Chapter 207

Violet’s POV

We’re on our way.

I didn’t even have time to wonder what just happened with Theo and Riley, and why they were suddenly a “we”, as Owen threw a chair across the dance floor. It landed a pathetic distance away, but still far enough for the crowd to scatter to avoid it. The people I had identified throughout the day as those charged with keeping the peace at the wedding all hesitated because, well, this was the king.

Besides, his tantrum was to our benefit.

I noticed Colby and Ben both subtly gesturing to those under their command to stand down. Kincaid and Dahlia were both standing up at their table on the platform, fuming. Most probably thought they were mad that the king was disrupting their wedding, but I knew they were chomping at the bit to hold him down themselves.

But they also knew it would be better in the long run if the whole party witnessed the king’s destructive nature. Though I had had to talk Kincaid down from going full Beta on the situation when I had warned him about Riley on Theo’s request.

People haven’t been all that discreet in their comments against Owen and his accusation that the Shelter Project is part of your plan to steal his crown, I updated my mate. He hasn’t confronted anyone about it, but I’m pretty sure it’s somehow related to his sudden outburst. He is demanding to see you.

Just as I said that, or thought it, Theo came tearing through the crowd. Everyone was so focused on him rushing to the raging king that no one noticed Riley rejoining the party from the same direction just a minute behind him. I had yet to find out if it was because Riley had no desire to stop the king or because they didn’t want people to know they were now apparently some sort of “we”.

“YOU!!” Owen pointed a damning finger toward Theo as he came to a halt a few yards from him. There was a stark difference between the brothers: Owen in yet another set of royal robes, a glittering crown tilted haphazardly on his head from all his movement and Theodore in another simple yet exquisite suit from Master Remy, the shattered band glowing effortlessly above his brow.

Owen actually took a moment to straighten his crown before pointing once more at his half-brother. “Theodore Nightshade, I hereby formally accuse you of violating the Unlawful Magic Charter.”

My blood froze, suddenly uncertain if we would be able to pull this off tonight as expected. Either this was the only way Owen could stop us, or it would play right into our hand.

Theo laughed similarly to how he did when Owen accused him of assembling an army of rogues at Lucas and Nora’s wedding. “On what grounds?” Theo asked through a chuckle.

“Your mother had magic!” Gasps echoed through the crowd, and Owen realized the assumption everyone was making. “He’s my half-brother!” he quickly clarified to the crowd, who thought Owen had just dug his own grave.

“Exile him!” a low voice in the crowd called out, and I cursed myself for not being able to identify who it was. I would have very much liked to have added him to my list of werewolves to kill in the future.

Theo and I had been so careful about showing too much allegiance toward one another when we were supposed to be exes merely keeping professional ties to benefit our territories. But my mate needed help now, and the jig was almost up anyway.

So I let my laugh ring out, drawing all eyes to me.

“Just because his mother had magic, doesn’t mean he has magic. Unless you can prove he has magic, he is not in violation of the Unlawful Magic Charter.”

Owen’s face grew even redder as I prepared to die on this hill with my mate.

“What are you going to do?” I added. “Exile everyone with a magical parent? Because that includes me.”

I hoped and prayed to the Goddess that volunteering that information made me seem magic-less, assuming anyone with magic wouldn’t want to bring attention to their magical lineage. What I got instead was an echo off to my right.

“It also includes me.” I swung my head in shock to identify Dorian Vainthott.

I didn’t have nearly enough time to process that new information before the echo grew with Alpha after Alpha adding, “And me,” across the venue. I couldn’t name them all, but for the ones I could, I mentally highlighted their names on that list the Vainhotts gave me. All in all, nearly half of the territories had Alphas identifying themselves with at least one magical parent, some from the category approving of the king being sued, a large portion from the neutral group, and even a smattering from the disapproving group.

That meant that half the Alphas in our country where magic was illegal had magic. And they’d been able to keep it hidden all these years.

Of course, since magic being a dominant trait wasn’t common knowledge, no one else here realized what they had just admitted. Except Theo. We exchanged the briefest look before we schooled our expressions.

“Yes, fine, point made,” Owen rambled, and I started to wonder based on the slight slurring of his words if he’d been drinking. “But you’re using your magic to come after the crown!” Owen pointed again at Theo who just sighed.

“Honestly,” someone murmured nearby so low that I could barely hear them, “this is embarrassing for him. He’s so paranoid.” I imagined the sentiment was widespread in the crowd.

“You can come after me all you want,” Owen continued, yelling at Theo who stood at a distance, calm and composed. “The Vainthotts thought they had me with their little lawsuit, but I had that taken care of, didn’t I!” Murmurs rumbled through the crowd at that.

It was one thing to suspect the king impacted the judge’s decision. It was another thing entirely for him to admit it.

Yes, this day was going splendidly indeed.

“You can come after me all you want,” Owen repeated, “but you’ll never get this crown from me. NEVER!!”

I glanced around at the amassed crowd, all primed to discredit Owen and think the worst of him. As if we were of one mind, Theo’s voice filled my head.

Now?

I stalked forward, nobles and settlement residents making way for me as I politely excused my way to the middle where Owen was still staring Theo down. Owen didn’t notice my approach, his focus so tethered to his brother. And yet it had never been his brother who wanted to take it from him.

Now, I replied to my mate.

Then I projected my voice so that everyone could hear me. “Interesting that you should accuse your brother of violating the Unlawful Magic Charter,” I paused dramatically, “when it is you, Your Highness, who has violated it.”

A deep silence of shock and terror encompassed the party as Owen slowly turned to glare at me.

But I didn’t care because I had never been more relieved or confident as when I said, “King Owen Nightshade, I hereby formally accuse you of violating the Unlawful Magic Charter.”