Griff, the traitor, picked up Marissa’s braid and dropped it. “It’s fitting.”
“Who told you about the attack,” Roman’s voice cut through their friendly banter.
Marissa jerked her thumb over her shoulder toward Saltu. “I passed the messenger sent by the border guards yesterday. He was riding like hell, so I stopped him to see what was going on.”
All plausible. Dammit. Violet tended to take people at face value and see the best until they proved the worst, but Marissa rubbed her the wrong way. The warrior wanted Roman, that much Violet knew, but as far as her excuse for getting here so fast, it made sense. Yet, Violet couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d lied.
“You never said why you were already on your way to the border,” Violet said, going for casual.
Marissa’s eyes slid briefly to Roman. “It didn’t feel right being in the capital without Rome. I don’t really have any other friends.” She shrugged. “I left a few days after him.”
“It’s not safe for you to be traveling alone right now,” Roman interjected. “The rebels are growing bolder. They openly attacked the Desert King and Queen with me on the other side of the border.”
“It’s not like them to be that stupid,” Ares added. “There were five of us and a dozen border guards within running distance. They only had eleven fighters. It doesn’t make sense.” He looked disapprovingly at Marissa. “It was foolish of you to come alone.”
Marissa threw her hands up. “There hasn’t been a rebel attack in the Tropical Kingdom in years. The attack at the border happened after I left. How was I supposed to know?”
“It doesn’t matter now,” Griff butted in before addressing Roman. “Are Amos and Clover travelling with us?”
Roman shook his head. “I’ve asked them to go back home.”
Everyone froze. “They’re not coming to the coronation?” Ares asked.
“I’m not having a public coronation.” Roman looked calm, which was absurd because he might as well have said he was setting the entire kingdom on fire. “It’s too dangerous to have that big of a gathering after what just happened. I’ve already sent word to the other kingdoms and to every general in our kingdom.”
Griff whistled. “People are going to be pissed. That’s all anyone in the capital has talked about for the last few months.”
“We’ll have a public celebration,” he explained, still calm, “but not until later, once we have the issue with the rebels under control.”
“I get it,” Griff assured him. “All the royals in one place is like a barrel of fish.”
“It’s never been a problem in the past,” Ares pointed out. “All the royals together are unstoppable. They could easily glamour themselves invisible and then slaughter every rebel one by one.”
“Ifthey see the rebels coming,” Marissa said thoughtfully. “I agree with Roman. Having a private ceremony is safer.” She smiled warmly at Roman, but he ignored her, his mind already on his next task.
To Violet’s delight, the woman looked thoroughly annoyed.
* * *
By the time their party stopped for good, Violet wanted to lie in front of the carriage horses and tell them to trample her. Her hips and back hurt from sitting for hours on end with little reprieve. They’d only paused twice, just long enough for Violet to relieve herself. Roman had stocked the carriage with food that morning and the others had food in their pack saddles, so they’d not have to stop for meals.
The trip might not have been so unbearable if she had someone to talk to, but Roman explained that the lighter the carriage, the faster the carriage horses could go. He could have at least ridden close enough to the carriage for her to speak to him out the window. Instead, he hung back to bring up the rear. All in all, she was sore, cranky, and bored out of her mind.
It didn’t help that she could hear the others chattering amongst themselves. She’d tried to talk to them through the window opening, but she’d had to yell for them to hear her over the road noise.
The only one who’d stayed close to the carriage was War, and he could do nothing more than offer her pitying looks.
The rumble of Roman’s voice followed by Marissa’s laughter had Violet’s mood darkening. Fumbling with the door handle, she almost fell face first to the ground when Ares opened it from the other side.
The man’s quick reflexes saved her from embarrassing herself more, and he chuckled. “Easy.”
Roman appeared at their side in seconds, tugged her out of Ares’ hold, and tucked her into his side. Fire would have burned Ares alive slower than Roman’s glare did. Ares held his hands up. “Someone had to help her out of the carriage.”
Violet didn’t miss the challenge in his words, and neither did Roman, if the stiffening of his body was any indication. “I was about to.”
Marissa stood in the background with a smug smile on her face. In times like these, Violet wished she had trained with Viv so she could attack the woman properly. Her father had only taught her defense.
Reaching up, Violet grazed Roman’s jaw to grab his attention and tapped her lips teasingly. “I haven’t spoken to you in hours, and this is how you greet me?”
