Page 257

"It just crossed my mind," Lila said suddenly, "What if Elsie doesn’t spill her secret before the time is up?"

Daisy’s attention perked up instantly, her analytical mind already running through the implications.

She said to Violet, "Lila’s right. Everything we’re planning hinges on bugging her room and catching her off guard.

But if I were Elsie, I’d be extra careful especially during a sensitive week like this.

If her secret is as dangerous as we think, she’s not going to be careless about it. "

Ivy added next, "And don’t forget, parents officially start trooping in by Friday.

Knowing my kind the aristocrats, they’ll be turning on the charm and flashing their perfect hair, perfect smiles, trying to win over the parents.

Elsie would undoubtedly be leading the parade and would not risk ruining her image with one slip-up. She’ll be all glitter and grace."

Violet nodded, finally seeing the cracks in the plan.

"You’re both right. Elsie isn’t stupid and would be extra cautious during this period.

She’ll walk on eggshells, even in private.

We can’t wait for her to slip. If we want to get that secret, we’ll have to create the conditions to make her crack. "

The girls looked at her in surprise but Violet continued to speak, this time, more fiercely. "People don’t reveal their secrets when they’re calm. They spill them when they’re emotional. When they’re backed into a corner, when their blood is boiling. That’s when the truth slips through."

"I’ll trigger Elsie." Violet announced, her eyes burning with purpose. "Mess with her head and make her feel like she’s losing control, like everything is slipping through her fingers. I’ll light a fire under her throne.

.. . " her smile curved, slow and dangerous, "She’ll be the one to set herself on fire. We’ll just be there to catch the spark. "

There was silence for a while until Ivy let out a whistle, "Damn, you’re scary when you’re like this."

Violet simply shrugged. Everyone had a darkness inside of them and it all depended on how you handled it. Right now, she wanted it out for a little play.

"How are you going to do what you just said?" Daisy asked her.

Violet said, "Elsie thrives on control. She’s the way she is because of the favour of the Alpha king. She thinks no matter her bad behavior that the cardinal alphas would come back to her. I’m going to make her believe that’s not the case."

"Ooh, interesting." Lila was excited. The princess was so cool the Fae Queen herself would weep in pride. Her little Fae could hold her own even in the midst of opposition.

Folding her hands behind her back, Violet began to pace up and down the room like a commander briefing her squad before an ambush. "You heard the Oracle. I have Asher and Griffin on my side, undoubtedly. But what she doesn’t know is that Roman is wrapped around my fingers."

"What do you mean by that?" Daisy asked, instantly suspicious, her gaze narrowing.

Violet tapped the inside of her mouth with her tongue, wondering how much she could tell them. "Roman Draven graced my bed last night." She added immediately, "At least in his cat form."

The explosion was immediate.

"What?!" Ivy practically shrieked.

"That asshole hurt you!" Daisy barked.

"He’s the reason we’re living in this godforsaken dump!" Ivy added, throwing her arms up.

Lila, on the other hand, stood in the corner with her lips pressed into a tight line, the silence from her speaking louder than the others’ outbursts.

As if catching herself, Daisy turned to Lila, saying. "Why aren’t you saying anything? You should be advising your princess from making the wrong choice..." She trailed off as it hit her. "Fuck, you knew... you fucking knew and kept us in the dark all this while!" Her eyes flashed with anger.

"Trust me, I wish I could unsee what I saw that day." Lila said, and Violet’s cheeks turned scarlet red.

Damn it! Lila had really seen her and Roman together that night.

"Look guys, I haven’t forgiven him!"

"And yet, he crept into your bed last night."

Violet wanted to tell them about the animal bond Roman had mentioned, but her instincts kicked against it, as if it was something that should be privy to her alone.

So she said instead, "I know you’re both disappointed—"

"Very disappointed," Ivy interjected. "You could have chosen a better Alpha."

Violet sighed. "Look, it’s hard to explain, but I’m sorry. However, the point is to look at the current picture. Out of the cardinal alphas, Roman is the most loyal to Elsie and if she believes she has lost him, trust me, she’s going to lose it." She said and waited for them to consider it.

Daisy and Ivy looked at each other, their eyes communicating as they came to an agreement.

Daisy said, "I don’t support this, but if you feel like you could pull it off, then go ahead. But be careful, Violet."

"Yes, be careful," Ivy said like a wingman.

"While you feel you might play Roman, don’t be roped in as well. For he who stares at the abyss, the abyss stares back at them. I don’t know what harem you’re creating, but Roman isn’t one of them. He’s a fox, and he would likely betray you again."

"Fine, I’ll be careful. I won’t fall for him." Violet said with a half-hearted smile, the word poignantly tasting like lies on her mouth. But she ignored it. She could handle this.

Ivy asked out of sheer curiosity. "So... do you still plan to punish the Alphas?"

Violet didn’t hesitate. "Yes."

"Care to run us through it as well?" Daisy asked her.

"The Alphas are what they are because of their parents. They’re heirs, and their parents expect them to follow in their footsteps, to make them proud." Violet paused, eyes shining with an edge. "But what if we show them who they really are instead?"

She started pacing again, saying.

"Griffin is aggressive. Asher is manipulative. Fox is an asshole. And Alaric..." her voice dropped into ice, a cruel chill wrapping around his name, "Well, he’s a cold-hearted bastard."

She turned to face them. "What if we bring their worst sides to the surface for the world to see? What if we show everyone the monsters behind the golden thrones? The Cardinal Alphas have to learn that they’re not gods. They are not untouchable."

Ivy cried out, "But Griffin has been sweet to you all this while!"

Violet nodded. "Yes, he is. But I can’t spare any of them. And besides..." her lips curled into a wry smile, "we can’t make it so obvious we’re the ones behind it."

Daisy narrowed her eyes. "They’d still know."

"They can only suspect," Violet said coolly. "But there’ll be no proof. That’s why we have to be careful. No traces. No loose ends."

"Asher is not stupid. Moreover, he can easily compel any of us to tell him the truth. I don’t want him near my mind." Daisy expressed her fear.

But Violet said to her. "Even if Asher knows the truth, he can’t say the truth.

He knows I’ll be expelled from the school if the news of our treachery is exposed.

I know Asher, he’s too obsessed with me to let me go.

So you have nothing to worry about, he’d not go poking around for a truth he already knows. "

Daisy shook her head in pity, "I can never understand how you relate easily with these alphas. It literally gives me the chills to even breathe the same air as Asher."

Violet wanted to retort that everyone was blowing Asher’s faults out of proportion. Sure, he had his—well—questionable tendencies, but underneath that, he was a decent person. You just had to go beyond the surface, dig deep — quite deeply — and voilà: there were his better qualities.

So she smiled sheepishly instead.

Lila announced. "If that’s the case, that means we’ll also need video evidence. This is going to be exciting."

"We can use the video of Griffin losing control yesterday," Violet suggested. "It sends the message we want, that power left unchecked is dangerous."

Daisy chimed in, "And Roman? I mean... it’s normal for men to sleep around. I don’t think it’ll create the kind of impact we’re hoping for."

Violet’s smile was razor-sharp. "Don’t worry. I have a plan. And I’ll need all your help, especially you, Lila."

Lila blinked in surprise, eyes wide. "Really?"

"Yes," Violet confirmed. "We’ll be needing your abilities."

A smirk curved on Lila’s lips, her eyes flashing like a match struck in the dark. "I’m in."

Daisy let out a low whistle. "This is dangerous. But hey, what’s life without a few risks?"

Violet turned to Ivy, one brow lifted. "You in?"

Ivy rolled her eyes, but the fire in them betrayed her excitement. "If you’re creating history, what makes you think I wouldn’t want my name in it?"

"Good." Violet’s smile was pure satisfaction as she looked over her girls. Her pack. Her army.

"Let’s begin."