Page 62 of Violet

Itake off after the princess, ignoring the viper Alicia’s call for me to come back. I don’t know how much Violet heard, but from the wounded look on her face, I’m guessing it was enough.

I fucked up big time.

I should have been smarter when I got here. I made a stupid mistake with my dick and now?—

Violet reaches a car, gets inside, and slams the door shut before I can reach her. All I can do is knock on the window and pray she can hear me. “Princess! Princess, talk to me.” I try the door handle but the lock has been clicked firmly in place. “Violet, please. Let me explain.”

Slowly, the glass lowers slightly, revealing Violet’s sister Iris and her redhead friend, both staring daggers at me.

“I need to talk to Violet,” I say, trying to peer into the darkness of the car. I see a glimpse of Violet’s floral dress at the other side of the seat. I can’t see her face, but I can sense her pain, her disappointment. A terrible numbness spreads. I don’t want her thinking bad about me. “Violet…”

“Give it up, St. James,” Iris snaps. “This isn’t one of your movies.”

Then the window rolls up, cutting off the intoxicating scent of violets, and the car peels off.

Shit. This isn’t good.

Why do I even care?

I like her?

She’s nice. Sweet. Absolutely beautiful. The pleasing part of her nature both annoys me and turns me on. I want to help her fulfill her dreams and not worry so much about her responsibility to her family. I want her to explore all those secret parts of her that she keeps locked away from everyone, and her innocence makes me want to corrupt her in the best possible way, introduce her to pleasure she couldn’t even imagine.

But only with me.

When Heath had told me to leave Violet alone tonight so that she could talk to other Alphas, I didn’t want to. But the entire point of our ruse was to find someone worthy of her. And she won’t find anyone if I don’t let her go. But when I saw her talking to that one rich Alpha, when he kissed her hand… It took everything in me not to storm over and knock him clean on his ass.

I had to leave.

Do Ilikelike Violet?

A nondescript limo pulls up next to me, and the window comes down, revealing Sophine in the backseat.

“Get in, Stephan.”

I’m too lost in my thoughts to move as fast as she requires, so she pushes open the door with a huff. “Stephan. Now.”

I get in the limo and look at the battle-ax. She’s dressed in a black suit, her hair back, pinned under a hat. Taking the seat across from her, I open the mini bar between us, grab a bottle of bourbon, and swig from it.

Wincing, she takes out a second bottle and pours herself a glass. “Your time in Emporia has made you uncouth.”

“I’m a barbarian.”

She sits back. “Tell me, Stephan, did you sleep with that new girl? Miss Dell?”

I open my mouth, but she shakes her head.

“You know what? Don’t tell me.” Then she fixes me with the kind of stare that makes me rear back. “But do tell me your intentions with my Luxe. The real ones, Stephan. Not that buttery nonsense you spread the other day.”

“Why did you choose her, by the way?” I ask. “Everyone knows she doesn’t like attention, unlike most Omegas. She doesn’t think she’s special.”

“I know.” She smiles, but I can’t read it. “Violet’s rare. Beneath that martyr layer is a girl who shines in her own way. A diamond waiting to be discovered. She’s refreshing, untouched. But she needs a little push. Don’t you think?”

She’s right. About all of it.

“Bottom line is, Stephan, I like her. And I know you do,too. So don’t fuck this up, or I will bring the Council’s fist down on you, family or not.”

The car stops, and I hadn’t realized we’d been going anywhere. Fuck.

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