Chapter 56

Violet

“How long have you been skulking around listening to my conversation?” I set my jaw. “I would think you had more important things to worry about.”

“I’ve had enough of this, Violet,” he hissed. “You’ve taken it too far.”

“What—”

“Humiliating me like this… He must have fucked you pretty hard— knocked your brains loose.”

“Don’t be crass,” I snapped. “And it’s none of your business what my husband and I get up to.”

“...you’ve always known how to push my buttons. One day you’re going to push me over the edge.”

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. He drew closer, and I backed up, keeping my distance with each measure step away from him. The faint glow of the reception hall’s lights cast a shadow over him, so I couldn’t see his expression clearly. The garden felt too quiet, the air unnervingly still. The tension coiled tightly between us. There was no one nearby—no witnesses, no safety net. Only me and Lucas here. Whatever happened would depend on who could say what first if I didn’t get away from him.

Quickly.

“I’ll ask again: what do you want?”

He chuckled, spreading his hands. “To talk, obviously.”

Lie. He had something planned, but what that was, I couldn’t tell. Not yet.

“We have nothing more to talk about.”

He scoffed. “You can tell yourself that all you want, but we both know it’s not that simple. And this whole farce has gone on long enough, don’t you think?”

“You could have saved us both all the trouble and just left with grace—”

“You never treated me with the proper respect. You never let us—”

I snarled. Every bit of betrayal and fury reared up as I growled.

“There is no us, Lucas.”

I glared at him as he stepped into a patch of moonlight. I stepped away from him, gauging the distance between him and the path that would lead back to the ballroom. He was still too close to chance it, and I hadn’t gotten into position to ditch my heels.

“You’re lying, and you know it,” he chuckled, the sound was cold and dark. “But I suppose you had to tell him something… Though I am curious to know how you managed the bands. It was a cute touch. I admit that you’ve caught my attention… and that’s what this is all about, isn’t it?”

I narrowed my eyes. What was he talking about? Had he lost his mind? My heart picked up when he turned, and his gaze locked on mine. There was something off about him. Something that prodded at the back of my mind, like I should know and be even more wary than I already was, but I knew it was better to stay relaxed, no matter how threatening he seemed or how precarious the situation seemed.

“I’ll make this simple,” Lucas said, his tone too casual. “I’m going to appeal to the Werewolf Capital Court.”

I raised an eyebrow. “The Capital Court doesn’t take every case for retrial.”

“No, but I’m sure the king will make sure this one is accepted,” he said, his lips curling into a smirk. “You think he’s on your and the Uncrowned King’s side after the stunt you just pulled with the light show?”

I swallowed. The Capital Court was presided over by the alpha king, and unlike in the Civil Court, he wouldn’t be listening to anyone’s council or be at the mercy of anyone’s vote. He would rule against me if he had even the smallest chance, according to law, to do so. Hell, he might make up a rule, declare a law, just to spite me at this point. My only hope at that point would be to get Lucas’ petition for appeal thrown out on the basis of law so that Owen couldn’t allow the case to be heard.

Someone would have had to tell him that. He didn’t have a chance in a fair fight, so what was he plotting?

This would likely be my only chance to find out before he made his move.

“The Civil Court already ruled in my favor. You have no chance.”

Lucas chuckled, low and cold. “That’s where you’re wrong. I have new evidence—decisive evidence.” He dropped his voice and grew closer, matching me step for step but never getting too far from the entrance of the path. “Evidence that will turn everything in my favor.”

My stomach churned. He wasn’t lying, exactly, but I couldn’t tell what that undercurrent of his tone was about. It was unsettling. A warning was screaming from the back of my mind, but I kept my voice calm, my steps light.

“If this so-called evidence is so decisive, why didn’t you bring it out during the first trial?”

His smirk faltered for a fraction of a second before he recovered, straightening his posture. “Because I didn’t need to. I didn’t think it would come to this.”

Lie.

So he had to be planning to get some manner of evidence before he sent it to the Capital Court, but how?

“Or you’re bluffing because you know you’ve already lost.”

Lucas stepped closer, and I stepped away. His eyes narrowed and he bared his teeth.

“I’m giving you an out,” he said, his voice darkening. “I won’t go through with the appeal if you come back to me. Now.”

I let out a sharp laugh, my disbelief cutting through the tension like a blade. “Do you even hear yourself? You think I’d ever go back to you?”

His jaw tightened, the flicker of anger in his eyes was as bright as I’d ever seen it, but he was far enough away fromt he path that I had a good chance of getting away from him and into at least earshot of someone nearby..

“Enjoy the party, Lucas,” I said coldly, turning on my heel. “And I’d rather not ever be alone with you again.”

I walked down the path, keeping my attention on him. As I expected, he followed me, his footsteps picking up.

“This is all your fault!” he shouted, his words hissed and heated. “If you’d been a better wife, a proper Luna, none of this would have happened!”

I didn’t turn back until I’d rounded the corner, closer to where the light was better, and the cameras would be able to see us. I cast a glare over my shoulder.

“I’m going to pretend you’re drunk. Go back to your room and sleep it off. You’re harassing me and embarrassing yourself. You’ve got a child on the way, for goodness’ sake.”

He snarled, the sound animalistic, and closed the distance between us with alarming speed. I darted aside, barely dodging him. He whirled around, snarling at me, puffing up and snarling. His eyes glinted with the light of his wolf peeking through as he stood in the pathway, blocking me from heading back to the party.

I was still too far to be heard and not in view of the windows either. One of my heels caught on the edge of a garden stone.

I stumbled, and it felt like his movements came at me in slow motion. He darted forward, reaching into his breast pocket and pulling out a small spray can. My instincts screamed at me to move, but it was already too late—he pressed the nozzle, releasing a pungent mist. All I could do was twist away, covering my face with my arm, and try not to breathe it in.

The mist tingled. It felt heavy. Magic? Some sort of potion.

He came at me again, spraying. I dodged the main path of the spray, ducked low, and swung hard. My fist landed with a sharp crack in his jaw. He skidded and stumbled back, but it wasn’t enough to knock him out. My body felt heavy. I stumbled and swayed. The token slipped down to the ground, glowing softly as it landed. The ground felt like it was moving beneath my feet, heaving and rocking. I stumbled around.

Lucas swung around and grabbed my arm. “You’re going to pay for that. I was going to—Fuck!”

I rammed my knee into his gut, though I was aiming for his groin. He buckled and let me go. I twisted and ran towards the spiraling lights that I knew had to be the ballroom.

I knew that if I just got far enough, it would be alright. The lights were getting brighter, like moonlight, but the air was getting cooler. Something was wrong. My stomach heaved like I was going to be sick. The ground turned and turned. The earth twisted beneath my bare feet, and the stones seemed to melt with each step.

Then, something yanked at my ankle and caught my dress. I tilted forward, falling and curling tight to brace for impact.

Rather than the floor, the shock of icy water jolted through my senses as I plunged into a shallow pool. I gasped, coughing as I scrambled to my knees, my soaked dress clinging to my skin.

“You can’t get away from me this time, Violet!”