If the time came and Roman hadn’t found a way, he’d ask to push it back again. If they said no, he’d find another way. A royal refusing to marry their mate defied the gods and put their kingdom’s future safety at risk, but selfishly, he didn’t care.
Violet tied up the end of her dress and waded into the water, her movements slow as she pushed against the small waves lapping at her shins. Roman removed his boots and socks and rolled up his pants to join her.
He drank in her beauty, always greedy for more. Assessing all of her while she slept proved difficult, but following her around allowed him to study her more closely.
She bent at the waist and reached into the water with utter determination. Tipping forward to see her hands through the clear water, Roman watched Violet’s fingers dig through the sand for buried treasures to add to her bucket sitting on the shore. He’d watched her do this countless times and wished he could be the one holding her bucket every single one of them.
Violet straightened and held up a clear horn-shaped shell that reflected the sunlight in an array of colors. Everything in the fae lands burst with color, and the trinkets in the ocean were no different.
The smile she blessed him with lit up her entire face, and Roman wished he could capture it in a painting to carry with him everywhere. Happiness didn’t exist in his life outside of these coveted moments, and he’d not give up a single second unless necessary. Even then, he sometimes shirked his duties to soak her in.
There was nothing normal about following her around, obsessing over her every move, but it didn’t matter. Not having her in his life wasn’t an option. It hadn’t been since the day he’d crashed into her and broken her shells.
Violet faced the shore, pushed her legs through the water with big steps, and carefully placed the shell into her bucket before heading back out.
Her cheeks and nose were red, and Roman tilted his head toward the sun with a frown.How long has she been out here?Did she forget to put on sun protectant?
“Violet!”
Roman whipped around at the male voice and glowered at the medium-height boy with pale, peachy skin and white-blond hair jogging across the white sand. A lock of tow-colored hair fell in his face, and Roman cursed the handsome fucker.
Slayton Robbins.
Violet grinned widely. “What are you doing out here?”
Slayton set down his bag, took off his footwear, rolled up his trousers, and picked up Violet’s bucket. “My father let me leave the store early today. I was hoping I’d catch you out here.”
How many times had this half-wit accompanied Violet without Roman knowing? Roman glared at the bucket in Slayton’s hand. If it hadn’t held Violet’s precious finds, he would have knocked it out of his grasp.
Violet trekked back into the ocean with both he and Slayton on her heels. “Was it slow today?”
Slayton shrugged. “It comes in waves. The rebel attacks in the Mountain Kingdom have a lot of people scared. They come in and buy enough food to last them for a while so they don’t have to leave their homes unless necessary.”
Violet’s posture stiffened, and Roman considered drowning Slayton for mentioning rebels in her presence. It wasn’t like anyone would know his death was Roman’s doing. Violet would only see Slayton fall and struggle beneath the surface.
Roman shook off the notion, unwilling to traumatize her further by making her watch her friend die.
As much as Roman loathed to admit it, Slayton’s information intrigued him. Rebel attacks were increasing across Eden, but an increase in attacks every few decades was nothing new. Roman’s mother claimed it was because they either switched leadership or needed to rebuild their factions from their previous failed attacks. The Mountain Kingdom dealt with the most increased activity as of late.
If the Tropical Kingdom’s people were frightened, the king and queen needed to know. Roman glared harder at Slayton, annoyed he’d been useful.
Violet leaned over and dug around the ocean floor. “That makes sense. Is Griff still in training?” Her quick subject change did not go unnoticed by Slayton, and he had the good grace to look guilty.
Slayton held out the bucket. “Your mother stopped by earlier to drop off the new chest binders you made me. I like the new buttons. I’ve never seen the long flat ones before.”
Violet dropped a few pebbles into the bucket. “Did you see the different button slots on the underside of the cloth to make it tighter? That way, if you lose all of those big muscles, you can size it down.”
Roman smirked at her teasing and sized up Slayton’s stout, muscular frame. He had a farmer’s strength from lifting heavy sacks of grain as opposed to the fighting strength of a warrior.
Slayton held up his free arm and flexed. “Don’t think I didn’t notice the other slots you put in to accommodate my musclesexpanding.”
Roman took a step toward the scoundrel, forgetting his stealth, and both Violet and Slayton whipped around when the water splashed with his movement.
“I think it’s just a fish,” Violet dismissed and redirected her attention to Slayton’s chest. “Are you wearing the new one now? You really have bulked up since the last time I made you one, and I wanted to make sure there was enough fabric, but not too much to ruin the compression.”
“Not yet,” Slayton replied. “I’ll try it on when I get home. I need my mother to help me the first few times until I get used to the new style.”
Violet motioned to Slayton’s things in the sand. “Do you have them with you? I can show you how to use them.”
