Page 123 of Violet

“You’ve told her, of course.”

I note it isn’t a question. “Told her what?”

“About Cecilia.”

“Some.”

“Stephan—”

“We’re not having children.”

A sigh comes from her like a balloon deflating. “Oh, Stephan.”

“Not your concern. And not up for debate.”

“As your constant supporter, even when you do truly stupid things, I’d like to think itismy concern. And you told her something. A girl like your Violet is made for babies, for a family.”

“No.”

“And if it happens?”

“It can’t.” I meet her gaze. “I took care of it.”

One thing about Pen is that for all her outward manners and adhering to the ways of society, she doesn’treally give a shit. She doesn’t balk. “She’s okay with all this?”

“I said I’m taking care of it.”

“How?” she asks.

“I don’t want to lose her.”

Pen crosses her arms. “I askedhow.”

Now I move closer to her, annoyance sparking. “As I said, not up for debate.”

From upstairs comes laughter and it gets louder as everyone starts to head back down here.

Pen meets my glare head on. “This isn’t over.”

But it is, at least for me.

Because the contraceptives I got from Clea should already be working. But I’ll have to up the dosage soon before I can knot her safely.

While crushing up Omega contraceptives and putting them into my new mate’s drinks might not be exactly ethical, it’s better than the alternative.

I can’t lose her.

Ooh la la, my faithful brood. Do you think they went to the City of Love for the honeymoon?

You know who I mean, Hivemind!

The prince and princess of the Season, that’s who!

Somerumorsclaim they might have gone off to some fast-rolling city of sleaze instead, so our Asher could show the wallviolet an education.

Some claim he left her here and went off on his own.

Others state they went to Emporia.

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