I’m his mate. Wearing flashy clothes and throwing yourself at him isn’t going to work.”
Violet’s mouth fell open.Roman?Where did that come from? She and Roman were only friends. How was that throwing herself at him?
“Are you insane? When have I given you the impression I was jealous?” Yes, Violet had been jealous when they were younger. She’d have an occasional fleeting thought here and there, but she’d always respected their bond. “If I wanted to ruin your relationship, I would have told him about your secret boyfriend,” she seethed. “You are the only one of us who is disloyal.”
The blood drained from Vivian’s face, and Violet smiled with smug satisfaction as her sister scrambled for something to say. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Violet snorted. “You’re not as stealthy as you think. Roman is my friend, but you’re my sister, and I wouldn’t betray you that way no matter how horribly you treat me. Don’t ever accuse me of something like that again.”
Vivian ran a hand through her hair, her skin still a deathly pallor. “It’s Roman.” Violet’s brows lowered. “My boyfriend,” Vivian clarified.
Violet knew her sister had lied. It hadn’t been Roman’s voice Violet heard through the door a year and a half ago, nor had it been Roman her sister slept with last year, according to him.
Judging by her sister’s reaction, she and her mystery boy were still together. “Why would you need to hide your relationship with your mate?” Violet challenged.
