Page 22 of Obsessively Yours (Fae Kings of Eden #2)
22
Roman,
King Dean and his mate, Fawn, arrived at the palace yesterday morning. The king left two weeks ago to attend the Mountain King’s coronation with no mate. Griff, the gossiping hen, told me Dean’s mate died. His information was either incorrect, or Dean met his second mate during his travels.
Lydia and Victoria arrived yesterday as well. The contrast between the two is entertaining. Victoria is the calm to Lydia’s crazy.
I woke in the middle of the night a few days ago and found War staring at me. It scared the shit out of me. I told him it wasn’t polite to stare at people when they were sleeping, but maybe you should tell him too. I don’t know if you’ve ever opened your eyes in a dark room and saw glowing orange eyes staring back, but it’s terrifying.
After Lydia and Victoria leave next week, Ares said we’re going to the Human Kingdom. I’m excited to see their foliage in real life. Do you remember the paintings Ms. Bonner had of their kingdom? The colors were dull, but maybe they aren’t as dreary in person.
Want to hear something strange? This morning, at breakfast, Fawn wore a cuff attached to a strap around her wrist, and the king held it like a leash. She didn’t seem happy about it, either. When she tried to take it off, the king’s familiar , a giant serpent named Lilith, wrapped around her and pinned her arms to her sides. Fawn was pissed .
Other than that, King Dean dotes on her, and she seems to like him too. I’m sad we’ll miss their upcoming wedding, but I’m excited to see the other kingdoms.
I have to go. Griff just threw an apple at me (he missed) for making us late to Ares’ fight. He’s competing in a sparring competition with the Garden warriors. He seems excited about it.
I miss you.
Always,
Violet
P.S. If the gods grant you another mate while I’m gone, tell me, please. I’d rather know ahead of time instead of arriving home as the last to know.
* * *
Griff,
If you ever throw an apple at Violet again, I will cut your fucking arm off.
Roman
P.S. Stop taking her to watch sweaty men fight.
* * *
Princess,
I hope your travels to the Human Kingdom are going smoothly. I’m unsure how long it will take for you to receive this, but I needed to tell you as soon as possible. The last thing I want is you worrying that I’ll take a mate while you’re away. I planned on telling you this face-to-face when you returned, but your last letter made me realize there’s a possibility you’ll meet a man who interests you during your travels, and I can’t let that happen.
There will be no news of another mate while you’re away.
Since Vivian left, you are the only woman with whom I will plan a wedding. The only woman I will call my wife and mate. I am yours, and you are mine.
Three hundred and thirty-seven days.
Yours,
Roman
P.S. Don’t fall in love with someone else. Come back to me.
* * *
Violet sat at the small desk in her room at the inn, just inside the Human Kingdom border, and read the letter again. Roman wants to marry me ‘since Vivian left?’
She’d heard people say they got butterflies in their stomachs, but reading his words again turned her organs to ash. Her anger was a tangible thing, igniting everything within her.
Did he think a few flowery words would convince her to be a stand-in for Vivian?
Red clouded her vision. “Since Vivian left.”
“That fucking asshole .”
Jumping up, she stomped to the door connected to Ares’ room and threw it open without knocking. He and Griff each had a room on either side of Violet’s and had insisted on keeping the connecting doors unlocked in case of an emergency. This was an emergency.
Violet pulled up short at the sight of Ares’ muscular body slamming into a woman from behind.
He looked up, met her eye, and paled, his stunned expression matching hers. Neither moved nor spoke at first until Ares composed himself. “I know you and Rome like the pleasure house, but he’ll kill me if he finds out you saw me naked.”
The woman whipped her head to the side and shrieked, attempting to cover herself with her hands.
“ Violet ,” Ares pleaded, his voice shrill enough to make her cringe. “I am begging you to leave.”
Shaking her head, she crossed the room, Ares’ fearful eyes bulging with every step. “Don’t worry, your delusional friend won’t hear about this from me.” She shoved Roman’s letter into Ares’ chest. “I don’t intend on writing him again. Tell the prince he can find someone else to replace Vivian. Just because we’re identical twins doesn’t mean I’m her fucking backup.”
Spinning on her heel, she almost fell over War. “You can tell him what I said too.” Weaving around the giant tigon, she marched into her room and slammed the door behind her.
Had Ares known about Roman’s plan? Had War? Not that War could tell her, but it still embarrassed her.
Roman hadn’t seemed to care about Viv leaving, but he’d always hidden his feelings well. He’d given Violet no indication he wanted her as more than a friend, but now that he was afraid she might meet someone else, he’d decided to tell her he wants to marry her?
“Since Vivian left.”
Fuck. Him.
* * *
“Are we still on for dinner tonight?” Marissa asked Roman as they trekked out of the training arena.
“What did you say to Violet?” War’s voice came through the bond, stopping Roman in his tracks. “Whatever you’re doing, stop and watch this.”
Marissa moved in front of Roman, the picture of concern. “Rome? What’s wrong.”
He ignored her, glamoured himself invisible, and closed his eyes to connect with War. Violet stomped away, a piece of paper in one hand, and threw open a door.
War followed close on her heels and immediately closed his eyes. “What are you doing? Open your eyes,” Roman commanded, shooting his frustration down the bond .
“You don’t want to see this,” the tigon replied, amused.
“I know you and Rome like the pleasure house, but he’ll kill me if he finds out you saw me naked.”
Ares ? Hot, jealous rage pumped through Roman’s veins. “War, open your fucking eyes.”
A woman, not Violet, screamed, and War gave in, showing Roman the sordid scene. Ares, the handsome bastard, stood naked, his cock lodged into a frantic woman trying to cover herself.
Violet stood stock still, staring at him. Did she like watching him? Roman would kill him.
“Violet,” Ares half-yelled, sealing his fate. How dare he fucking yell at her? “I am begging you to leave.”
Violet shook her head, her beautiful hair swishing with the movement, and walked toward Ares. “Fucking rip his head off,” Roman commanded War down the bond. The disloyal beast merely huffed in return.
She slammed the paper into Ares’ chest. “Don’t worry, your delusional friend won’t hear about this from me.” Violet might as well have spewed venom. Delusional? She planned to hide this from him?
“War, if you don’t kill Ares now, I will torture him into a slow death when he gets back.”
“You are focusing on the wrong thing. Listen to her.”
“I don’t intend on writing him again,” Violet assured Ares. Roman’s heart stopped. “Tell the prince he can find someone else to replace Vivian. Just because we’re identical twins doesn’t mean I’m her fucking backup.”
She thought he wanted to replace Vivian?
“War, bring her home right now,” Roman ordered.
“I cannot speak to her,” War reminded him wryly.
“Fuck.” Roman’s palms grew damp, and his breathing shallow.
Violet turned and almost ran headfirst into War. “You can tell him what I said too.”
Roman opened his eyes and dropped his glamour. “Roman, is everything okay?” Marissa asked carefully.
He made to leave, but she caught his arm. “Tell me what’s wrong. Let me help you.”
Grabbing the back of his neck, he tipped his head skyward. What had he put in the letter to make his girl think she was a replacement for Vivian? The idea was laughable.
“Nothing. I have something to do, and then I have an appointment, but I’ll meet you at the palace for dinner with my parents.”
Roman, Slayton, and Marissa hung out a lot now that Violet, Griff, and Ares were gone. The king and queen had invited the three for dinner tonight, but Slayton told Marissa he had to help his father stock the store.
Without waiting for her reply, Roman trotted toward the small cottage on the outskirts of town.