Page 12 of Obsessively Yours (Fae Kings of Eden #2)

12

NINETEEN YEARS OLD

Violet secured the last pin to the lace top, stepped back to examine Griff, and clapped. “It’s perfect.”

Griff glanced down at the sheer shirt with nothing but embroidered flowers to cover his nipples. “Can I take it off now before someone sees? I’ll never hear the end of it.”

Violet gestured for him to lift his arms.

“VIOLET IT’S JUST ME. I’M COMING IN , ” Lydia, Griff’s cousin by marriage, yelled through the front door before walking into Violet’s home. Violet lived in a small two-bedroom cottage on the edge of town. She’d rented it just after graduation and loved the independence it afforded her.

“Dammit,” Lydia griped when she entered the room. “I wanted to see him in something pretty.”

Violet snickered at the cousins’ banter. She and Lydia weren’t close—they’d been a year apart in school—but the girl popped up occasionally to spend time with Griff.

Today, Lydia had her golden-blonde hair in a bun to showcase her ample cleavage that spilled out of her tight, low-cut shirt. The pale blue fabric complimented her alabaster skin. The revealing top paired with fitted leather pants made her look like a walking, curvaceous sex goddess.

Violet had tried to wear the same style once, but it did nothing for her lanky frame. She felt more like a twelve-year-old boy than a woman. It was for the best. She hated the restriction of pants. The dresses she favored had slits that allowed full range of motion, whereas the prospect of ripping the crotch of trousers while climbing a tree to retrieve certain flowers terrified her.

Griff glared at his cousin and donned his own shirt. “I’d hate to make you jealous because it looks better on me than you.”

Lydia threw him a crude gesture and pulled up a stool to sit.

“IT’S JUST ME,” Slayton announced seconds before opening the front door. He entered the room, panting, and swore. “I ran all the way here to see him in a dress.” He threw his hands up.

“I missed it too,” Lydia lamented. They both knew Griff had agreed to help Violet out today, and Slayton had poked fun at him all week.

Griff shoved Slayton’s shoulder. “Fuck off. At least I’m nice enough to help her. That’s why I’m her best friend.”

“I’m her best friend,” Slayton argued. “And you have more free time in the afternoons than I do.”

Being a warrior, Griff trained from before dawn until right after midday. Occasionally they trained from dawn to dusk if rebel attacks escalated. Attacks in the other kingdoms had ticked up, but thankfully, the Tropical Kingdom remained in a lull.

Violet didn’t know if each kingdom had different rebel factions with no association to the others or if they were one big group working together, but the varying degrees of attacks would suggest the former.

“Did you talk to Dominic today?” Lydia asked Violet, waggling her eyebrows. “Rumor has it you two are together a lot.”

Violet suppressed a giddy smile. “He walked me to work this morning.”

Lydia bobbed her head and plucked at the lace top folded on the table. “Are you wearing this for him on your next date?” She shimmied her shoulders. “Can I wear it next?”

“This is for one of my customers at the pleasure house, but I can make you one too,” Violet offered.

Violet’s cheeks heated when she mentioned the salacious establishment in town. The first time she’d dropped off an order to one of the performers, she’d discovered she enjoyed watching the shows. A lot. The sensuality of passion captivated her. The performers moved like dancers, and she often wondered what it felt like to experience that level of pleasure.

“Stop stalling and tell us about lover boy,” Griff griped.

Violet perked up. “Things with Dom are good. He’s taking me on a picnic under the stars.”

Dominic was a guard in the battalion, as were most people she knew, having grown up in the battalion compound. He’d pursued her relentlessly and finally wore her down about a month ago. Standing just over six foot, he had handsome features with warm tawny skin, dark brown hair, and hazel eyes that looked at her like she was the most tantalizing thing in the world.

“You really like him,” Lydia observed with a sly smile.

“I do.” Violet couldn’t help smiling like a giddy schoolgirl. “He’s funny, and he likes me.”

“And he’s hot,” Lydia added helpfully.

“That too,” Violet agreed.

Griff looked affronted. “I’m hot and funny, and you never wanted to date me.”

“She’s too good for you,” Slayton chimed in. He grabbed a ball of yarn off the closest table and threw it at their friend. “I wouldn’t allow it.”

“You made fun of me for falling.” Violet took a hanger from her closet. “That is not the way to get a girl.”

“You should have seen yourself, Vi,” Griff protested and waved his arms around. “Your arms windmilled all the way down.”

Lydia stood and smacked the back of his head on Violet’s behalf. “Every day, I thank the gods I’m not attracted to men, because I would kill a man if I had to date one.”

Slayton threw his hands up. “What did I do?”

“I need you guys to pull it together and help me decide what to wear tonight,” Violet said seriously while placing the hanger through the lace shirt. “Should I wear something like this since we’ll have to ride horses to get there?” She gestured to Lydia’s outfit. “Or do I wear one of my normal dresses?”

Lydia stood and crossed the room to Violet’s closet. “Definitely a dress with high slits.” She grinned wickedly. “Easy access.”

Slayton snorted. “You’re going to get bitten by a bug if you try to fuck him on the ground.”

“Gods,” Griff mumbled at the same time Violet gasped.

Lydia raised a perfectly shaped brow at Violet. “You’re not going to sleep with him?”

Violet hung the lace shirt in her closet and fell back on her bed with a groan. “I don’t know. Maybe?” She raised her head to look at her friends. “I kind of want to get it out of the way, and we’ve been dating for a little over a month now.” More like she wanted to feel the same ecstasy as the performers at the pleasure house.

“I bet he’s experienced,” Lydia offered.

“I’m experienced,” Griff added, raising his hand.

“No, you’re not,” Slayton shot back as Lydia and Violet said in unison, “Shut up.”

* * *

The gruesome training Roman took on after graduation boasted longer, more intense drills that took up most of his time. Their training started before sunrise, and while most warriors finished by midday, those of higher rank trained all day.

Next week they’d meet with another battalion in the kingdom for a sparring tournament, and as a royal and the future king, everyone expected Roman to win. If he didn’t, the generals would work him harder.

Ares had sparred with him all morning in preparation, and they were both covered in dirt and sweat. Miserable.

Ares shrugged out of his leather top. “Damn, it’s hot today.” Fighting in leathers felt like dying a slow death, even in the shade.

Roman spit on the ground to expel the dirt from his mouth. “At least it’s not raining.” It rained often in the Tropical Kingdom, and while the rain cooled them down, it made the air thicker and the ground a mud pit.

They approached their training group and saw Dominic, another warrior their age, talking to a few guys who listened intently, enraptured by whatever he said.

“Her virgin pussy was the tightest I’ve ever felt,” Dom told the others, and Ares’ lip curled with disgust. “And the sounds she made…” He groaned. “One of the best fucks I’ve had.”

Everything around Roman faded away, and nothing existed but the prick in front of him. Dominic spent a lot of time with Violet, and if he meant her, Roman didn’t know what he’d do.

“I knew it,” another warrior said. “Maybe she’ll give me a ride next.”

Dominic shoved the guy. “Violet’s my girl.”

White hot anger seared across Roman’s vision. Dominic continued to speak, but it faded into background noise. Roman had a vague awareness of Ares grabbing his arm and saying something, but his friend’s attempts to calm him were useless.

Roman crossed the distance between him and Dominic in seconds, wrenched the man’s head back by his hair, and slammed him to the ground.

His fists rained down on the man’s face repeatedly, hot liquid splattering in every direction. He didn’t know how many men it took to pull him off, but by the time they had, the piece of shit lay unconscious on the ground.

Ares grabbed the sides of Roman’s blood-speckled face and shook him. “Calm down before you kill someone.”

His words brought Roman back from the brink of insanity, and he heard Vivian yelling his name. She sprinted across the arena with a worried expression and gaped at Dominic’s unmoving form on the ground.

Roman hoped the fucker died.

“What in the hell happened?” she demanded. “I thought my chest caught on fire.”

“Dominic was bragging about having sex with your sister,” Ares explained, and Vivian’s face reddened as her anger rose. “Then Dominic said he wished he’d fucked you too, when he had the chance, and Roman lost it.”

Vivian looked almost gleeful before morphing her demeanor into one of fictitious concern. Roman felt her pleasure snaking around his own fury, and it disgusted him. “They’re just words, Rome. I wouldn’t let him touch me. You know that.”

Ironic, seeing as she’d fucked another guy for years, not that he gave a shit. Roman cursed himself, knowing a future king must keep his emotions in check, but it seemed an impossibility with anything concerning Violet. He would’ve killed the man had the others not pulled him off.

He’d let them believe the man’s words about Vivian set him off, but in truth, he hadn’t heard Dominic mention her at all.

* * *

Griff jogged toward Violet and Slayton from the direction of the palace grounds, still in his leathers. Slayton and Violet were supposed to meet him later for dinner. He shouldn’t have been out yet.

Their friend picked up speed when he saw them, and the look on his face spoke of nothing good.

He slowed to a stop in front of them, barely winded, and shot her a wary glance.

“What’s wrong?” Violet probed, scared to know the answer.

“Your boyfriend almost died today.” He attempted to keep his words light and teasing but failed spectacularly.

The air whooshed out of Violet’s lungs.

“What do you mean?” Slayton demanded as Violet’s brain caught up.

Griff swiped at the sweat on his forehead. “Roman beat Dominic within an inch of his life.” That jerked Violet back to reality. He scratched his jaw and avoided her gaze.

“Why would he hurt Dominic?” Violet wondered aloud. It didn’t make sense. “Roman never fights.” She spoke more to herself than her friends, trying to work out what had happened.

“It wasn’t a fight.” Griff grimaced. “Dominic never stood a chance. I thought Roman would kill him.”

“Stop with the fanfare and tell us exactly what happened,” Slayton said, losing patience. The two men were best friends, but they annoyed each other like brothers.

Griff looked apologetically at Violet, and she knew whatever he had to say was going to make her sick. He tried to gentle his words, but loathing seeped into them with each syllable. “I’m sorry, Vi. He had a large group of warriors around him, and he—” he hesitated. “He told them how good your pu—how good you were in bed.”

A large group of warriors. How good you were in bed. “He told everyone?” Did her voice sound weak to them or just her? Had she spoken aloud at all? Why would Dom do that to her? Her ears rang, and she stared at nothing as she tried hard to rationalize the funny and sweet Dominic she knew from the Dominic Griff presented now.

“That fucking prick.” Slayton pounded his fist into the palm of his hand. “I don’t like the prince,” Violet glared at him, and he held his hands up, “but I’m glad he stood up for you.” He reached over and ruffled her hair, and she swatted his hand away. She knew he wanted to make her laugh, but her body wouldn’t allow her, even if she wanted to.

Griff rubbed a hand down his face. “That’s not what set him off.” Slayton and Violet stopped their bickering and waited expectantly. “Dominic made a comment afterward about wishing he’d slept with Vivian when he had the chance, and Rome lost it.”

Violet took the words like a physical blow. He wished he’d slept with Vivian? Am I not good enough? For Dominic to brag about their intimacy was one thing, but for him to wish it’d been Vivian instead of her was unforgivable. She and Dom had sex last week for the first time and one other time since. When he’d taken her home after their first time, he’d asked her to be his girlfriend.

If Violet had known she was runner up, she’d have told him to go kick rocks barefoot. A knot formed in her throat, and she fought to swallow.

Griff reached out and tugged on a piece of Violet’s hair. “If it’s any consolation, he said you were the best he’s had.”

Slayton punched Griff in the shoulder. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“She’s about to cry!” Griff protested. “Knowing I was the best someone ever had would make me feel better.”

“You are a jackass,” Slayton muttered.

“If you two will excuse me, I’m going to shut my head in a door so I don’t have to face anyone tomorrow,” she joked weakly and stepped back. Maybe War will bite my head off for me.

Slayton wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her in. “Don’t let that asshole get to you.”

As if summoned, War came barreling toward them. Knowing the drill, Slayton and Griff moved out of the way, and Violet squatted down. War poked and prodded her with his nose, purring loudly to soothe her.

“How does he always know when you’re upset?” Griff asked, staring thoughtfully at War. “Can he read minds?”

Violet kissed the top of War’s giant head. “I don’t know. Maybe he can smell it. I’m alright,” she cooed against the cat’s fur, “but you need to go to Roman and try to calm him down.” War shook his head. Stubborn beast. Trying to convince him to leave her alone was pointless and she didn’t bother further.

Griff looked torn. “I have to return to training. The distraction from the fight gave me time to slip away to give you a heads up, but if they realize I’m gone, I’ll have to run sprints.” He turned to War and Slayton. “You two stay with her until I’m done.”

“I planned on it,” Slayton assured him.

“I don’t need a babysitter.” Violet planted her hands on her hips. “Dom and I only dated a handful of weeks.” Five to be exact. War sat next to her feet looking as stubborn as Slayton. “Slay, I really need to be alone right now.”

His nostrils flared. “I don’t want you wandering through the forest when you’re upset. Anything could happen.”

“No,” Violet replied sharply and adjusted her satchel. “Dominic isn’t important enough to upset me that much, and War will be there.”

“Fine.” Slayton pointed at War. “If you see that dick, rip his arm off.”

Griff clucked his tongue. “I don’t think Roman left enough of him to rip.”

The thought made Violet’s stomach clench. Roman hadn’t torn Dom to pieces for her , he’d done it for Vivian, and that hurt more than Dominic’s betrayal. They’d been friends once. Didn’t that warrant sticking up for her? She’d never let anyone seriously speak ill of him.

Violet didn’t know what made her hate herself more: still wanting Roman to a degree, or wishing someone would fight to the death for her honor.

She and the men said their goodbyes, and War and Violet made their way to the forest. The duo meandered along a winding path through the lush foliage toward the shore. “If I tell you something, do you promise not to tell Roman?” she asked the beast at her side.

War stopped and peered up at her with a nod. His bright orange eyes unsettled most people, but not her. “He’s not in there with you, is he?” War shook his head and her shoulders drooped, unable to hold up the heaviness of the day. “Did you hear what happened?” War nodded and nuzzled Violet’s side. She plopped down on a large, blue tree root, and her voice dropped to a whisper. “It hurts, War. I can handle him telling everyone about us.” She stopped to collect herself. “But he’s just another person who wanted my sister instead.”

She dropped her head and the first tear fell. “I get Dominic couldn’t have Vivian, or missed his chance with her before they announced her as Roman’s mate, but why did he have to say that?” She sniffled. “What good did it do him to let everyone know he’d settled for a look-alike?”

Tears fell faster down her cheeks. “He’s not the only one, you know.” She sniffled. “At school, no boys paid me attention until they announced Vivian as Roman’s mate.” She met War’s tangerine gaze. “They never wanted me before even though Vivian and I are identical.” Her voice broke and she pressed a hand to her chest. “That means it’s me they don’t like. Even the gods.” Roman might have wanted her once upon a time, but the gods chose Vivian for him. What was so wrong with Violet that even the gods chose selfish Vivian over her?

Violet put her head in her hands and salted War’s fur with her misery. She wasn’t one for self-pity, but she’d allow herself this.

She picked up her head and looked to the gods. “I won’t change.” The words came out nasally from crying. “One day I’ll be enough as I am, whether you think so or not.”

* * *

Roman laid on his bed and closed his eyes, reaching down the bond for War. The moment they connected, Violet’s tear-stained cheeks ripped him wide open. The anger he’d worked hard to snuff out returned tenfold.

Dominic would die.

“Get out ,” War growled.

The familiar’s tone took Roman by surprise. “Where are you? I’m coming.”

“Roman, I know you still hold a candle for Violet, but if you aren’t going to defy the gods to keep her, then you need to stay gone.”

“You told me going against the gods was impossible,” Roman reminded him . “Do you know something? Is there a way to mate her other than marriage? She’d never betray Vivian.” War stayed silent for too long. “What do you expect me to do?”

“I don’t know,” his familiar admitted, “but she is heartbroken over something deeper than what that boy did to her today, and the last thing she needs is you as a reminder of her pain.”

Roman cut the connection and stared at nothing.

If you aren’t going to defy the gods to keep her, then you need to stay gone.

The last thing she needs is you as a reminder of her pain.

If he could reach into the heavens and drag the gods to Eden, he would. He would kill the gods with his bare hands to have her as his own, if he could. If he couldn’t find a way to transfer the bond, he’d find a way to break it, consequences be damned.

She might not need him, but he needed her.

And wanted her.

And loved her.

He always had.

* * *

Violet woke the following morning with swollen eyes, a headache, and a weight in her chest. Feeling sorry for herself did her no good, but her mother always said a good cry now and then was therapeutic.

She rolled to her side, and a burst of color on her nightstand caught her attention. She rubbed her eyes to clear the sleep away; the small bouquet of violets and scattering of shells didn’t disappear, and she sat up to lean forward and feel the light purple petals. They were real.

Throwing her legs over the side of the bed, she picked up the entire bouquet and examined the sloppily tied string around the stems. She set it aside and carefully picked up each shell in awe. They were exactly what she would have searched for. Things had mysteriously appeared in her room before, and she’d chalked it up to forgetting she had them, but this solidified her suspicions. Someone snuck into her home at night.

Only her mother had a key. They could be from her, but that didn’t make sense. She would’ve just given them to Violet during the day. Violet gathered her new things, deposited the shells safely in the box where she kept her others, and found a vase to hold the flowers.

After placing the vase on her nightstand, she sat on her bed and stared at the violets. The gifts should frighten her, she knew that, but they didn’t. Odd, seeing how everything scared her. Though since her father started teaching her self-defense techniques, she felt more confident in her ability to protect herself.

Sometimes, she’d swear the prince’s scent lingered in her room. At first, she’d chalked it up to her imagination or a trick of the senses, but it was just a lie she told herself. A part of her knew it was Roman.

Violet sat at her dressing table and stared at herself in the mirror, her emotions at war with one another. How often did the prince sneak into her home in the middle of the night, and why?

Picking up a hairbrush, Violet set to work on fixing her hair, wishing she could catch the prince in the act to prove she wasn’t going crazy, but he likely used his glamour. A sane woman would be scared.

So why wasn’t she?