Vivian laughed bitterly. “It was his choice. ‘For my safety,’ he’d said. Until we graduate and he’s stronger, we can’t reveal our bond.”
Lies. There’d be no reason for them to hide the relationship from their families.
It insulted Violet that Vivian thought her dumb enough to believe the blatant lie, but Violet let it go.
“Your clothesarepretty,” Vivian said with a sigh.More lies. Vivian hated Violet’s clothes. “Even if I don’t understand why you’d want to spend hours sewing that weird stuff on. I’m sorry for what I said.”
“You’re terrible at apologizing,” Violet muttered under her breath, wondering what happened to her sister along the years to turn her into the nasty, dishonest person she’d become.
* * *
Roman tugged at the collar of his green formal jacket, hating how it itched. He wore a shirt underneath, but it didn’t help. The ballroom looked like a golden goddess threw up on it with ridiculous silks lining the walls and over-the-top gold statues he hadn’t known his family possessed. Roman’s birthday balls were the perfect excuse for his mother to go wild, and the large ballroom suffered the price.
After greeting every nobleman in attendance, Roman started toward the balcony doors, in need of fresh air, but stopped short when a burst of anger and hurt punched him in the gut.
He clutched at his jacket and sucked in air to combat the swirling emotions within him. They didn’t affect his mood, only his physical body, meaning they weren’t his emotions at all.Vivian.
He might not have felt romantic affection for her, but he was still supposed to marry her one day. His father had noticed the distance between Vivian and Roman and started drilling the importance of prioritizing his mate’s safety and happiness into him. The feelings coming down their bond did not include fear or pain, so physically, she was fine. Ordinarily, her stronger emotions consisted of giddiness and triumph, and this swift change worried him.
Straightening slowly, he scanned the room for her familiar dark auburn hair. The large room brimmed with guests dressed in their finest, milling around to rub shoulders with those they deemed important. Moving along the outside of the crowd, his worry grew.
There. He caught sight of Vivian slipping into the ballroom through a side door. The dark green gown she wore fit her muscular frame well, and Roman could see why the other guys wouldn’t shut up about her, even if she didn’t appeal to him. Her hair hung loose instead of tied back in its usual braid, but the thick locks did nothing to hide the fury on her face.
Roman watched her search the room, and when their gazes collided, determination slithered down their bond. Whatever worry he’d had for her evaporated, replaced with the need to disappear.
Vivian wove her way through the crowd toward him, and he forced himself to stay put. They didn’t speak much outside of school, training, and their weekly dinners, and he didn’t know why she sought him out now.
“I’ve been looking for you,” she said breathlessly. “Can I speak with you outside?” Vivian glanced over her shoulder. Roman followed her line of sight, but there were too many people to see what, orwho, she was looking at. Smug satisfaction, strong and potent, traveled down the bond, and he had to fight to tamp down his own contempt.
He opened the door to the small balcony and ushered her outside. Before he could close the balcony door, Vivian tenderly cupped his cheek. The gesture took him by surprise, and he wrapped his fingers around her wrist.
“I’ve been wanting to do this all night,” she murmured and kissed him before he could yank her hand away from his face.
Revulsion filled him as she stole his first kiss. It feltwrong, not only to him, but to Vivian as well if the unease flowing down the bond was any indication.
He jerked back, and Vivian sighed. As he started to ask her what the hell she was doing, someone cleared their throat and stepped out of the far shadows of the balcony.
Violet.
Roman’s world tilted. Pain flashed in her big blue eyes, and he wanted nothing more than to shove Vivian over the railing. He and Violet were nothing but friends, but the need to beg for her forgiveness rode him hard.
Violet laughed nervously. “I’ll give you two privacy.”
Vivian giggled shamelessly and malicious glee zipped down the bond. “Sorry, Vi. I didn’t realize you were still out here.”
Roman’s gaze snapped to Violet, and his body stiffened at the wooden smile plastered on her face. “Hiding?” he tried to tease.
They always met on this small balcony during his birthday balls, and had he known what Vivian intended to pull, he would have kept the viper far away. Roman thought that in her vulnerable state, she might have needed his help.
What a fool he’d been.
Violet laughed lightly again. “Always. I’ll see you two later.”
Miserable, he watched Violet leave, and when the door snicked shut behind her, he took a step away from Vivian. “What was that about?”
Vivian had the nerve to glare at him. “I wanted to see if there was a spark yet. We’re only a few years away from graduation.”
“Bullshit,” he accused. “We’re supposed to keep a low profile, and you just fucking kissed me in front of everyone.”
