Violet I expected a lot of things when the music changed, signaling that it was my turn to walk. I thought I would be nervous. I thought I would hesitate, and yet I walked forward without thinking about it. I even thought that I would miss my father in this moment, but I didn't. The whispers ros
The whispers had dulled, replaced by an expectant silence. “Nonsense old friend,” the High Priest said. “There is nothing ceremonial about your presence here.” Her lips twitched. “For the law within this country, my appearance is completely ceremonial.” “Ah, I do forget that.” He chuckled to h
Violet’s POV I swallowed, turning to Theodore. My eyes were wide, but I did as I was told. My hands were so small and delicate looking in his, trembling subtly. He smiled at me as the smoke weaved around our hands, tying them together. I wasn’t prepared for the jolt of awareness that went throug
“Violet,” I whispered, my voice hoarse, but she didn’t seem to hear me. Her tears didn’t stop, and I couldn’t tell if they were from pain, relief, or something else entirely. The High Priest’s voice cut through the quiet. “You may now kiss your bride.” The weight of his words hit me like a tid
Violet The grand doors to the banquet hall swung open, and the hum of voices swelled into a roar. I held my head high, schooling my expression into one of serene confidence as Theodore and I walked in together. The crowns of light still lingered, drawing everyone’s attention. The banquet hall of M
The woman, dressed in a flowing emerald gown, seemed hesitant, her hands fluttering at her sides as though unsure whether to reach out. The man, tall and broad-shouldered with a slight flush on his cheeks, finally stepped closer. I couldn’t hear their words over the music, but his lips moved in what
Violet My hands shook at the thought. It was unsettling, to say the least. I had been so sure. We both had been so sure that we were mates. It had been the only reason we’d gotten married in the first place. The thought that it had been a lie made me doubt the past seven years, made me doubt the m
Her gaze softened. “He has… left a deep wound in you.” I flinched and looked away. “I’m fine.” “You are,” she said. “I never doubted it, but that does not mean that the wound is not still there.” She leaned against me. “You fight too hard against your draw toward Theodore,” she said softly. “It
Theodore’s POVEvery time Eva brushed her knee up against mine in the carriage or leaned her head on my shoulder or interlaced our fingers, I breathed through my nose and reminded myself that it was better than the reverse scenario. I’m not sure I’d be able to go through with this plan if some other
Violet’s POVLily and Kincaid gaped at me in shock. Lily glanced to Kincaid, clearly expecting him to say something. When he didn’t, she stepped forward so that she stood next to him.“Violet,” she started carefully. Even as a Gamma, I would never ask her to call me by my title because she was my be
Violet’s POVI was following my staff to my room where they were carrying my belongings, when a figure sitting at my desk caught my attention through the open door to my study.“Auntie!” I grinned widely as I broke off from the caravan to my bedroom to hug the High Priestess in my study. She grinned
I took comfort in the knowledge that he was clearly stronger than her, and I promised traumatic vengeance if his strength wasn’t enough.“Alpha Donovan,” I corrected.“I beg your pardon?” she asked, confused.“You called me Violet. I am the Alpha of Darkmoon, and since you are only a Luna, it is cus
Violet’s POVTheodore and I scrambled to separate from each other as Eva’s steps thundered closer. Being found in nothing but towels wouldn’t particularly help craft the illusion I was aiming for, but there was nothing to be done about it now.By the time Eva flung open the bathroom door, I managed
Theo’s gaze became unfocused, and I knew he was replaying the scene from dinner. “So you faked your reaction,” he concluded, but then his brows bunched. “To the point of vomiting?”I hesitated at that. “That was unintentional. I imagined losing you to make my response more believable, but I must hav
Violet’s POVI had been greedy.I could see how distraught Theo was, how deeply he had believed my false devastation. But as he set me down in my shower, I realized what I needed to do. I realized this might be the last minutes I had with him for an unknown amount of time.So instead of comforting h
Theodore’s POVI didn’t understand why the Moonstone glowed.Yes, I felt some sort of pull toward Eva, but everything about her felt off. And I still also felt a pull toward Violet, even if it did feel battered and beaten. Then I turned in horror to Violet out of habit, turned to my mate who I had p
Violet’s POVYou knew this would happen.A remnant of a long-lost fear whispered in my ear, reminding me of the belief I once felt so strongly: that Theodore and I were only together because of a contract, a transaction, a business arrangement and that I would be smart to never become emotionally en