“I'm sorry about what I said before,” I added in a low voice. “About it being your fault. I didn't mean it.”
“But it is my fault,” Roman said, his voice thick. “Itis. I fucked everything up.”
I shook my head. “I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again. Cal’s blood isn’t on your hands. It’s on the hands of whoever killed her.”
He shook his head. “I'll always believe it was my fault,” he said, dabbing at his face with his sleeve. “I'll never forgive myself.”
We stood there in silence for a moment. Then Violet spoke again, her voice soft but clear. “When this is all over, and I go back and visit home in California... I can put your ring on Calista's grave,” she said. “The one she was holding when she died. If you want that, I mean.”
Roman's head snapped up, eyes widening. “Really?”
“Yes.” She nodded. “Or you could come with me and do it yourself.”
Fresh tears spilled down Roman's face, but he was smiling now. A broken, devastated smile, but a smile nonetheless. “Thanks,” he murmured. “That... that means more than you know.”
I felt something shift in the air between the three of us. An understanding. An alliance. Whatever happened next, we were in this together.
“Let’s get out of here,” I said, glancing at the broken door. “I think we could all use a drink.”
Roman wiped his face with his sleeve, trying to pull himself together. “Hold on. There's something else you should know,” he said, his voice still rough. “Violet's agreed to stay and go through the training. So you don’t have to worry about her trying to escape, or anything like that.”
I looked at her, brows rising. “You want to stay?”
She nodded. “For now. Roman explained why it's safer this way.”
“She's stayingwillingly,” Roman emphasized, looking at me. “So you don't need to keep her under total lock and key. She's not going to run or cause any problems for you with the Council.”
I studied Violet's face, searching for any sign of deception or malice. But all I saw was determination, and beneath that, the smallest flicker of something else when she met my eyes. Something that made my chest tighten.
“I’m glad to hear it,” I said slowly. I stepped closer to her and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close. She stiffened but didn’t pull away. “Let’s go back upstairs now.”
Roman led the way through the labyrinth, his footsteps echoing off the damp stone. I kept Violet close, hyperaware of every inch of contact between us. Her hip against mine, the way she matched my stride, the warmth of her body seeping through her clothes.
I leaned down, my lips brushing the shell of her ear. “I knew you'd decide to stay in the end,” I murmured. “Though I did enjoy you throwing things at me earlier when you still wanted to escape. You’re sexy when you’re mad.”
She pulled away, putting some space between us. “Just to be clear,” she hissed. “I’m only staying for everyone’s safety, and also so your brother and I can help each other find Cal’s killer. That’s it.”
I smirked. “Of course.”
“It doesn't mean anything else. It doesn't mean I'm going to be with you,” she went on, eyes flashing. “So you should get that idea out of your head right now. Kill whatever feelings you think you have for me.”
I laughed, and the sound echoed through the corridor, making Roman glance back at us. “Oh, Violet,” I said, catching her hand and pulling her back against me before she could protest. My mouth found her ear again. “You're going to be my wife. And you’re going tochoosethat for yourself. You just don't know it yet.”
She tried to jerk away, but I held her firm.
“In case Roman didn’t tell you this already… the training takes three months,” I whispered. I pressed a kiss just below her ear, feeling her shiver despite herself. “Three months of me showing you exactly what it means to be mine. Once it’s over, youwillmake that choice in the end, and you’ll be happy to do it. You’ll see.”
I released her then, letting her put some distance between us again. She was breathing hard, cheeks flushed, eyes blazing with fury. God, she was beautiful when she was angry.
“Come on,” I said, voice casual as if I hadn't just felt her pulse racing beneath my lips. “We don't want to be late for dinner.”
As we climbed the stairs toward the main level, I couldn't stop the smile spreading across my face.
She was staying. She was mine. And soon, she'd finally realize it too.
35
Violet
