Page 10 of Violet

The two girls stare, Alicia close to tears.

“Of course you Gardener weeds would gang up,” Lara says. “But it won’t work.”

They stomp off, and people around us murmur, gossiping.

“I need to sit,” I say, staring at my sisters. I know Iris did it on purpose, and part of me thanks her, but the other part… Oh, man, what problems is this going to bring?

And like it or not, the Queen Bee will report it. Those girls will twist it.They’ll?—

“Come on,Daisy?—

“Don’t call me that, Iris.”

“Violet.” She kisses my cheek, then rubs the lipstick off. “Let’s all go mingle. Now.”

“What if?—”

“If someone wants to report the incident, let them. I tripped, and they were being downright nasty, not becoming of Omegas ready to have their Season.” Iris links arms with me and Dahlia and Mari take my other side.

Rue sees us, waves bye to her friend, and rushes off to be with us, and together we join the picnic as a united front.

CHAPTER

FOUR

Stephan

“Are you going to talk to her?” Pen asks from under the cover of her cabana in the shade.

She doesn’t usually like the displays of the hypocrisies of society. Then again…

“Nope.” I throw myself onto the cushions, big fat ones in silk and brocade. It’s quite comfortable, actually, because whatever was laid down on the ground for cover is soft and slightly bouncy.

And I’m not letting my mind explore ways I could make this floor fun. Not with my fucking aunt so close.

We’re on a small hill under a huge tree, and Pen has the pale green gossamer curtains drawn back to watch everyone run around and try to impress the fucking Monarch. Who, in typical fashion, is not showing her face.

But she’ll be watching. And no doubt expecting me.

“It’s only proper, you know.”

“Don’t care, not going to happen, Pen.”

She makes a sound from her chair. It’s a lot like disapproval. While disapproval isn’t something I’ve had to experience since I became famous and the darling of the screen and Stitch posts, along with the tabloids themselves, I know it well. And it sends me tumbling back into the past.

One of her staff offers me fruit and cheese on a platter. I’m fucking loaded even without the family money, but I don’t have staff like servants. It’s a different world here, all right.

“I didn’t realize you two were on talking terms.”

Pen flicks a crumb of cake off her throw that covers her legs and sips her drink. “We’re not. She’s?—”

“A controlling battle-ax without one shred of humanity?” I say, offering her the smile that’s made me millions. “I thought so.”

“Don’t flash that thing at me, Stephan. It won’t work.”

The smile vanishes, and I narrow my eyes. “What thing?”

“That award-winning idiotic smile. It belongs to the movie star, not to you.”

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