Chapter 210

Theodore’s POV

I didn’t dare move.

Every cell in my body was screaming to pull Violet into my arms, to cross the square and kiss her in front of everyone. Between the Goddess’ judgment and the recording Kincaid had just played, everyone now knew Violet was still my mate.

But Owen’s body was still warm on the ground in front of me, and I’d have to practically step over him to get to her. The situation was still precarious, and I was afraid that if I brought any attention to the dead king at this moment, Violet would lose control. And we still needed things to happen in a certain order.

So I stayed put, turning with everyone else to listen to Olivia. Eva’s eyes widened at Olivia’s statement of intent to make her own accusation. For once in her life, Eva knew what was coming next.

“I would like to formally accuse,” Olivia projected through her venomous grin as the High Priestess turned around to face her, “Luna Eva of Midnight for plotting to kill Alpha Theodore Nightshade of Midnight on their wedding night in an attempt to take the crown thanks to the new succession laws.”

Eva wrenched her arm away from Olivia who finally let her go. With the accusation out in the open, the whole crowd was sure to keep Eva from fleeing should she try.

Eva gaped at Olivia, pain and betrayal in her eyes. “You were the one who convinced Owen to change the succession laws. It was your idea for me to kill Theodore!”

I glanced at my mate across from me. She didn’t even look back, though her voice filled my mind. Wait for it, she repeated.

“Was it my idea,” Olivia grinned, “or my test to see where your loyalties truly lay?”

I wasn’t sure if anyone else noticed she didn’t deny convincing Owen to change the succession laws.

I nodded to a couple of the soldiers from the base, and they stepped up, one on each side of Eva. She glanced at them nervously as Olivia spoke back up.

“You saw what happened to the king you were so loyal to.” Eva glanced at Owen’s limp body on the ground. “Do you dare deny my accusation?”

I waited for the High Priestess to interrupt her, to point out that if the temple were presiding, if the Goddess were to judge, it should be the High Priestess who asked that question. But she did no such thing, and I soon realized why.

Eva’s eyes filled with tears as she glanced in terror once more at Owen’s body. Then she dropped her head, tears spilling down her cheeks as she said, “I do not deny it.”

With such a willing confession, we didn’t even need the High Priestess involved. I nodded to the soldiers, and they each clasped one of Eva’s wrists.

“Eva,” I said, drawing her gaze as I realized I didn’t even know her last name, “you are being imprisoned in the royal palace under the following charges: plotting to kill an Alpha and being an accomplice to the casting of magic in violation of the Unlawful Magic Charter.”

We had been hoping she would deny the accusation as Owen had. Killing the fake mate was still a possible way to undo the fake mate bond, and that would have done the job. Still, having Eva imprisoned was certainly an improvement from having her in my home.

“Which is for the best since we wouldn’t have been able to get married anyway, seeing as I’m already married.” Then I held out my hand as Violet stepped over Owen’s body to hold my hand in hers.

It was Tyron who approached us in confusion, and I was glad for it as it would clear my known friend of collusion. “But your divorce was all over the news.”

“The nice thing,” Olivia chimed in, “about being the daughter of a judge is that you have connections to many judges, including Judge Alonzo who was more than happy to preside over a fake divorce for show.”

“Our lawyers were quite confused, weren’t they?” Violet asked me as she snuggled into my side. “But they agreed to go through the motions in public knowing we wouldn’t actually sign any of the paperwork.”

I hugged her closer, kissing the top of her head. “Between the judge, our lawyers, and your performance,” I added, providing an unplanned excuse for the hallucination she’d had that day, “the press was sufficiently convinced we actually got divorced, weren’t they?”

Then, in a moment I had been dreaming of for weeks, my mate who was still my wife, lifted her chin to kiss me. I melted into our kiss, tears escaping down my cheeks as we pulled away. I could feel her relief and love mirroring mine through our magical bond.

“Why?”

We both turned to see Eva facing Olivia as she asked again. “Why are you doing this? I thought we were friends.”

“A near fatal mistake,” Olivia replied with not an ounce of remorse. “Besides, I told you: it’s good to be friends with the queen.” Then she pointedly looked over to Violet.

The entire party erupted into chaos as Alphas began shouting.

“The king was right! They are in cahoots!”

“The new succession law demands a vote!”

“They’ve been lying to us this whole time!”

“ENOUGH!”

It was an effort to keep my feet in place even as my body recoiled instinctively from the commanding voice that boomed from my mate in my arms. Her single word did the trick though, immediately silencing the entire party. She stepped out of my embrace to stand tall as she addressed everyone.

“I have been kept from my mate for months because King Owen unlawfully wielded magic to separate us. He sent spies to live with Theodore, he pardoned the one who illegally used Black Haze to assault me, and he has pulled every string for his benefit instead of serving our country.”

The crowd seemed to calm slightly as Violet reminded them of only a few of Owen’s number of crimes.

“I merely held him accountable for his actions in order to be reunited with my mate. As for the crown, the succession laws will be followed to the letter. I would never go outside our country’s laws like the man whose own actions led to his demise.”

Violet’s shoulders lowered as she swung her gaze to me.

“For the sake of our country, the Alphas will need to convene as soon as possible to decide on our next ruler. But for now, I wish only to be held by my mate.”

Then Violet reached into her hair, tugging it free from the elegant updo that had entranced me all evening. Her locks fell lusciously over her shoulders, and when she pulled forward the band with which she had tied up her hair, something weighed it down: my token.

She had had it in her hair all evening, wrapped up in the black cord she now offered me. “Doher, would you be so kind?” As I took the necklace from her, she turned around, holding her hair up to expose her neck.

I let my tears of relief and joy and love flow freely as I clasped the necklace around her neck, returning my token where it belonged.