Page 33 of Obsessively Yours (Fae Kings of Eden #2)

33

A tinkling noise tickled the back of Violet’s mind. She lingered in the floating space between sleep and consciousness until her brain registered the sound was real, coming from somewhere in their home.

Opening her heavy eyes, she reached over to find nothing but air and sat up. “Roman?”

Silence.

Looking around, she spotted a folded piece of paper with her name scrawled on the outside in familiar penmanship. The tinkling persisted in the background, but she ignored it and reached for the note.

Princess,

A pressing matter has come up. I’ll be with the council most of the morning, but War will stay with you until I return. When he arrives, the guards will ring the bells to let you know he needs inside. Your keys to the gate and front door are on the bedside table. If you decide to leave, have War tell me where you’re going.

The staff arrives just after sunrise and will need to be let in. Do not let them in without War at your side. I’ll find you as soon as I’m done.

I love you.

Obsessively Yours,

Roman

P.S. If you’re sore, there are bath salts on the edge of the bathtub to soak in. They should ease your muscles.

A pressing matter? A cold sweat beaded Violet’s forehead. What if rebels were in the capital?

The tinkling still invaded the otherwise silent walls. Climbing out of bed, she adorned slippers and a robe and grabbed the keys from the nightstand, just in case. She ventured into the hall and spotted clusters of tiny bells she’d not noticed last night hanging along the walls, jingling incessantly. They reminded her of the staff call bells and alarm bells in the main palace.

If she must let the staff in, that meant the bells were being triggered from somewhere outside. Curious, she wandered through the house and onto the porch. War, along with four women and a man, waited patiently on the other side of the gate.

Violet hurried down the long path, grateful Roman had used smooth cobblestones and not gravel because the bottom of her house slippers were not sturdy enough to keep sharp rocks from stabbing her feet.

“War!”

The tigon dipped his head slightly, and Violet tried one of the keys. With a soft clink, the gate opened, and she stepped back to allow the beast in. War positioned himself in front of Violet.

A guard with shoulder-length, curly, dark brown hair, pale beige skin, and dark brown eyes moved into view and stepped inside. She tipped her head respectfully. “Do we have your permission to allow the staff in, Your Grace?”

Violet blanched. “I’m not the queen,” she sputtered. The royal title didn’t belong to her yet.

The young guard smirked, showcasing a dimple. “To us, you are. I’m Dani.” The woman held out her hand for Violet to take. Releasing her, she gestured toward the gate. “Kaylan is right outside. We’re the day guards.”

A woman with a light rosy skin, mahogany hair with blunt bangs, and a wide smile poked her head around the corner. “You can call me Kaylie.”

Violet waved awkwardly. “It’s nice to meet you both. I apologize for taking so long. I was asleep and didn’t understand what the ringing meant.”

Dani hiked a thumb over her shoulder. “There’s a pulley we use to ring the bells. A light ringing means there’s a guest or someone who wants entry. There’s another for emergencies. It’s exactly like the palace alarms.”

Violet’s mind drifted to the day she’d heard the dreaded alarms, but she shook herself. “Thank you for letting me know.” Eyeing the other four women in maids’ attire and the man in work clothes, Violet lowered her voice for only Dani to hear. “I’ve never met the staff. How do I know it’s really them?”

“Any guard protecting the bunker knows who the staff is,” the guard whispered back.

“The bunker?” Violet looked back at her beautiful home.

Dani snorted. “This is the most secure place in all of Eden. Accurately nicknamed the palace bunker, or just the bunker.”

Affection consumed her. Roman did this for her.

“Until you’re familiar with the staff, you can ask War to confirm since you don’t know Kaylie or myself, either,” Dani suggested. “He’s met them all.” Violet decided she liked Dani, and if she had it her way, they’d be friends.

War nudged Violet’s leg and nodded, then turned to the staff and nodded again.

“Thank you, Dani. You can let them in.”

Dani stood aside and the staff filed in one by one, each introducing themselves to Violet as they passed. One of the maids looked alarmed when they took in Violet’s attire, and Violet flushed scarlet. She’d forgotten she wore only a robe and nightgown.

“I would love to chat with you all later, but I need to change and run errands.”

Khrista, one of the maids, smiled. “We understand. Oh, and please don’t forget to lock the gate. The prince will have someone’s head if it remains unlocked too long.”

Violet nodded and locked the gate. “Thank you for reminding me. This will all take some getting used to.”

Khrista nodded and followed Violet inside. “Did Prince Roman give you our schedule?”

“He had to leave before I woke this morning,” Violet responded, “but I can write it down, if you don’t mind telling me.”

“Of course, Your Grace.”

“Violet. Please, call me Violet.”

Khrista looked uncomfortable. “I’m not sure Prince Roman would approve.”

Violet dismissed her concern. “You let me worry about the brooding prince. I’ll get your schedule and then get out of your hair.”

Khrista finished explaining everyone’s daily schedule, and Violet frowned down at the paper. “You all can’t leave unless one of us is here to let you out?”

“No, Your Gr—Miss Violet. Only you and Prince Roman have keys.” Violet chewed on her lip. It wasn’t fair for them to wait around if she had yet to return, but she wanted to see her parents and friends today, and it would eat the day. “Don’t worry,” Khrista added. “They informed us of everything that comes with working at the palace bunker. I assure you, we are more than happy to wait.”

“I’ll speak to Roman about increasing your pay,” Violet decided. “It isn’t fair for you to not be able to run to town or see your loved ones with no extra compensation.”

Khrista grinned. “That is not necessary. I assure you, Prince Roman has more than compensated us.”

“Oh,” Violet replied lamely. Roman’s thoughtfulness and consideration for others filled Violet with pride. “Well, I’ll leave you to it. I must go.”

With a final wave, Violet petted War’s soft sheaths and headed toward the gate.

* * *

“Violet and I are going to see her parents,” War rumbled.

Roman tapped his finger against the paper in front of him restlessly, wanting nothing more than to join his mate. “Let me see her.” Roman’s eyes defocused, and he entered War’s consciousness. The beast turned his large head to look at Violet and nudged her with his nose. Roman released the tension holding him hostage when Violet smiled down at the tigon.

“I missed you, too, big guy.” She ruffled his sheaths, and War returned his gaze to the path ahead.

“Roman,” his father said brusquely, and Roman cut the connection to War. “This is serious, son. If Vivian is working with the rebels, she needs to be captured immediately.”

“I’m not sure she is,” Roman replied. “She fought against them, and they had no problem attacking her.” He tapped his finger again. “But it’s possible.”

His mother took a drink of water before saying, “Vivian might want you back.”

“Vivian never had me to begin with,” Roman replied icily. He recalled the first time rebels attacked Violet in his bedroom. When Vivian had held Violet in her arms, Roman had sensed her emotions. She hated Violet, but she loved her too. “I don’t think she’d hurt Violet, but I won’t take any chances.”

His father sat back and rubbed his forehead. “Sarah, what did your family do to warrant a curse? That’s the only explanation to this mayhem.” The king dropped his hand. “There’s no other explanation to a broken mate bond, escalated rebel attacks, and now a family feud between a mate and the future queen.”

“Vivian is not my mate,” Roman snapped, losing his patience. “And who’s to say the curse isn’t from your side?”

His father looked between Roman and the queen and moved his finger from one to the other. “I love you both more than my own life, but—”

“I wouldn’t finish that sentence if I were you, Felix,” Roman’s mother quipped.

The king sat forward and leaned toward his wife. “Or what, minx?”

Roman scooted back his chair and stood. “That’s enough for today. Mom, let me know if Tilly has news. Dad, inform the generals they need to prepare our warriors. The rebels are acting out of character. They’re either playing a game we don’t know yet, or they’re acting rashly. Neither is good.”

“I don’t think we should have a private coronation,” his father said for the one thousandth time that morning. “After what happened with Vivian, upsetting tradition will only cause more unrest.”

“A coronation is the perfect place for rebels to attack,” Roman explained. Tradition in the Tropical Kingdom dictated the monarchs from each kingdom be in attendance, customarily accompanied by members of their council, as well as the palace staff, warriors, and others who worked directly under the crown. After the coronation, a parade through the capital took place, and over the next month, a tour through the kingdom to every village.

“He’s right,” Roman’s mother remarked to her husband. “The rebels recklessly attacked the Desert King and Queen in broad daylight. Having every ruler, their council, and all the battalion in one place would be the perfect place to attack.” He sighed. “We’ll send word to the other royals to not come. It’s too dangerous.”

* * *

By the time Roman stopped by the florist and picked out a bundle of flowers he thought Violet would like, War said Violet was on her way to dinner with her parents in town and then they’d be home.

Deciding to give her alone time with them after not seeing them for a year, he headed home to get started on Violet’s birthday gift.

Their birthdays, and his coronation, were the day after tomorrow, and he wanted it to be perfect.

* * *

Violet and War approached the bunker’s gate and slipped inside with a nod to the night guards. A clucking sound drew their attention to the left side of the bunker’s courtyard, and War froze.

Babs strutted toward them, her sights trained on the large tigon. The sheaths on War’s head shot straight as his quills made an appearance. Violet looked between War and Babs.

War’s low growl had Violet taking a step forward to put herself between the chicken and cat. “It’s just Babs,” she said to War slowly, “Roman’s pet chicken. Have you not met her before?”

Everything happened at once.

Babs shot forward with a battle cry, Violet dove toward the bird before War could eat her, and War ran.

You’d have thought lightning struck his ass with how fast he took off. Babs gave chase, and Violet stared slack-jawed after the two. Babs was fast, she’d give her that, but the devil’s little legs were nothing compared to the tigon.

War roared and disappeared behind the bunker. Babs had a long way to go before she reached the corner, and Violet couldn’t decide if she wanted to laugh or follow them.

Roman charged out of the bunker fit to kill until Babs squawked and he saw her disappear around the backside of the building. He chuckled to himself and walked to Violet’s side. “I see Babs broke out of the pen again.”

Violet pointed in the direction the animals disappeared. “Why did War look terrified?”

Roman smirked. “Because he is, and he knows he can’t kill her.”

A beat of silence followed, followed by Violet’s burst of laughter. Roman watched her, a look of wonder on his face. “I missed you today.”

She kissed his lips lightly and looped her arm through his. “I missed you too.”

They passed through the large sitting room, and Violet noticed one of Roman’s handheld puzzles, along with a few stray leaves. “What in the world were you doing in here?”

A flush crept up his neck, and he scooped up the leaves, stuffing them in his pocket. “Nothing.” Grabbing his puzzle, he turned to leave, but Violet reached out to stop him.

“Show me.”

He gazed over his shoulder at her. “It’s nothing. Just something I do to pass the time.”

Violet shook her head. “You have a lot of them, and I’ve seen you with one before.” He turned to her with a curious look. “When we were younger,” she clarified. “I saw you at one of your birthday balls. You were on the small patio. I didn’t tell you I was there, but I watched you. You started twisting it fast, but King Felix came out looking for you. It was small enough to put in your pocket.”

The flush on his throat spread to his cheeks, and he cleared his throat. “They’re called shape shifter puzzles. You match the symbols or colors on each moving piece together.” He twisted the pieces with quick precision, too fast for Violet to track.

The smile on his face held her captive. It started small, but the closer he came to victory, the bigger it grew. They were fun for him. Since they were teenagers, she’d worried he’d never find something that brought him joy. Watching him was like watching a beautiful flower bloom under the summer sun.

He finished and held up the puzzle with triumph. It no longer resembled a jumbled mess, but a white rose with green leaves hugging the bud. Reaching out, she took the puzzle from him, stunned. “Rome, this is incredible.”

He shrugged like it was nothing. “I like doing them.”

“Can I keep this one?” She wanted to remember the smile on his face when he held out the rose puzzle for the rest of her life.

His brows lowered. “Of course.”

Holding the rose like a timeless treasure, she grinned back at him. “Thank you. I know just the place.”

The sound of Roman’s footsteps followed her through their home until they wandered through the door to her sewing room. She proudly set the rose puzzle on her sketching desk and stepped back to admire it. “I love it.”

“I love you, Violet.”

She encircled him with her arms and rested her chin on his chest. “I love you, too, Roman Covington. Take me to bed?”

His soft smile turned wolfish. “Yes, Your Grace.”