Chapter 106

Violet

The view from the main chamber was striking. Midnight Castle, newly restored, loomed over the flood of guests arriving through its grand gates. The glow of lanterns illuminated the winding path leading up to the entrance, their golden light catching on polished carriages and gleaming jewelry. It was a spectacle—one meant to dazzle and distract.

I wasn’t dazzled.

I was scheming, going over the roster for the evening, the plan and waiting for Theo' to tell me what had him on edge and fumbling.

Was Lucas coming? Did he think I cared? Owen seemed more likely of an irritant, especially with all the nobles, but Dorianand Seraphine promised to make every be on their noblest behavor, so I wasn't worried.

He shifted beside me. Again. Fiddled with his tie. Rubbed the back of his neck. His anxiety was palpable, screaming through our bond. But I did not push him. I kept myself calm, watching the flow of people entering the courtyard. I'd had everything prepared, Owen would likely complain about not being allowed to stay in the castle, but we were in the right given his latest announcement, and there was no way I'd allow someone who openly meant me harm to stay within striking distance. Doubly so if he was bringing Lucas.

He exhaled slowly and went still, apparently ready to say what had been bothering him.

But what came out of his mouth, the feelings that surged through our bond were nothing like what I expected. I wasn’t worried. I had figured at least two would be here and it didn't phase me at all. I knew exactly what kind of man Theodore was—who he was at his core, why didn't he seem to know the same?

And yet, the longer I stood there, the more a nagging unease crept in.

I knew it wasn’t about his past lovers.

Every gathering I had attended in the past few months had gone horribly wrong.

The night of the merging—I was rejected and betrayed.

Our wedding—I was attacked.

The Vainthott's tea party—Owen crashed it with Lucas to spite me.

At this point, I felt like a walking magnet for trouble.

I exhaled slowly, trying to shake the thought and focus on what Theo' was going to say.

What else could there be?

Then, just as I was about to ask. I noticed he was no longer where he had been a moment ago. Instead, he was behind me away. I felt the cool weight of metal against my skin.

I blinked, startled, as Theodore’s hands settled on my shoulders, his fingers deftly fastening a necklace around my neck. The chain was delicate, but the pendant at its center was heavy, old. Familiar lie the token the High Priestess had given me.

I lifted my hand, brushing my fingertips over it.

“This is…” My throat tightened as I realized what it was. Or rather what it had to be since Theo' had not secretly left the country.

“My mother’s,” Theodore confirmed, his voice softer now.

I turned to him. “Theodore—”

“I wouldn’t be giving it to you if I wasn’t absolutely committed,” he said simply, cutting off whatever argument I might have made.

Something in my chest clenched.

For a long moment, I could only stare at him, caught in the weight of this gesture, in the certainty in his eyes. Hope. Earnestness.

This… silly, oddly romantic man…

I lifted up to kiss him, briefly chastely. He seemed stunned, frozen in place, as I looked into his eyes, watching the flickering light of his magic, his wolf, looking down at me. I waited, his arms twined around me as I expected, the surprise started to fade.

Then, slowly, I exhaled, lowering myself back onto my feet, letting my hands rest on his chest.

“I told you,” I murmured. “I’m not worried about them.”

He frowned slightly. “Violet—”

“I know what kind of man you are,” I cut in. “I can feel the nuances I your emotions."

His jaw tightened. “You were bonded before.”

I tilted my head, holding his gaze. “And this—” I gestured between us. “—is nothing like that.”

His expression flickered, something vulnerable passing through it before he masked it again. Seemed like he was worried about it. I twined my arms around his neck, tangling my fingers in the curls at the nape of his neck, digging my fingers into his neck, pressing at the tension there. His head lolled forward until our foreheads were pressed together.

“Silly man," I whispered, grazing our lips together. "Blessed by Goddess, crowned, a castle resurrects for you and yet you doubt this…" I shook my head. "For the record, by comparison, that bond was shallow, like… the thinnest sheen of dew in the morning. And us?" I smiled, nipping at his lip. "As deep and… rich as the ocean.”

His eyes glimmered. I felt his doubt ease like the tumultuous emotions in him, smoothing into one smooth river running from him into me.

Love. Care. I closed my eyes, basking in it, leaning into him.

“So stop overthinking it and relax.”

Theodore exhaled, then shook his head, a small smirk pulling at his lips. “Okay…"

His smirk deepened, and before I could react, he leaned in, capturing my lips in a kiss. It was quick—warm, lingering just enough to make my pulse stutter before he pulled away, brushing a thumb over my cheek.

“Let’s go,” he murmured. “As you said, we have a party to attend.”

I nodded. Then, hand in hand, we made our way down to face whatever chaos awaited us.

The opening of the event was… eerily smooth. No fights. No arguments. Nothing but people talking, mingling. At least half an hour passed and it seemed like the event was, so far, a success.

I scanned the grand hall from my place beside Theodore, noting the mingling crowd. Some of the rogues who had appeared in the promotional campaign were here, standing proudly among the rest of the guests. I'd asked for volunteers to be here, dressed them well and smiled at how easily they seemed to blend in. The way the nobles reacted to them. They were so brave, wanting to be seen, wanting to speak about their plight in person not just on screen.

Some of the alphas who shied away, looked away, and avoided them were getting looks, and it was so obvious which territories they were from. Even the more skeptical attendees seemed to be keeping their opinions to themselves—at least for now.

I suspected that the societal pressure of the situation would be shutting a lot of people up and forcing some hands by the end of all this.

Then she arrived.

Olivia.

I recognized her immediately, coming into the ballroom with practiced grace, her father and brother flanking her like a royal entourage. Her eyes swept the room with the sharpness of someone who knew exactly how much power she wielded.

And then they landed on Theodore.

I felt it before I even saw it—the subtle shift in her posture, the slight tilt of her lips as she took him in. Interested. Calculating.

And so it would begin. At first, she was careful. When I was by Theodore’s side, she greeted us both cordially, all polite smiles and thinly veiled intrigue. But the moment I turned my attention elsewhere, I could feel her lingering. Watching.

And then, flirting.

It was pathetic, watching her trying to get close enough to touch him, and him all but runaway from her as she leaned in just a fraction too close, laughing just a little too sweetly at his obvious discomfort. I was a few seconds away from going over and putting her in her place.

Theodore barely entertained the conversation, as expected of a host, but his gaze flickered to me more than once—checking in or pleading for help. His unease was growing, but it was different than it had been earlier. I trailed my hand over the necklace and smiled at him.

His gaze softened and he smiled at me, a bit of his unease dissipated, and he was turning to address someone else as they came to spak with him. A pair of nobles' sons who had been at the tea party. They slung arms around his neck and laughed. Olivia was forced to step back. One of them caught my eye with a fiendish grin.

I left Theodore in their capable hands, taking note of all the other eyes on Theodore tonight. There were women, sure, but there were also all the men who were not his allies.

It didn’t take long for their disdain to surface. They were alphas who had never liked him, who had never forgotten the damage he’d done to their egos. And more importantly, it was clear who knew that their wife still held a torch for Theo'.

I felt their hostility before I saw it.

Then, one of the alphas who were glaring across the room at Theodore—a slim-built alpha with graying hair and a sneer permanently fixed to his face—stepped forward, dragging a young woman along with him.

The murmurs started immediately, and I headed towards Theodore bracing for what was about to happen.