Page 146 of Violet

She looks at me and shakes her head. “Amazing. And yes, it is the family home. His scent will become part of the background, eventually.”

I don’t know how true that is. Stephan’s scent is powerful to me. I can pick it up here, at his home in Emporia, at the beach house he owns. Part of it is the bond we share from mating. But part of it is just…him. Me and him.

It used to bring me peace, happiness, a special place to be.

But now it’s a constant reminder of all my shortcomings, of the wreck of my heart. Of his past. Of his betrayal.

“I don’t think it will,” I whisper.

“Maybe not,” she says. “And the Gardener family townhouse?”

“If I go there then whoever Queen Bee is will find out. She’ll bring scandal down on us because…because of me. I will have failed everyone.”

She touches my cheek. “Violet, no, you won’t. Stephan, now that’s a different story. I should have known that boy—” She breathes out. “He told you about Cecilia?”

I nod. I spill the things he told me, and I shrug. “He just doesn’t want children with me. I don’t even want to start a family immediately, but…there’s a difference between a man stating he can’t have them and a man not wanting them.”

“It’s his story, but I can tell you Cecilia wasn’t from society. That shouldn’t matter, of course, but…well, to certain people it did. And Stephan is sopigheaded, so determined to take care of matters himself that when Sophine and his father refused the mating of him and Cecilia, they took off. She was a Beta, pregnant, and there were…complications.”

She keeps her hand on my cheek, and it’s comforting. “He told me. But…”

“But he lied, he manipulated. Granted he thinks it justified, coming from what he believes is a good place, but you’re right to be upset, to feel betrayed. You’re right to do whatever it is you need. You’re not at fault. Any scandal is his to bear, not yours.”

“I don’t…”

There’s a knock at the door.

“That’ll be your sister and brother. Just know Stephan really does care. And he’s absolutely and perhaps irrationally terrified of the same thing happening again. To you.”

But it doesn’t matter. I can’t.

Right now, I can’t. I’m in such overload, I’m in danger of shutting down.

“I’ll be here if you need me. A call or text away.”

There’s a commotion, and Heath bursts in, wild-eyed, furious as he takes me in. “What did that fucker do?”

“Language,” Penrith says. “And don’t upset your sister any more than she already is.”

Heath straightens. “Where is he?”

“In Emporia, I assume,” Penrith says as Iris rushes to my side and pulls me into a hug. My limbs are heavy, and I slump into her so close to crying it’s a wonder I haven’t burst like a dam.

“Iris, take her,” Heath barks. “I’m going to see if I can get a ride to Emporia?—”

“Take care of your sister,” Penrith says. “We’ll talk tomorrow, Heath.”

He sets his jaw, and I know I should calm him, but I don’t have it in me. I nod goodbye to Penrith, who must have called them before I arrived, who knew where I’d be happiest. I want to thank her, but I can’t find the words.

Everything is numb. Heat crawls up my neck, and my vision darkens.

We get to the car. Heath is driving. I catch sight of him in the rearview mirror, frowning, expression savage. I hear Iris from what seems a vast distance telling him now isn’t the time.

Then…everything goes black.

I wake up to my sister’s face close to mine, sunlight streaming into our country home. I almost scream.

“What happened?”

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