Page 125 of Violet

More so after the last Stitch they posted.

And to be honest, I’m not exactly overly pleased with whoever it is, either. All that stuff about me and Stephan is a lot. And then what she says about Sophine? Dangerous. To be fair, she’s mostly nice enough about me, but…

“Look at me, Vi,” Rue says, dancing up to me. “I am the Queen.”

And she dances away.

But whoever it is, the real queen, should be careful.

“That child’s going to be the death of me,” Heath moans, as Rue in her Queen Bee mask dances on the sidelines of the ball. “And wearing that fucking thing, is she crazy?”

“It could be her,” Quinn says, appearing out of nowhere. “What if Rue is the Queen Bee? And don’t swear, Heather. It doesn’t make you cool.”

“I said that.” Iris adjusts her black mask with little antennae. “The part about Rue. Though I agree you’re not cool, Heath.”

“I’m going to go help your idiotic mate, Vi. That’s how annoyed I am with you lot.” He kisses my cheek. “Not you. Don’t look so stricken.”

He takes off to where Stephan’s been waylaid by some of the other Alphas and a few Omegas I don’t know that well, but they seem nice. Rue told me they’re just big Asher fans.

Now that’s something I’m going to have to try to get my head around.

People in our world might be huge fans, but for the most part they hardly ever let it show. I think those girls held it in as long as they could and now that he’s off the market…

“Are you jealous?” Quinn asks, nodding.

It takes me a moment to realize she aimed that at me.

“No.” I try to smile because it flusters me on certain levels.

It is true. I’m not jealous. Maybe I should be? I guess it’s the newness, the fact he’s never done anything to make me think he’s looking elsewhere.

Okay, there was the conversation he labeled as “complicated” with Alicia, but if anything happened, it wasn’t like he got turned down by her and I’m the consolation prize.

Someone turning him down is laughable.

“Oh, Lord,” Quinn says. “You are totally in love.”

“I’m mated.”

“Yes, but…”

“Leave Vi alone, Quinn. She doesn’t need to start hyperventilating.” Iris looks at me. “Doyouthink it’s Rue?”

“The Queen Bee?” I half laugh. “Maybe if she wasn’t so nice. Also, I’m not sure she can keep a secret. Everyone would know if she was. I know the Monarch would love to know who, though.”

“Wouldn’t we all,” Quinn says. “The Monarch must be angry. She’s not here.”

“She’ll be watching, I bet,” Iris mutters. “Not that I care. God. You’d think I’d be out of this patriarchal mess since you’re an old mated lady now.”

“Thanks,” I say, taking a sip of the punch. “You didn’t have to come.”

“I did. You need support.” Then she looks me up and down in the gold dress I have on. It has a black underside to the long skirt. “I love how you’re still not doing the latest fashion stuff. This look suits you, Vi. It’s your look. As Rue would say, it’s up to the minuteandtimeless, not trendy.”

She waits for my response. When I don’t have one, Iris squeezes my arm, like a mini hug. “It’s strange to see you not panicking.”

“I’m not the center of attention.”

It’s not exactly true. I mated with Stephan and the center of attention seems to be him. But then again, even if I get the fallout from him, he wore me out so much before we came here that I barely had the energy to get on my feet at all. All that sex, all those orgasms before getting dressed. I’m not sure my panic button works right now. The anxietyone, either. And if I feel a little anxious, like I did when we walked in, he’ll say something full of praise or nice in that particular way that sends shivers right down my spine.

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