Chapter 91

Theodore

The helicopter’s blades slowed to a lazy spin as we landed on the Vainthott estate’s helipad. From above, the territory had been a patchwork of sprawling fields and stately hills, but now, standing here, I could see the meticulous order behind it all. Nothing was out of place.

I stepped out after Violet, the breeze catching the hem of her dress as she greeted the two waiting figures. The Luna of the Vainthott territory, Seraphine, smiled warmly at us before squealing and hurrying to embrace Violet. Her husband, Alpha Dorian, remained where he was, his sharp gaze already assessing me.

“Violet,” Seraphine said, squeezing Violet close. Her voice was kind but carried a weight of authority that reminded me of Violet in some ways. “You haven’t changed a bit.” She pulled back. "Your new union has really put a spark in your eyes, you know?"

Violet’s smile came easily. “I know."

Seraphine's eyes softened. She glanced at me, but Dorian looked completely unaffected.

"It’s good to see you again. It's been too long. You look as lovely as ever.”

Seraphine chuckled softly. “Well, I do try. Those potions you sent me are mostly responsible.” Her attention shifted to me, and I straightened slightly. “And this must be your mate.” She glanced over me. "I'm sorry we didn't get to speak at the wedding with everything that went on."

"My apologies," I said. I didn't even recognize her from then. "The night was… a bit of a blur after a certain point." I inclined my head, keeping my expression steady. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Luna.”

“The Illustrious Theodore Nightshade,” Violet introduced smoothly. “Alpha of Midnight, Consort of Darkmoon.”

Seraphine smirked. "You really like calling him that."

"I really do."

Seraphine’s eyes flicked over my suit, her smile deepening. “You’ve chosen well, Violet. He has excellent taste.”

I allowed a faint smirk. “She tries.”

"Modest, too!" She cried, clapping her hands. "Lovely."

“Hmm,” came Dorian’s low voice. The Alpha hadn’t moved much since we arrived. “A sharp suit’s all well and good, but it won’t mean much if you can’t handle a dagger.”

I met his gaze head-on, my expression calm despite the sudden weight in the air. “Handy enough,” I replied evenly.

He eyed me suspicious before glancing at Violet. She didn't seem to even be paying him any attention, walking away with Seraphine, leaving us behind. For a moment, neither of us blinked, and the tension hovered just on the edge of breaking. Then Seraphine’s light laugh broke the silence.

“Dorian, please! No terrorizing Violet's fated mate before we’ve even poured the tea,” she said, her tone light but firm enough to leave no room for argument.

Dorian grunted but didn’t press further, though I didn’t miss the faint twitch of amusement at the corner of his mouth.

“This way,” he said gruffly, gesturing toward the sleek black car parked just beyond the helipad.

I followed them to the car. The driver had already opened the door for them and waited until they were settled. Dorian and I climbed in after them. The interior smelled of polished wood and leather, every detail immaculate and painfully expensive. It reminded me from that stupid car my father liked to ride us around in when he was feeling particularly high on power.

I'd hated it, but the continuous murmur of Violet's voice filled the air, and kept me from sinking too far into those memories as the car started toward the Vainthott estate.

“Your mother would be so proud of you, Violet. You’ve grown into a remarkable woman, and she'd have a thing or two to say to your father about this mess he's gotten you into with that idiot." She huffed. "I hope she's giving him hell for the rest of eternity for it."

Violet’s smile was polite, but I could see the faint tension in her shoulders. I brushed my fingers lightly against hers, a quiet reassurance. Violet glanced at me. I winked at her, and she smiled and threaded our hands together. If Dorian looked deeply unhappy second later, I wouldn't say that wasn't a perk.

"She could never stay angry with him long."

Seraphine chuckled. "Let's hope it's a bit longer this time, hm? How have you settled in…"

I let my mind wander away from the conversation, watching the territory fly by. The car glided smoothly down the road. This territory was different from Midnight and the Capital. The architecture was incredibly regal, like the old section of the Capital that had been pulled down and replaced. Most of the touches of the older style had been removed from the palace too.

Before I knew it, we were walking into the Vainthott estate. It was like stepping into another world. It had all the gravitas the palace should have if all the grand little details hadn't been destroyed. It made me wonder what the Donovan Estate looked like. The air shimmered faintly, charged with something I couldn’t name but could feel in every nerve of my body. It wasn’t oppressive, but it was everywhere—like the hum of distant lightning. My skin prickled, and beneath the fabric of my suit, my muscles tensed as if I’d been caught in the eye of a storm.

The architecture itself seemed alive. The carved stone columns and intricate archways pulsed faintly with energy, almost imperceptible until you focused on them. I glanced at Violet, who was walking ahead of me, calm and unbothered, as if this was all perfectly normal.

I was about to ask her about it when I caught a faint glimmer from the corner of my eye. Looking down, I realized it was coming from my suit. The fabric had taken on a subtle glow, a faint, iridescent sheen that pulsed with the rhythm of my heartbeat. A glance at Violet’s gown revealed the same phenomenon—soft light rippling through the delicate fabric like moonlight on water.

The silver bands on her forehead that marked us as mates, burned brighter, their glow undeniable. I clenched my hand into a fist, unsure if I should be worried even as I was glad to see it. I stepped closer and leaned down to murmur in her ear.

“Is this normal?” I murmured, stepping closer to Violet.

She glanced at me, her expression composed but her eyes gleaming with mischief. “Depends on what you mean by normal,” she said lightly.

That didn’t answer my question, but she didn’t seem worried, so I forced myself to relax as we continued inside. Seraphine led us up stairs to a room where their staff had already whisked our bags up. We took a moment to freshen up and regroup before Violet led me downstairs and out into the garden where the tea party was already in full swing.

The moment we stepped outside, the entire gathering froze. Conversations halted mid-sentence, the soft clinking of porcelain cups falling silent. Every pair of eyes turned toward us, and a ripple of shock passed through the crowd.

The murmurs spread like wildfire, some in awe, others tinged with jealousy or disbelief. I glanced at Violet, but she held her head high, moving forward as if she didn’t notice the stares. I, however, felt every single one of them. Their scrutiny was like a weight pressing against my shoulders, but I straightened under it, forcing myself to project confidence.

She'd warned of this, that there might be gossip. Things to talk about at the wedding, about us, about my reputation.

For a moment, I thought something was wrong—until I caught the whispers.

“I thought I had just imagined it….”

“They’re glowing…”

“It’s true, then—they’re blessed by the Goddess.”

Violet’s steps didn’t falter as she approached the hosts, Seraphine and Dorian, who stood at the edge of the garden. Seraphine was glowing with happiness and Dorian looked disgruntled but oddly approving.

“Thank you for having us,” Violet said warmly. "And greetings to the hosts. Are we to your left or right?"

Seraphine jumped to her feet, her gaze flickering between Violet and me, her smile widening. “The pleasure is ours. Though I must say, your entrance has already stolen the show, and of course you are on our right, dearest.”

To the right meant we were allies. It was the best place to be, per Violet's crash course. Dorian didn’t smile, but his eyes lingered on the glowing bands around our heads before he grunted, his voice low.

“I had hoped that I had been hallucinating."

"Honey!" She swatted him.

He broke into a smile and stood. His suit flickered with light as well. A breeze swept across the government and his eyes began to glow as I felt the energy in the garden grow and wrap around us. It pressed against my skin like a silent storm, an embrace me warmly. It was a bit like tasting the foor Violet made all over again. I could see why she made sure to feed me in private first.

He held out his hand with a begrudging smile. "I welcome you to our right."