Theodore I blinked, caught between skepticism and an overwhelming warmth at the gesture. “You’re cooking for me?” “Don’t sound so surprised,” she teased, opening another jar. “I can be domestic when it suits me.” I couldn’t help but laugh. “My mouth is already watering in anticipation…" “You’ll
Despite the prick of worry, the thought of her… teaching me something because she thought it was something that I should know, something she wanted to share with me, something that would draw me closer to her made me smile. "Will you tell me… why?" Violet's lips twitched. "You're a Noble Consort n
Theodore The helicopter’s blades slowed to a lazy spin as we landed on the Vainthott estate’s helipad. From above, the territory had been a patchwork of sprawling fields and stately hills, but now, standing here, I could see the meticulous order behind it all. Nothing was out of place. I stepped o
Before I knew it, we were walking into the Vainthott estate. It was like stepping into another world. It had all the gravitas the palace should have if all the grand little details hadn't been destroyed. It made me wonder what the Donovan Estate looked like. The air shimmered faintly, charged with
Theodore I shook his hand and nodded. Then, he shooed us off, and I followed Violet through the garden, stopping now and then as she made introductions. Each new face came with a title, a history, and a handshake or polite nod. It was all a little overwhelming—not because it was difficult to keep u
I laughed. "Violet said you're in agriculture. How are things? With the storm systems and all." For the next several minutes, we talked about crop rotations, irrigation systems, and the challenges of balancing agricultural growth with environmental preservation in the middle of what looked like onc
Theodore "Not to mention forgetting to invite the alpha of Darkmoon, a noble by all counts." A ripple of a murmur went through the gathering. The garden seemed to hold its breath. Nobles whispered, their disdain barely masked as they watched the scene unfold. Violet straightened, her gaze steady a
Violet put a hand on her arm, a quiet gesture that somehow stopped the fiery Luna in her tracks. “Seraphine, wait. Don’t do anything rash." Her jaw dropped. “You are on my right, as I have always been on yours and your mother's before you. You can’t expect me to let them stay! You know I’d rather g
I dropped the trowel and frying pan next to the baseball and bat, shaking my head at this makeshift arsenal. “My baby is already too smart for its own good.”Bennett opened his mouth to respond, but he was interrupted when we were distracted by Theo suddenly vanishing into thin air. My cousin and I
Violet’s POV“Just try.”It didn’t matter how many times I explained to Bennett that Auntie had said the baby’s magic would sway my magic toward more innocent manifestations. He wasn’t convinced.Theo was on the other side of Marcy’s backyard, fists clenched, gaze unfocused, as he tried to complete
Theodore’s POVI was searching the archives’ computer for anything related to forehead bands when my phone rang. My phone screen showed, “Aunt Lillith”. Adding her to my contacts with the title of “aunt” was partially an affectionate and respectful decision, but mostly it was to avoid Eva’s wrath in
Violet’s POVPart of me wondered it not worrying Theo was an excuse. If the years with Lucas not being the partner I needed had subconsciously trained me to stay independent. To never lean on anyone, even temporarily, because they couldn’t be trusted to hold me up. Even still, Theo was right. So I
We pulled out of our kiss, my head dizzy with love and hope. We would find the answers we needed. We would find a future together.“You said there were answers to four questions.” I looked between the two of them, tallying the three they’d already shared. “What’s the fourth?”Violet thought for a mo
Theodore’s POV“Alari, please wake up!”I held Violet’s head in my lap, her jaw terrifyingly slack. I dared a glance at the High Priestess who had collapsed in a heap at the same time that Violet’s body had gone completely limp. “High Priestess?!”This wasn’t happening.I reached for my phone, thank
Theodore’s POVIn one breath, the love of my life laying still in the grass let out a gut-wrenching scream and the High Priestess dropped to her knees. I lunged for my wife but was thrown back by an invisible force. When I pulled myself upright, the High Priestess had a hand outstretched, clearly us
Auntie folded her hands in front of her. “Altrosis is an attempt to control magic enough to pin it down and examine it. One could more easily pin down the wind.”As if to illustrate her point, a cool breeze swept through the clearing, though not a hair on Auntie’s head swayed in its drift.“Magic is
Violet’s POVThe jungle outside the village my family lived in was beautiful. It was lush and alive, humming with magic like the air itself was breathing. I had only visited this village and its surrounding area a few times in my life, but I’d always made time to come stand among the ferns and frond