Page 50 of Violet

Then, eyes rolling back, her legs give out, and the princess faints.

CHAPTER

FIFTEEN

Violet

I’m lying in the warm cozy shade of an oak; the smell soothes, slows my heart down from galloping to an almost steady beat.

“She’s ice cold,” a deep voice says. “Did she eat today?”

“Oh my goodness, Mr. Ashford, you’re a hero,” Mom breathes. “A real hero.”

Heath grumbles something I can’t make out.

“O.M.G.!” Rue’s there too. Her flurry of words flies over me. “You missed Vi’s crash and burn, Iris and Mari! It was awesome, wasn’t it, Dahlia?”

“You moved so fast. You caught her right before she hit the floor.” My mom chatters to Stephan almost like she’s channeling Rue.

It rushes back to me. I was at the lunch with the other Omegas and their mothers in town. There were snidecomments about my dress at the ball, about the Stitch posts suggesting Stephan and I have been sneaking away to private places to do un-Luxe-like things.

And then I…fainted?

No.

I’m home. The lunch isn’t why I fainted.

“Ohh.”

My eyes open, and I see Stephan first, his honey-brown eyes full of worry. Real worry. He’s hovering over me, arm under my head. Next, I see Heath, who’s standing nearby, hair a mess from raking his fingers through it too many times. Mom’s there, along with every one of my sisters. I’m surrounded.

I try to scramble to my feet, but Stephan’s quick to put his other arm under my knees, scoop me up like a child, and carry me over to a chair. Someone presses a glass of iced tea into my hand.

“For your blood sugar,” Iris says, then leans in close.

“I fainted,” I whisper to her. “I never faint.”

“Full-on panic attack, Vi,” she whispers back. “Drink.”

I attempt a sip, but my stomach is twisted into a tight knot. I’m so embarrassed.

“Feeling better?” my brother asks.

I nod.

“Mom, can you get everyone out?” Heath asks. “If Stephan is going to court Vi, I need to speak to them both. Privately. So close the door.”

For a moment I think Mom’s going to insist on staying, but then she ushers my sisters out.

When it’s just us, worry streaks through me. I don’tknow how much Stephan has told Heath, or if he’s told him anything at all. But I don’t want to ruin our plan.

“Before the Hargrave House party,” Heath says, looking a little gray, like the fainting might be contagious, “there are some things we have to get straight. First—Vi, you didn’t answer Stephan when he asked if you’re interested in him courting you. Are you?”

“I…am,” I say, still a little shaky.

Heath shakes his head, as if he’s surprised by my answer. “Okay then. So, the rules.” He turns to Stephan. “You do this the right way. No dates without a chaperone. Never alone. We don’t need any more bad rumors going around than there already are. Hand-holding is allowed. A kiss on the hand or cheek is fucking pushing it.”

“Heath!” I gasp.

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