Chapter 43
Violet
Theodore’s question lingered in the air between us as I mulled over everything I’d learned about Owen for the past few hours. I didn’t doubt that Theodore had already come to a lot of the same conclusions that I had, but I was… touched– happy– that he wanted to hear my thoughts and input on the situation.
I could count on one hand the number of times Lucas had actually asked for my opinion on something… and fit all the times my father had asked me on the same hand.
“He’s employed quite the PR team to cover up how terrible of a person he is from the masses.” My lips twitched. “I can only guess that’s because of how much publicity you have working in your favor…though is it your doing or his doing that the coverage about you is all pushed into obscure news outlets?”
His lips twitched. “You’ve been researching me.”
“You know more about me than I like.” He blinked. “It’s only right that I start evening the playing field. Admittedly, that’s quite hard.”
He smirked. “I like my privacy… And a bit of both, you could say.”
“Is there an official agreement between you two?”
“No. I just…” He took a deep breath. “Larger news outlets don’t have rights to come to Midnight because they’re typically not going without a car and A/C.”
I blinked and chuckled. “Shrewd. Who handles what’s released to the larger outlets then? Like the photo?”
“Dahlia handles it.”
I nodded and took a note. “I’m going to train Sophia to be able to handle PR work inside and outside the pack. But, as for Owen, I imagine that his mother works very hard to keep him looking a certain way to the public, but he seems to understand that it’s not working. It’s rare that someone is observant enough to know that a plan isn’t working, but not cunning enough to at least try to fix it. He hates you. Deeply. Zealously. But I think he’s more… jealous, envious, than anything. Desperate, too.”
He winced. “You really don’t believe in holding back…”
“Did you want me to?” I asked. “Are you under a different impression?”
He said nothing.
I looked out the window, frowning. “Is he the oldest?”
“Legally, yes.”
I blinked. “What do you mean by that?”
He smiled. “We were born the same year, but I wasn’t registered or announced until a year later.”
My jaw dropped. They were the same age? I guess that meant our age gap was also smaller than I thought. I leaned forward.
“How many people know this? Does he know this?”
Theodore nodded. “I’m pretty sure his mother told him… if not our father.”
I searched his face. He wouldn’t look at me, but I didn’t need him to to read into his tone.
“This would also… be a part of the reason you abdicated so publicly.”
He smiled. “You’re hot when you’re clever.”
I cocked an eyebrow. “Good to know you always think I’m hot.”
He chuckled to himself. “I never denied it… But you were saying? About Owen.”
“Insecure men with power are dangerous…” I took a breath. “Honestly, he and Lucas are basically the same person. Probably best manipulated and controlled through money, or lackthereof.” I smirked. “Despicable with no integrity. I could go on, but I think—”
Theodore burst into laughter. His eyes were bright, glowing. His gaze was soft, and he looked almost relieved, as if he’d been bracing for something worse.
"What…” His tone turned warm and he slipped his arm around my waist, pulling me up and into his lap before I could stop him. “... it’s such a shame we didn’t meet earlier…”
My heart sped up as he cupped my face. His eyes were so full of yearning, dark with desire.
“You, my Violet, are absolutely…”
I pressed a finger to his lips before he could kiss me, leaning back and away from him. My heart was racing. My whole body felt warm and full of sparks. I could see in his eyes that he knew it, that he enjoyed the effect he was having on me.
“It’s no longer time to perform,” I reminded him, my tone firm. “And I still don’t appreciate the attempt.”
He tilted his head, an intrigued spark lighting up his eyes. He kissed my finger and drew back.
“I was told it’s not very romantic to ask every time for a kiss.”
“We’re not dating Theodore. Romance isn’t—”
“Tell me, then—what kind of man would I have to be to make you fall in love with me?”
My mouth went dry as our gazes met. Something in his gaze held me captive. His tone was tinged with something fragile and vulnerable. I’d never heard him sound like that before, and it pulled at my heart.
“Am I not good enough compared to Lucas?”
I wrinkled my nose at the thought. “Are you sick? Why would you compare yourself to Lucas?”
“You loved him,” he said, his voice oddly light. He tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. “And I know that was no small thing… so I’m curious.”
“Yes, I loved him.” I met his gaze. “And he broke my heart and is currently enjoying my suffering.”
His lips twitched into a wince, and I held his gaze. The weight of that question made the air between us heavy. Though I could feel my whole body reacting to his presence, his nearness, his warmth and power, my heart felt cold and distant.
Lucas hadn’t been in half the position of power that Theodore was, and he was still so close to destroying me. The fear of what it would be like to trust Theodore and have that trust betrayed was enough to make me sick.
“I can’t see myself falling for anyone again,” I said, keeping my voice steady, unyielding. “It… It costs too much, and I’m still not even sure if I have aany hope of recovering this time.”
His expression faltered. My eyes stung. My throat felt tight. It felt like I’d told him something that I shouldn’t have.
“Why even ask that? Your fated mate could appear at any moment.”
Theodore said nothing for a moment. He didn’t even seem fazed by the possibility. He said nothing and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me closer so I leaned into him.
“Do you think you could grow to trust me, Violet?”
My lips twitched. “I think I trust you quite a bit now.”
“I meant as a man,” he said. “Not a business partner.”
I swallowed. “Maybe.”
He let out a slow breath and squeezed me closer. “Can I hold you for a bit?”
His heart thudded wildly beneath my ear. His whole body was still tense, and I nodded, surprised that he’d asked and unsure of why he wanted this, but it was nice. The ache that I had been ignoring lessened the way it always did when I was this near to him.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“... going back there is painful for you, isn’t it?”
A rumbling chuckle shook through him. “That obvious?”
“There’s a lot of betrayal in that place for you…” I said. “In your family.”
He cleared his throat. “I think… I think we should chance the subject.”
I closed my eyes and tightened my grip in his jacket.
“I know this doesn’t mean much, right now,” I said. “But… I’d never betray you, Theodore.”
“What… does that mean to you, Violet?”
My lips twitched. “That I’d never work against your best interests… even if it would benefit me.”
His heart rate slowed to an even, lulling cadence.
“You should get some rest. It’s a long ride back.”
The ride back to Midnight took well into the next day. As soon as we arrived back at his house, I barely had time to breathe before the legal team showed up. I hadn’t met them before, but Theodore made introductions and led me into the parlor they’d been using to work on my case. Piles of papers, legal code references and things were stacked on the table along with notebooks of handwritten notes.
A member of the staff came in to serve food and drinks before leaving again.
“I’ll leave you to it,” Theodore said, passing a hand over my shoulder. “Deep breath, yeah.”
I nodded and looked up at him. “Can we talk later?”
He blinked, seemingly surprised, but he smiled. “I’ll be back in about an hour.”
“Just come on in.”
“You… don’t mind me being involved with this?”
I tilted my head. “Of course not. I have nothing to hide… You have a right to know.”
His eyes softened and nodded. He seemed oddly pleased before leaving. I turned back to the lawyers as they gathered their notes and took a deep breath.
“Alright,” I said. “What’s going on? You need clarification on something.”
“Yes, but first, you’ll need to review Lucas’ counter claims.” The lead lawyer pushed it toward me with a grim look on his face.
