Violet slept through most of the day. She should have known that would happen after letting Roman "help" her fall asleep.
Goddess knew he took far too much pride in pleasing her. Since they couldn’t "do" it yet out of respect for Asher, Roman had found other, inventive ways to leave her satisfied. It was no wonder he’d earned the title God of Pleasure.
Not that she was complaining.
When Violet finally stirred, the bedroom was as silent as a graveyard. For a mont, panic ran through her until she realized her mates had probably left her to rest.
Sure enough, there was a note on the bedside table:
Sleep well, darling. We’re taking the chance to explore the palace and will wake you when it’s ti for dinner with the Queen.
Xoxo, Asher. Roman. Alaric. Griffin.
Beneath it, another line was scrawled in a different hand: And Roman again.
Violet couldn’t help the small snort of laughter that escaped her. Roman was as delightful as a child.
Well, since she was up, she might as well start preparing for dinner.
Violet slipped out of her clothes and walked naked to the bathroom. The Fae orbs glowed to life on their own, bathing the room in a soft, golden light. Since everything in the suite had been designed with human comfort in mind, it wasn’t hard to run her bath.
There had to be sothing magical about the water here because the mont Violet settled into the tub, warmth enveloped her. The soothing sensation seeped deep into her bones, and she could have drifted there forever, untroubled.
The soap she used was a delightful mix of lavender and vanilla, the scents blending into a calm, sweet fragrance that filled the air. It was a luxury that made her forget, just for a mont, that she was in a foreign realm.
Violet murmured under her breath, "If only there was music, then the mood would be perfect."
No sooner had the words left her lips than a soft lody began to fill the room. A woman’s voice rose in harmony with the swell of unseen instrunts.
"What in the Fae..." Violet whispered, sitting up slightly.
Her gaze moved around the room, searching for the source, but there were no speakers, no orchestra, and no trace of magic she could pinpoint. The sound seed to co from the walls themselves.
The realization made Violet laugh. The house’s sentient, alright. That would take so getting used to.
The music was hauntingly beautiful, reminding her of the classical symphonies from earth realm, yet the lyrics were sung in the lilting, lodic language of the Fae.
That alone gave it an otherworldly pull, the voice seeming to reach right into her chest, tugging gently at her soul. So Violet closed her eyes, and let the music wash over her.
Violet had no idea how long she’d been soaking since the water never turned cold, probably enchanted to stay warm always.
She’d long since lost herself to the lull of the music when the sudden knock on the door broke her trance. She looked up, startled to see her sudden visitor.
Griffin stood there, leaning casually against the doors fra, his arms folded over his chest.
He gestured toward the door. "It was open. I took that as an invitation. Hope you don’t mind."
Violet straightened instinctively, the frothy suds clinging just high enough to preserve her modesty. "Co in, then," she said.
Griffin pushed off the fra, stepping closer and as if the room itself had been waiting for that cue, the door swung shut on its own.
The golden glow of the Fae orbs deepened into a sultry red, and the gentle classical tune shifted seamlessly into a slow seductive tune. A deep voice joined the lody, and this ti, the lyrics were unmistakably human and explicit.
"...you will drink from her breast forever..."
Violet was stunned at the swift changes.
Of course the house would choose that mont to get creative.
Not that Violet didn’t want it, God, she did. But she didn’t trust herself around her mates, alone. The bond had been pulling at her since her arrival but she couldn’t give in.
And from the dark, smoldering look in Griffin’s brown eyes, she knew he was fighting it too.
Griffin ca to kneel beside the tub, his gaze softening as it t hers. Steam curled between them, carrying the scent of lavender and vanilla from the bath.
"Do you want help with your hair?" he asked, and waited anxiously.
Violet’s throat tightened. She knew this was dangerous but she couldn’t bring herself to say no. She only managed a small nod.
Griffin shifted behind her, his knees brushing the cool tile as he gathered her wet hair in his hands. His fingers combed through the tangles slowly, massaging her scalp in gentle circles.
A shiver ran down Violet’s spine. Yes, his touch was amazing, even drawing out a soft, unguarded moan from her lips before she could stop it. But it also stirred desire inside of her.
Her nipples had beaded and the air between them thickened with tension. Violet closed her eyes, trying to steady her heartbeat, but it was useless. And when Griffin’s hand left her hair and trailed down to clasp her breast, the breath left her lungs.
"Griffin..." Violet gasped, her chest rising and falling in uneven rhythm. The air was hot enough to make her skin tingle.
Just when she thought he might give in to the pull between them, Griffin froze. The stillness made her pulse trip.
He leaned close, his breath brushing her ear. "It’s ti to et the Queen, princess."
Violet blinked, caught between disbelief and frustration. She saw right through his trick — he’d gotten her all hot and bothered on purpose.
"Oh, you’ve got to be kidding ."
Griffin was already standing, the smirk on his face unmistakable as he turned toward the door.
"You!" she snapped, splashing water in his direction.
He only chuckled, clearly pleased with himself.
"Bastard!" Violet shouted after him.
The door swung open for him, then abruptly slamd shut, catching him in the face before creaking open again, unapologetically.
"Damn house," Griffin muttered, rubbing his nose as he left.
That, at least, gave Violet a spark of satisfaction. She rinsed off quickly, the smile tugging at her lips refusing to fade.
When she stepped out of the bath, she patted the smooth wall. "Good work," she murmured.
The structure gave a low, contented hum in reply, like a living creature pleased with her praise.
As soon as Violet stepped into the room, every gaze shifted to her. All four of her mates were there, and for a heartbeat, she froze.
Perhaps it was a good thing Griffin had stopped earlier, otherwise, she’d have a lot of explaining to do right now.
Roman was the first to move. His eyes darkened with unmistakable hunger as he closed the distance between them. The air seed to pulse between their bodies. He brushed a slow kiss against her neck, right where Griffin’s mate mark was etched against her skin.
Griffin stiffened instantly, jaw locking. He didn’t need to see it; he could feel it through the bond, like an aftershock.
"Roman," he warned, his voice taut with control.
But Roman lingered, his breath brushing her skin as an animalistic groan escaped him, the kind that made Violet’s pulse stumble. Every nerve in her body felt tuned to his presence. Without aning to, her hand found his neck, fingers tightening as if drawn by instinct.
The space between them seed to dissolve.
For a heartbeat, Violet forgot where she was. The mate bond thrumd through her, fierce and demanding, whispering that she didn’t have to resist.
Across the room, Alaric and Asher exchanged a look. They knew exactly what was happening. You couldn’t keep bonded mates in the sa room and expect restraint. The pull between them was relentless, a living thread that tugged at their instincts and clouded their reasoning.
Roman let out a greedy sound, his fingers brushing the edge of Violet’s robe, the intent clear in his eyes, until Alaric crossed the room in a flash and wrenched him back by the shoulder.
"Enough!" Alaric snapped.
Roman growled, chest heaving, while his eyes turned gold as if the wolf in him refused to stand down. For a tense heartbeat, the air pulsed with danger, the two alphas on the verge of clashing.
Then Alaric’s words cut through the haze. "We have to et the Queen. Rember?"
It was enough to break the spell. The fire in Roman’s gaze dimd, confusion and guilt flickering in its place. He exhaled roughly, stepping back.
Violet stood frozen, her heart pounding. Sha washed over her as she t Asher’s gaze. "I’m sorry," she whispered. "I didn’t know what —"
"It’s okay," Asher said, his tone even but heavy with aning. "Get dressed. The Queen’s waiting for us."
Violet nodded, unable to speak. She turned away, grabbed her gown from the wardrobe and disappeared into the other room.
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