Chapter 6: Bonded

Violet and Eden stayed the rest of the day at Catalina, cleaning and talking with the villagers. There were fallen trees, waves of dried mud against the homes, and hail damage on every roof. Violet needed to rescue her arrow from the side of the tavern, too. Eden had left his crown in the carriage after the storm had blown it through the mud. Even without it he looked regal, too handsome to be chopping fallen trees.

"Now I understand why Catalina was never on the royal tour for rain rituals," Eden remarked to the village leader, Tamsen, taking a break on one of the split logs.

He chuckled, clearly a bit nervous. "We did think it odd, my king, but who am I to question your edicts?"

"I appreciate the respect, but I'd always rather know the truth, Tamsen," Eden said, looking straight at Violet.

She sighed and scraped another shovel full of mud from the side of a home. She couldn't believe Eden had the nerve to be mad at her when he was the one refusing to talk. All afternoon, he'd avoided her. She had plenty of explanations, valid ones with life-or-death consequences, but he wanted to be childish.

She comforted herself with the thought that if he intended to kill her, he would've done so already. Using her powers to become a raging tyrant was still on the table, though.

"Our village has grown accustomed to being overlooked," Tamsen replied. "We sit in the middle of a valley with little protection, so we've learned ways of safeguarding ourselves. Music has a magic all its own. I apologize that we didn't realize how it would affect you, my king."

"An honest misunderstanding," Eden smiled. "Catalina is on the list now. No more being overlooked or fending for yourselves."

"I cannot thank you enough, King Eden."

"Now, will your musicians teach me their drumming techniques? I'm looking forward to heightening my abilities with theirs."

Violet tossed her shovel down. "That's it. Can I speak to you in private, king?"

The last word left her tongue like a curse.

"After you, bodyguard."

She led them to the cover of the trees, making sure no curious villagers were nearby.

"Say it," she demanded.

"What would like me to say, Violet? That the only thing more impressive than your lies would be how many times I believed them?"

"You saw what Curzon was willing to do to get to my magic. I had no idea if I could trust you. I still don't!"

"My life has been full of more betrayals than I can count," Eden replied, his voice resembling thunder. "You're no different."

"Yes, I am," Violet declared. "Those people set out to hurt you. They didn't care what it cost you as long as they got what they wanted. I didn't plan any of this. And if you think you would've acted any differently in my position then you're the liar."

"What I want to know is why. Why did you stick around, saving me and Raegan multiple times?"

"You needed me like I needed you at the river. Where I come from, people help those in need because it's the right thing to do."

Eden leaned over her, his face flushed with anger. She held his gaze. She would not back down. Not until he understood.

"It's my turn to ask a question," Violet said. "Are you going to force me to amplify your powers so you can rule all eleven kingdoms?"

Confusion etched his brow, melting the anger. "That's what you're afraid of? You think I would enslave you?"

"You tell me."

He sighed, running his hands through his white hair. Violet realized he was warring with himself—too many thoughts at once trying to take precedence over the others.

"I have my hands full with one kingdom." He eyed her up and down. "And one rebellious bodyguard."

"You still want me to guard you?"

"I still want you," Eden said, "but you must be honest with me from now on. I can't protect you if you don't."

"I thought I was doing the protecting," Violet answered.

"The Eye of the Monarchs is the ultimate prize. Everyone from bounty hunters to kings are searching for you."

"So, you're not going to sell me to the highest bidder, or use me to win the war," Violet said. "What are you going to do with me, my king?"

"Keep you for myself, obviously."

***

The carriage rumbled along. Eden had returned the crown to his brow but the royal mask appeared to still be back in the forests of Catalina.

"King Eden," Violet said softly, "the uncle who betrayed you, he was Petros' father, right?"

Eden stiffened and nodded.

"Have you forgiven him?"

"Petros had nothing to do with it."

"No, I mean your uncle."

"Oh." Eden leaned back against the seat. "Some days, yes. Others, no."

Violet watched the moonlight dance over his features. He was beautiful. His scarred heart, too. She hoped her heart would look like that one day. Right now, all it could do was bleed.

"What if your parents had betrayed you?" she asked.

His back straightened; his tone dropped. "Is that why you left Eloy?"

She couldn't answer. She refused to cry in front of her king, but one word would start the flood. To her surprise, he reached over and clasped her hand. He felt warm, even comforting. She didn't realize the Storm King had that in him.

"Whatever happened, you're here now. You never have to live through what they did to you again."

His words gave her some courage. "They discovered I had magic. I'd hidden it for so long. A noble came through Eloy a few weeks ago and I couldn't stop my magic calling to his. It was just a moment, but I'll never forget their faces. They were disgusted. I wasn't their daughter anymore—just another one of the elites using their power to trample the commoners."

"Then they never really knew you."

Violet squeezed his hand. "Thank you, my king."

He released her and sat back again. "After all this, you can call me Eden. When no one's around."

"So, never?"

He shrugged. "There's no one here now."