Page 152 of Violet

Pen is there, not looking happy. “Tried to tell you, but you hung up.”

“You’re working with her?”

“I’m not doing anything. The Monarch insisted.Decreed. She’s in the dining room.”

My princess? I can smell her faintly, but I don’t know if it’s in my head or from the last time she was here or if…

I don’t think. I run into the dining room, only to have hope crash down.

Sophine stands, drink in hand. “You’re late.”

“Where’s Violet?”

“Not here. Just know that if she doesn’t show, I’ll be forced to make an announcement by the end of the week than your mate bond is null and void. You foolish, stupid boy.”

“Man.”

“Boy.” She flicks a hand at me. “First you run off with someone beneath you, someone who isn’t even an Omega. At all. If you’d waited, held off, I’d have told you.”

“You shouldn’t have the right to play with people’s lives.”

“That’s interesting coming from you, isn’t it?” Thebattle-ax looks at me. “You then get yourself a reputation even some alley cats would be shamed by.”

“Like you even care.”

“And then you sink so low with your mate. Drugging her?”

“Contraceptives.”

“Even worse. I don’t allow them unless applied for and with specific reasons.”

“Because you like being draconian?”

“I need to keep track of lines, of people, of pregnancies and lack thereof. You don’t understand.”

“Stop being such a?—”

“Shut your mouth.” The Alpha voice washes over me, making me want to do just that, but at the same time I fight it. I’m as strong as she is. But…I let her think she wins. I don’t finish the insult.

Because it’ll only make things worse.

Finally, Pen joins us and it’s just horrible. A clock that isn’t there ticks and no one speaks. Food is brought and taken away untouched until it’s blindingly obvious that Violet isn’t turning up.

The humiliation is crushing.

I fix the battle-ax with a glare. I’m sure she’s loving this.

She stands. “Thank you, Pen,” she says.

Pen just mutters something and raises a glass mockingly.

“One week, Stephan. Or it’s null and void, and you’ll have to face the consequences, as will Violet.”

With that, she sweeps out.

“Fuck this.” I pull out my phone and go into mybanking app. I make a huge transfer to Heath, sending him a note.

Half’s for your family, the rest is for Violet. I’ll make monthly payments.

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