Chapter 0052
Violet
Theodore laughed. “Don’t be so sour–faced. You should be happy I actually came, Who was going to drag me here if I decided not to show, after all?”
Owen pursed his lips and turned, his gaze sweeping over me dismissively, “Luna Donovan.”
I tried not to twitch at the address. He knew damit well I was the alpha of record for Darkmoon. I cracked a smile,
“Brother–in–law.”
He flinched, and Theodore snickered. Owen turned back inside.
“Come along.”
It was somehow assuring that Owen was as much of an asshole as I expected. It meant the plan I had to get through this, knowing Theodore and suspecting all I suspected about this situation, was going to go off without a hitch and serve to set the standard for how we’d interact going forward.
I fell into step with Theodore, following the odd processional to a large, formal dining room. His mother looked older than her years and neatly stitched together in the gown she wore, which was too formal for this meeting and gaudy. His wife was dressed like a slightly cheaper replica and looked as deeply unhappy in person as she did in the photos.
From my research, she’d been chosen out of a line–up from a territory that treated all women like they were breeders. I had half a plan forming on how to liberate the woman as soon as possible. The palace was as opulent as I remembered it being from the one time my father brought me as a child. It had been before my mother died. I remembered the king on the throne looking surly as we came to his birthday.
I frowned, tilting my head as we reached a painting of the royal family. The young boy who had to be Theodore stared sullenly out of the painting. His big, sad eyes gripped my heart. I wondered if he’d been forced to pose for this portrait under threat or if it had just been a hard day for his mother. My heart skipped a beat as I looked into the kid’s eyes and wondered what it had to have been like growing up in this place.
A flicker of memory flashed through my mind of those same sad eyes looking over a small reflection pool. A young boy in expensive clothes, sitting alone.
Are you okay?
“Surprised I grew up to be even more handsome, eh?” Theodore asked.
I rolled my eyes and walked past him. The dining room was huge. Only half of it was set, which made me wonder why have this meal here anyway. We could have eaten in a smaller parlor.
Theodore pulled out my chair and pushed me up to the table. I didn’t bother to check if Owen
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+25 BONDS
Chapter 0052
had done the same as the two stewards who had come to pull out their chairs. The first course was salad and silence. The next was soup and more silence. By the time the entree was served, I was about fed up with being here and ready to leave. What was the point of summoning us here?
Owen cleared his throat. I grabbed my water glass, ignoring the sound. He did it again, and Theodore nudged me. I looked at him, but before I could ask, Owen was speaking.
“Theodore tells me you’re fated.” It took everyrhithing in me not to roll my eyes. he’d been trying to get my attention? Really? Was he four? I glanced at him, wondering where he was going with this. “You seem quite indifferent to your bond with Theodore. Hard to believe you two are actually in love.”
“I didn’t realize you were an expert, Your Highness.” He flinched, and his wife set her jaw.‘ Nor that you had so much free time to speculate on the state of our relationship. You must care more about Theodore than anyone thinks.”
Theodore’s eyes widened out of the corner of my eye.
His eyes glinted. “I always imagined his mate to be much like all of his conquests. They say mating drive tends to push us towards that which we are destined for.” His gaze swept over me with interest and disdain. “You’re oddly neat for a woman like that.”
the
I took a deep breath and let the barely veiled insult slide off my back, let alone the fact that Theodore said nothing. I should have only given him 10%, if this was what I could expect, or maybe he was trying to punish me for not going along with his asinine plan.
“It’s called decorum, Your Highness.” I said, pitching my voice sickeningly sweet. miled, thinly. “And I’d be interest to know what sources you’re referencing, I’m always interested in new research. Is it from the school of Lycaon or St. Luna?”
