Chapter 30

Theodore

I watched Violet carefully. The challenge had been set, but I was curious about how she was going to react to it. I could see her pushing me away, yet she didn't move. The silence stretched between us, humming like a live wire and burning like the sun, and yet she said nothing. Her expression was as cool as ice. I could smell the whiskey on her breath. It would take just barely an inch for me to close the gap between us.

“... if I thought you were the kind of man I had to make keep his distance, I would have never agreed to this.”

My heart skipped a beat. My chest grew tight. The urge to kiss her was so strong I was shaking, yet I sat back.

She was going to be the death of me and my control at this rate.

“Well played… how's the transition coming along? Anything of concern?”

“No,” she said. “Not yet. I'll start my formal review with Sophia tomorrow.”

I found it that. “Tomorrow?”

She cocked an eyebrow at me. “Did you expect me to wait for a year?”

I scoffed. “No, but I have plans for tomorrow. Plans for us that is…And I thought you might want to meet your legal team sooner rather than later. ”

“ I do, but there are other issues going on that need my attention as well.”

I waved my hand. “Just as well, Midnight’s legal team is undefeated. It’ll be open and shut. You won’t have to lift a finger.”

Her expression didn't hold much confidence, but I figured that was to be expected. She hadn't ever had someone to give her assurances of the caliber I was giving her.

“All the same, your meeting might have to wait. We have a few things to iron out between us.”

“Like?”

I swirled my whiskey in my glass, watching the liquid move around.

“I need you to accompany me to see my brother, Owen.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly. “The Alpha King? What for? I didn't think he was the type to offer congratulations.”

“He's not, but as I told you before about his conditions for Shelter, I need to get a roll on getting his approval.”

Violet crossed her arms. “You and I both know it's just an excuse.”

“Yes.”

“And there's a chance that he won't even consider it even after we go through this?”

“Yes.”

“So what's your backup plan?”

“I haven't devised one yet, but I don't think I will have to if we can convince him that I was telling the truth.”

She arched an eyebrow, the corners of her mouth tightening. “The truth about what?”

“That you’re my fated mate.”

Violet

Shock didn't begin to cover what I was feeling. My whole body went rigid.

“Why would you tell him that?” I ground out, barely restraining myself. “Everyone knows that Lucas and I were fated. You haven't even bonded me. Are you–”

“ I could change that.”

I growled at him. “No way in hell.”

Something flickered through his eyes. He looked almost disappointed before it was gone again.

“It’s not as absurd as you seem to think,” he said, his voice low and steady. “It's entirely possible that you're my fated mate, and I am your second chance.”

His tone felt strangely neutral like he was trying to mask how he felt about the situation. My gut turned at the thought. I felt almost ill.

I took a breath and rose to my feet. “Let’s talk more about this tomorrow. I’m too tired to have this conversation.”

He huffed and grumbled into his whiskey. “Fine. Sleep well, then.”

“Goodnight, Theodore.”

I walked to my room and crawled into bed, trying to put it out of my mind, yet his words kept floating through my head. All the literature on mates said what he was thinking of was highly unlikely to happen. It was more likely that we would be each other's second chance, but Theodore hadn’t even found his fated mate yet.

Getting attached to the idea and allowing myself to feel anything about the idea would just hurt me in the end when she showed up. I closed my eyes, trying not to think about it, and I was lucky. The dull throbbing ache in my chest was more than enough distraction.

The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room as I woke up. For a few blissful moments, I allowed myself to lie there, wrapped in the comfort of the warm sheets and the brief sense of peace.

A knock at the door shattered the quiet. I knew without asking that it was Theodore on the other side and sighed. I really didn’t want to deal with this, but I really didn’t have a choice.

“Come in,” I said, sitting up and straightening the covers around me.

The door opened, and Theodore stepped inside, fully dressed for the day.

“I suppose you want to get an early start on things?”

A hint of a smile played at the corners of his lips. “I don't want you to go in and prepare and blow our cover.”

I sighed and swung my legs over the side of the bed, the chill of the floor grounding me.

“Do you know the first thing about faded mates?”

“Of course,” he said and dropped down onto the bed beside me. He reached for me and I drew back.

“What are you doing?”

“You’re going to have to practice being close to me. We're supposed to be faded and mates, Violet. You should want to be closer to me.” He frowned at me. “Stars should dance in your eyes–”

I held up a hand. “You've been reading too many romance books.”

He flushed, and I found that infinitely intriguing and amusing all at once. I sighed.

“Have you actually met a pair of faded mates who didn't end tragically?”

He blinked, and I got to my feet.

“First, I'd like to go on record, stating that it was dumb for you to say that we were fated.”

“It's more convincing for him..”

I pursed my lips, glaring at him. “Is it? He said a Luna, not your fated mate, Theodore, and it’s a hoax of a condition anyway. I–” I cut myself off, shaking my head. “It doesn't matter now. You said it already. We just have to roll with it.”

He grinned, getting up and coming closer to me. I dodged his hands.

“Have you ever dated a woman, Theodore?”

His expression went blank. “What does that have to do with—”

“Everything.” I gestured to him. “You don’t know the first thing about how to act with a romantic partner.”

“I do!”

“Do tell,” I said.

“Well, you have to be affectionate with me. You should be in my arms and comfortable being there. I’m just trying to get you comfortable with touching me. You should smile more and…”

I rolled my eyes. “Stop, and for a second, listen.”

He set his jaw, but he said nothing.

“We are not teenagers, Theodore.”

He looked offended. “You and Lucas—”

“We were married for seven years,” I cut in. “I know you've seen enough of our public appearances to know that I never acted like that. Ever.”

We barely held hands in public. Some of that was my preference, but looking back, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was also his preference.

“They say a woman changes in different relationships.”

“Your arrogance is astounding.”

His jaw dropped open. “Are you saying you couldn’t be more affectionate with me?”

I threw up my hands. “I don’t know you, Theodore!”

“That didn’t stop us from fucking.”

I snarled at him “I highly doubt your brother is going to want to see our sexual chemistry! You’ve fucked half the continent at this point. That’s not going to help your objective.”

He set his jaw and crossed his arms. “I’m not asking you to crawl in my lap.”

I cocked an eyebrow at him. He flushed.

“Fine. It would be nice, but we have a show to put on, and it has to be at least as good as your appearances with Lucas.”

“You are missing the point, Theodore. You cannot force me to be something I’m not.” I thought about my parents. “Fated mates are… They’re supposed to be partners.”

Theodore scoffed lightly. It set my teeth on edge.

“Partners, sure, but my mate would be more affectionate physically. No one would believe otherwise, least of all Owen.”

Before I could retort, he stepped closer, so close that the space between us seemed to crackle with tension. His arm slipped around my waist, drawing me in just enough that I could feel the heat of his body. The gesture was so seamless, so confident, that my pulse skipped.

I kept my expression neutral, but I knew he could hear the betraying quickness of my heartbeat.

“You’re not as indifferent as you think,” he teased.

I sighed, wondering how anyone could be this arrogant. I pushed him back.

“I never said I was indifferent. I said I’m not a groupie.”