Chapter 208

Theodore’s POV

The stage was set.

My half-brother was surrounded, even if he didn’t know it. Behind him, stood the bride and groom, both at ease – until their Alphas told them otherwise. In front of him to his right, stood my mate, gorgeous and commanding in that black dress, having just accused the king of an exile-worthy crime.

Then there was me, in front and to his left, ready for this nightmare to finally end. I also noticed Eva pushing her way to the front of the crowd, off to my left, facing the king head on. Olivia followed just a step behind her.

Owen laughed deeply, as he stared Violet down with pity. “You were quick to let me know I couldn’t prove Theo was in violation, and yet you accuse me without any evidence of your own!”

Violet waited patiently for him to stop laughing before she said, “What makes you think I don’t have evidence?”

Owen’s smile immediately fell, his concern condemning him in front of every Alpha in the country. Still, he lifted his chin. “Then let’s see this ‘evidence’ because I’m sure it’s fabricated.”

He was calling our bluff.

Thankfully, we had something up our sleeve.

“So you deny the charges?” Violet pushed.

“Of course!” Owen lifted his arms, then dropped them, as if this entire conversation were ridiculous.

It was then that the High Priestess emerged, stepping in front of Eva to face the three of us. Owen’s face drained of blood, and I could practically see it playing in the eyes of everyone who had attended the party at Midnight Castle: the memory of Rylan Blackwell’s wolf spirit being ripped from his body when he lied to the High Priest. Owen had clearly forgotten the High Priestess was here tonight.

My brilliant mate lifted her eyebrows, ever patient. Slowly, she asked, “Are you sure?”

Owen was frozen in fear other than his eyes that flitted back and forth between Violet and the High Priestess. Then his eyes swung to me in a panic, zeroing in on my shattered forehead band.

“They’re – they’re in cahoots!” Owen sputtered. My brows furrowed, wondering what nonsense he would spout next.

“My brother and Alpha Donovan and the High Priestess,” Owen rambled. “They’re working together to steal my crown. Those bands on their foreheads are magical; it was the High Priestess who put them there!”

Well, the three of us were in cahoots, or at least as much as the High Priestess could be while staying separate from government per temple rules. But the rest of it was nonsense indeed. I waited for the High Priestess to deny her involvement but was surprised by her silence.

It was nonsense, wasn’t it?

“Your Majesty,” Riley came through the crowd to stand a half-step behind the High Priestess as he looked around the crowd, “and witnesses. My name is Riley Meckles, and I was employed by King Owen to spy on Alpha Theodore Nightshade.”

My eyes grew wide in surprise that Riley was turning so quickly against the king. I supposed it likely looked to others like I was surprised to find out he was a spy.

Owen was losing it. “Why, you ungrateful—”

“While spying on Alpha Nightshade,” Riley cut him off abruptly, “I observed the High Priestess examine him, and specifically the band along his forehead. I heard her diagnosis, or lack thereof, as she was unable to identify its purpose or origin. Only that it was a good omen, not a bad one.”

Owen’s face was so red it looked like it would pop. “You—”

“You,” Owen was interrupted again, this time by the High Priestess, “dare accuse the temple of meddling with government in violation of our most sacred law?” Owen only cowered in response, sending a gentle thrill down my spine. If anyone deserved to be put in his place, it was my half-brother.

Riley stepped back into the crowd and several realizations struck me. This was why the High Priestess examined my forehead band in the garden that day instead of in my study as I’d expected. She knew we were being watched, and she wanted us to be.

It was also why she didn’t chastise Owen immediately after he accused her just now. She had intentionally waited for Riley to come forward, for the Alphas in attendance to have a witness – and one of the king’s spies, no less – provide the High Priestess with credibility.

Strategizing certainly seemed like it ran in Violet’s family.

The High Priestess didn’t wait for Owen to answer her before she continued, looking in turn between Violet and Owen. “Traditionally, when an accusation is formally leveled, it is the king who presides over arguments to determine a final judgment. However, in the case where the king is either the accuser or the accused, the temple shall preside.”

My pulse picked up speed as the plan we’d been building toward for months was finally playing out.

“Now, Alpha Donovan,” the High Priestess clasped her hands in front of her per usual, “of what specifically are you accusing His Majesty?”

Violet turned to the woman few knew to be her aunt. “I accuse King Owen Nightshade of casting a spell to produce a fake mate bond between Alpha Theodore Nightshade and Luna Eva of Midnight to tamper with the real mate bond that is still very much intact between myself and Alpha Theodore Nightshade.”

Then she turned to smile lovingly at me. My chest swelled and my eyes watered as I returned the adoring look, the first time I was allowed to do so in public in months.

Gasps and shocked murmurs rippled through the crowd. From my peripheral vision, I saw Eva try to flee, but Olivia grabbed her arm, whispering, “Not yet.” And because Eva trusted Olivia, she stayed where she was.

I hoped that her trust in Olivia was about to be betrayed – but I couldn’t be sure because I sure as hell knew better than to trust Olivia.

I wasn’t the only one who noticed the interaction. Owen angled himself to look behind the High Priestess, catching Olivia Bronson’s eye.

“You!” he bellowed, his increasing panic unmistakable. “You said you’d help me keep my brother from taking my crown!”

My eyebrows ratcheted up, as I gave Violet a concerned look at this admission that Olivia was working with the king.

Wait for it, Violet reassured me in my mind. So I did, gaze turning to Olivia as she responded.

“An easy promise to make since Alpha Nightshade doesn’t want the crown, nor has he ever. However,” she smirked, “I made no promises about anyone else taking your crown,” Eva glanced at Olivia then and I wondered if she expected to be Owen’s replacement, “and certainly none about you being stupid enough to be your own undoing.”

Owen was visibly shaking, likely from both rage and fear. For someone to call the king stupid to his face and survive was unheard of. “How dare—”

“The temple shall now preside,” the High Priestess cut him off, and I could have sworn she was taking a little joy in interrupting him every time. I also noticed that she was being selective, even intentional, in who she let interrupt her process.

“King Owen Nightshade, do you confirm or deny the accusation set forth against you by Alpha Violet Donovan of Darkmoon?”