She patted his cheek and winked. “I’ll tell everyone my sister dared me to kiss the prince. They won’t know we’re mates.” Vivian threw open the door, waltzed inside, and looked around. Roman watched as she theatrically swiped a thumb across her lips. “I’ll see you later, Rome.”
Then it hit him like a bolt of lightning. Vivian had used him to make someone jealous. The little serpent.
His fingers clasped around her upper arm to stop her retreat, and he leaned down. “I can feel your stronger emotions,” he reminded her. “Something upset you earlier, and when you kissed me, you wanted to recoil as much as I did.” She stiffened and turned a dark shade of red. “We have a lifetime together. Let’s not start lying to each other now.”
Vivian turned to face him so that the room was at her back and lowered her voice. “Fuck you, Rome.”
He smirked. “I can feel when you do that too.” The air between them grew heavy with tension. “We’re not together, and as long as you’re discreet, I don’t care who you sleep with, but do not ever use me again.”
Without waiting for a reply, he stepped around her and left.
* * *
Violet hurried from the ballroom and realized with absolute horror that she was in love with Roman Covington. The proof lay in the way her heart beat erratically, pumping the painful venom of heartbreak through her body. Her insides hollowed out, and a prickling sensation crawled across her skin.
How did this happen?
Roman belonged to Vivian, always had, and Violet had only ever wanted happiness for them, but seeing Roman kiss Vivian tore Violet to pieces. Her feelings were the worst kind of betrayal to her sister, whether her sister liked Roman or not.
Violet’s throat tightened. Ridiculous, all of it. Another thought, worse than the last, struck her. Vivianhadn’tlied about dating Roman. Perhaps at one time she’d dated someone else, but not now. That means shedidcheat on Roman.
Oh gods.The sob Violet fought hard to contain escaped and echoed off the stone walls of the hallway. She felt sick and guilty and confused all at once, and the need to be far away from the palace overwhelmed her. If anyone happened upon her in this state, she’d die of embarrassment if the pain didn’t kill her first.
Twin trails of warmth slid down her cheeks, and she swiped her sleeve across the evidence of her foolishness.I’m crying over my sister’s boyfriend.Gods, please forgive me.
The quiet pat of her slippers against the marble floor were soon joined by quicker, louder footsteps behind her, and she swore inwardly.
“Violet, wait.”
Of course it had to be him.She swiped at her cheeks again and slowed her steps, turning to Roman with a forced bright smile. “Skipping out on your own party?” Her voice sounded stuffy from crying.Damn it.
He fell in step beside her and studied her face, taking in every detail. She knew what he saw: bloodshot, puffy eyes and a pink nose that hopefully wasn’t dripping.
Dear gods, if you would kindly pull me to the heavens now, I will never ask for anything again.
Roman touched her elbow to stop her, his expression tortured. Violet’s breath hitched.Can he see how I feel?His pity would be her undoing. If he tried to let her down with a valiant speech, Violet would disappear into the wild and never return.
“You should go back to your party before your mother sends the entire battalion looking for you,” she suggested lightly.
Roman grimaced. “I don’t know why Vivian kissed me.”
Violet’s brows lowered, wondering why he felt the need to pacify her with a lie. A pity“we’re just friends”talk would be better than the insult of an untruth. “That’s what mates do, is it not?”
His eyes searched hers, but she didn’t know for what. Heartbreak, shame, and humiliation were the only things he’d find. “We’re not supposed to in public,” he reminded her.
Violet smiled softly, hating the way his confirmation of their relationship cracked her chest wide open. “I’m not the public. You can kiss her all you want.” Tears threatened to make an appearance, and she wanted to scream.I swear to the gods, eyes, if you leak in front of him, I will pluck you out myself.
Much to her dismay, they didn’t heed her warning, and a bead of moisture escaped.
Roman reached up and swiped away her tear with a gentle stroke of his thumb. “Why are you crying?”
“I’ve had a bad day,” she admitted, not even having to lie. Watching him kiss Vivian ruined any joy the day had granted her. “And I’m tired.”
Did he step closer or had she imagined it?
Roman had yet to remove his hand from her cheek; his thumb still moving softly across her skin. “What happened to make it bad?”
There was no concern in his question, but a challenge. She stared at him, trying to figure out his meaning. Did he want her to admit what she felt to further her humiliation?No. Many things could be used to describe Roman, but cruel and arrogant did not make the list. What, then?
